Trachea, Bronchi, and Lungs

Question 1

What prevents the trachea from collapsing?

Answer 1

the 15 to 20 cartilaginous rings that are open posteriorly

Question 2

What covers the posterior opening/gap of the trachea?

Answer 2

the trachealis muscle

Question 3

Where does the trachea bifurcate into the right and left main bronchi?

Answer 3

sternal angle (IV disc between TV 4 and 5)

Question 4

What is the prominent ridge located within the trachea at its bifurcation, which separates the openings of the right and left main bronchi?

Answer 4

carina

Question 5

Which main bronchus is shorter, wider, and more vertical than the other?

Answer 5

the right main bronchus

Question 6

The right main bronchus branches into how many lobar bronchi and segmental bronchi?

Answer 6

3 lobar bronchi and 10 segmental bronchi

Question 7

Where does the trachea begin?

Answer 7

inferior border of the cricoid cartilage (cervical vertebra 6)

Question 8

Which main bronchus is longer, narrower, and more horizontal than the other?

Answer 8

left main bronchus

Question 9

The left main bronchus divides into how many lobar bronchi and segmental bronchi?

Answer 9

2 lobar bronchi and 10 segmental bronchi

Question 10

If a foreign object is aspirated, where will it usually enter and why?

Answer 10

the right main bronchus due to its wide, short, and vertical arrangement

Question 11

What is the carina covered with and what does it initiate?

Answer 11

sensitive mucous membrane and it initiates the cough reflex

Question 12

What is the blood supply to the trachea?

Answer 12

inferior thyroid artery and bronchial arteries

Question 13

What is the innervation of the trachea?

Answer 13

vagus nerve (parasympathetic and pain fibers) and the sympathetic trunk

Question 14

What are the surfaces of the lungs?

Answer 14

base, apex…

costal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic

Question 15

What are the borders of the lung?

Answer 15

anterior, posterior, inferior

Question 16

What are the orientations for the lung?

Answer 16

anterior border is sharp and thin, posterior border is broad and rounded

Question 17

What is on the mediastinal surface of the lung that is the opening through which the vessels, nerves and bronchi pass?

Answer 17

hilum

Question 18

What structures form the root of the lung?

Answer 18

bronchi, pulmonary vessels (arteries superior, veins inferior), bronchial vessels, nerves and lymphatics

Question 19

Which lung has an oblique fissure and a horizontal fissure?

Answer 19

right lung

Question 20

What are the lobes of the right lung?

Answer 20

Superior, middle and inferior

Question 21

What characteristics are on the right lung?

Answer 21

Groove for azygos vein, groove for esophagus, cardiac impression, groove for superior vena cava, and groove for right brachiocephalic vein

Question 22

Which lung has only an oblique fissure?

Answer 22

Left lung

Question 23

What are the lobes of the left lung?

Answer 23

Superior and inferior lobes

Question 24

What characteristics are on the left lung?

Answer 24

Lingula, cardiac notch, cardiac impression, groove for aorta, and groove for left subclavian artery

Question 25

What are the functional units of the lung?

Answer 25

bronchopulmonary segments

Question 26

What does the bronchopulmonary segments consist of?

Answer 26

segmental bronchus, branch of the pulmonary artery, segment of lung tissue, and surrounding septum

Question 27

Why are bronchopulmonary segments clinically significant?

Answer 27

they can be surgically removed without affecting the functioning of adjacent segments

Question 28

What is the blood supply to the lungs?

Answer 28

arterial: bronchial arteries venous: bronchial veins

Question 29

What are the structural levels of the tracheobronchial tree?

Answer 29

trachea, main bronchi, lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli

Question 30

What is the primary tissue of the trachea and main bronchi?

Answer 30

cartilaginous rings

Question 31

What is the primary tissue of the lobar bronchi?

Answer 31

cartilaginous plates

Question 32

What structural levels have primary tissue made up of smooth muscles?

Answer 32

segmental bronchi and bronchioles

Question 33

What is the primary tissue of alveoli?

Answer 33

thin permeable membrane

Question 34

What is inflammation of the segmental bronchi?

Answer 34

bronchitis

Question 35

What is inflammation of bronchioles?

Answer 35

bronchiolitis

Question 36

What is pneumonia?

Answer 36

inflammation of the alveoli

Question 37

What are the structures that lie in front of and behind the root of the lung and are formed from vagus and sympathetic trunk fibers?

Answer 37

anterior and posterior pulmonary plexuses

Question 38

What does sympathetic activation produce in the lungs?

Answer 38

bronchial dilation, vasoconstriction and decreases glandular secretion

Question 39

What activation results in bronchial constriction, vasodilation and increased glandular secretion?

Answer 39

parasympathetic

Question 40

What is asthma?

Answer 40

obstructive airway disease characterized by coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing

Question 41

What is asthma caused by?

Answer 41

spasms of smooth muscle which lies in the segmental bronchi and bronchioles

Question 42

What are the two types of asthma and what are they triggered by?

Answer 42

extrinsic: by allergens intrinsic: by non-allergic stimuli such as stress, cold, or exercise

Question 43

What can often help alleviate asthma?

Answer 43

adjustments to the upper thoracics (T2-5) and sometimes T9-11 (because of the adrenal medulla, which produces epinephrine, a potent vasodilator)

Question 44

Lymph from the lungs drain into what nodes located in the hilum?

Answer 44

pulmonary and bronchopulmonary nodes that drain into the tracheobronchial nodes

Question 45

What is the effect that moves dirt and mucous out of the larynx that can be damaged by smoking?

Answer 45

mucociliary clearance

Question 46

When mucociliary clearance is damaged from smoking what does it cause?

Answer 46

smokers cough

Question 47

What is another name for lung cancer that is a primary tumor of the bronchus?

Answer 47

bronchogenic carcinoma

Question 48

What nerve can be affected by lung cancer at the apex of the lung and results in paralysis of half of the larynx?

Answer 48

recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 49

What happens when the phrenic nerve is damaged from lung cancer?

Answer 49

paralysis of half of the diaphragm

Question 50

What can cause an enlargement of a sentinel node?

Answer 50

bronchogenic carcinoma

Question 51

Where can bronchogenic carcinoma refer pain to?

Answer 51

upper or middle thoracic cord segments because both sympathetic and vagal fibers contain sensory fibers