Upper and Lower Airways

Question 1

Conducting Airways

Answer 1

–upper and lower airways

Question 2

Upper Airway

Answer 2

–nose
–oral cavity
–pharynx
–larynx

Question 3

Primary functions of Upper Airway

Answer 3

–act as a conductor of air
–humidify and warm or cool the inspired air
–prevent foreign materials from entering the tracheobronchial tree
–serve as an important area involved in speech and smell

Question 4

Function of the Nose

Answer 4

–filter
–humidify
–condition (warm or cool) inspired air

Question 5

Structure: Nasal Septum

Answer 5

–the internal portion of the nose, the nasal septum, divides the nasal cavity into two different chambers

Question 6

Structure: Nares

Answer 6

–air enters the nasal cavity through the two openings formed by the septal cartilage and the alae nasi called the nares (nostrils)

Question 7

Nasal flaring

Answer 7

– is the widening of the nostrils during periods of respiratory difficulty
–the identification of nasal flaring is considered a classic sign of respiratory discomfort especially in the newborn.
–during periods of respiratory distress
–pressure during each inspiration to pull air into the airways more rapidly

Question 8

Oral cavity: Hard and Soft palate

Answer 8

–located on the roof of the mouth
–Soft palate closes off the opening between the nasal and oral pharynx by moving upward and backward during swallowing, sucking, and blowing, and during the production of certain sounds

Question 9

Oral Cavity: Tongue

Answer 9

– on the floor of the oral cavity
–fills most of the oral cavity when the mouth is closed
–mixes the food with saliva and forms a compact mass call a bolus
–then initiates swallowing by moving the bolus into the pharynx
–during speech, the tongues helps form the consonants k, d, and t

Question 10

Oral cavity: Pharynx

Answer 10

–inspired air passes through the nasal cavity and enters the pharynx

Question 11

3 parts of the Pharynx

Answer 11

–Nasopharynx
–Oropharynx
–Laryngopharynx

Question 12

Nasopharynx

Answer 12

–located between the posterior portion of the nasal cavity and the superior portion of the soft palate
–the pharyngeal (adenoid) is located here
–when the pharyngeal tonsil is inflamed and swollen, it may completely block the passage of air between the nose and the throat

Question 13

Infected adenoids

Answer 13

–referred to as tonsils
–inspired air through the nose becomes partially or completely blocked making it necessary to breathe through the mouth

Question 14

Nasopharynx cont..

Answer 14

–Pharyngotympanic tubes (auditory) formerly known as the eustachian tubes are located on the lateral surface of the nasopharynx
–these tubes connect the middle ears to the nasopharynx and equalize pressure
–example: ear popping

Question 15

Oropharynx

Answer 15

– Palantine tonsils
–Lingual tonsils

Question 16

Larynx

Answer 16

–known as the voice box
–located between the base of the tongue and the upper end of the trachea
–often described as the opening into trachea from pharynx

Question 17

Functions of the Larynx

Answer 17

–passageway of air between pharynx and trachea
–protection from aspiration of food and liquid
–generates sound for speech

Question 18

Larynx: single cartilages

Answer 18

–thyroid
–cricoid
–epiglottis

Question 19

Larynx: paired cartilages

Answer 19

–arytenoid
–corniculate
–cuneiform

Question 20

Cricothyroid ligament

Answer 20

–a membrane of connective tissue that spans the space between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage
– sued as the location for placement of an emergency artificial airway in patients who have a life threatening blockage of the upper airway

Question 21

Larynx: cricoid cartilage

Answer 21

–shaped like a signet ring
–forms a large portion of the posterior wall of the larynx

Question 22

Interior of the Larynx

Answer 22

–Lined with a mucous membrane forming two pairs of fold
–False Vocal folds (upper) named because they no role in vocalization
–True Vocal folds (lower) are the vocal cords
– the space between the true vocal cords is known as the glottis
– the glottis is the narrowest point in the larynx

Question 23

Larynx: Epiglottis

Answer 23

–a broad, spoon shaped structure
–prevents the aspiration of foods and liquids by covering the openings of the larynx during swallowing
–connected to the base of the tongue by folds of mucous membranes forming a small space called the vallecula
–the vallecula serves as an important landmark when inserting an endotracheal tube for oral intubation

Question 24

Ventilatory function of the larynx

Answer 24

–ensures free flow of air into the lungs
–Inspiration: the vocal cords move apart and widen the glottis
–Exhalation: the vocal cords move slightly toward midline while maintaining an open glottal airway
–effort closure during exhalation (Valsalva’s maneuver)
–during this ma