Upper Airway Tract and Chest Flashcards
What are the three broad functions of the Respiratory Tract?
Gaseous Exchange (Conducting and Respiratory)
Phonation
Olfaction
Describe the sub-functions of Gaseous Exchange (Conducting and Respiratory)
The conducting function involves all respiratory passages which air passes through. There is cleansing, warming and humidifying of incoming air
The respiratory function is where the actual sites of gas exchange take place. Involves the bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveoli
What are the apertures of the nose called?
Nostrils
What structure divides the nasal cavity into two?
Nasal septum
Each nasal septum has three “shelves” - what are they called?
Conchae / Turbinate bones
There are three chonchae, what are they called?
Superior choncha
Middle choncha
Inferior choncha
The thick capillary bed located in the nose, formed by the anastomosis of arteries is called what?
Kieselbach’s Plexus / Little’s Area
Underneath each chonchae is..?
A meatus
What structure is located in the posterior wall of the nose?
Choanae
What are the five arteries of Kieselbach’s Plexus?
- Septal branch of anterior ethmoidal artery
- Septal branch of posterior ethmoidal artery
- Septal branch of sphenopalatine
- Septal branch from nasal artery from superior labial artery
- Terminal part of greater palatine artery
In the nose, there is Respiratory Mucosa and Olfactory Mucosa. What is the histology of both?
Respiratory Mucosa: Pseudostratified Cilliated Columnar Epithelium with Goblet cells
Olfactory Mucosa: Olfactory Epithelium
The Olfactory Mucosa can sense smell via sensory receptors. Where do these impulses travel?
Impulses travel through the Cribriform plate to the Olfactory Bulb in the Ethmoid plate
There are five paranasal sinuses. What are they called? Which ones are paid / unpaired?
Frontal Sinus: Paired Ethmoid Sinus: Paired Maxillary Sinus: Paired Sphenoid Sinus: Unpaired Pharynx Sinus: Unpaired
The Middle meatus has openings to which three Paranasal sinuses?
Frontal
Maxillary
Ethmoid
The Superior meatus has openings to which Paranasal sinus?
Ethmoid
Quite often, tears secreted from the Lacrimal gland can pass down which duct, and into which meatus?
The nasolacrimal duct
Into the inferior meatus
A nosebleed is clinically known?
Epistaxis
The pharynx has constrictor muscles. What are they called?
Superior constrictor
Middle constrictor
Inferior constrictor
The pharynx can be divided into three sections. What are they called?
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
Where does the nasopharynx begin and end?
Base of the skull to the uvula
Where does the oropharynx begin and end?
From the soft palate to the epiglottis
Where does the laryngopharynx begin and end?
From the epiglottis to the cricoid
Which structure connects the pharynx to the middle ear?
Eustachian tube
What does the Eustachian tube do?
Connects the middle ear to the pharynx
What are the upper and lower borders of the Larynx?
Defined superiorly by the Laryngeal inlet, defined inferiorly by the Cricoid cartilage
How many cartilages of the Larynx are there?
9
How many cartilages are paired and how many are unpaired
3 unpaired and 3 paired
What are the three unpaired cartilages called?
Epiglottis
Thyroid
Cricoid
What are the three paired cartilages called?
Arytenoid x 2
Cuneiform x 2
Corniculate x 2
The true vocal folds are also known as..?
The arytenoids
The space between the vocal folds which air passes through is called..?
The rima glottidis
How long is the trachea?
10 - 15cm
The upper margin of the thyroid cartilage & common carotid artery bifurcation is located where?
C3 / C4
The cricoid cartilage is located at which level?
C6
Aside from the cricoid cartilage, what else is located at C6?
Superior end of Oesophagus and trachea
