Upper Respiratory System

Question 1

What are the hairs of the nose called?

Answer 1

Vibrissae

Question 2

What is the function of the vibrissae?

Answer 2

To filter the air we breath as it enters the nose.

Question 3

Which facial bones articulate with the nasal bone?

Answer 3

Both left and right maxillae and the frontal bone.

Question 4

Why must and NPA be placed straight into the nose rather than upwards into the nose?

Answer 4

The nasal turbinates will obstruct the NPA, so the NPA must be placed beneath the turbinates.

Question 5

What is the function of nasal turbinates?

Answer 5

They increase the turbulent flow to increase the contact time with the air to warm and humidify it, and filter the air using mucous.

Question 6

What is the difference between the Chonae and the Conchae

Answer 6

Conchae= turbinates, the Chonae is a flap of tissue behind the turbinates and just above the soft palate that delineates the nasal cavity from the nasopharynx. Can be blocked in infants requiring surgery to open membrane.(called chonal atresia)

Question 7

What cell type is found in the first third of the airway?

Answer 7

Stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 8

What cell type is found in the second third of the airway?

Answer 8

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia on top.

Question 9

What cells in the airway are responsible for mucous production?

Answer 9

Goblet cells

Question 10

What does cigarette smoke do to cilia?

Answer 10

Cigarette smoke paralyzes cilia, so overnight when a person is not smoking they regain their function and sweep debris up the airway, causing a morning smoker’s cough.

Question 11

What cell type is found in bronchioles?

Answer 11

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Question 12

What cell type is found in alveoli and why?

Answer 12

Simple squamous epithelium because these cells are very thin and allow for gas exchange.

Question 13

What is the adenoid pad?

Answer 13

Lymph tissue at the back of the nasopharynx that allows the body to detect pathogens as they enter the airway.

Question 14

What are the four functions of the sinuses?

Answer 14

Provide humidification, determine tonality of voice, equalize pressure, and potentially have immune function.

Question 15

What landmark in the oropharyngeal cavity indicates where you should turn an OPA into the correct position?

Answer 15

The transition between the hard and soft palate.

Question 16

What is the membrane that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth?

Answer 16

Lingual frenulum

Question 17

Why is the vallecula important?

Answer 17

It is where the tip of a laryngoscope sits and allows you to move the epiglottis to make the airway visible.

Question 18

What makes the hyoid bone unique?

Answer 18

It anchors the tongue and larynx and is the only bone in the body that does not articulate with another bone.

Question 19

Where does the laryngeal cavity start and end?

Answer 19

Starts at the back of the tongue under the epiglottis and ends at the first ring of tracheal cartilage.

Question 20

Which nerve innervating the larynx is responsible for sensory input?

Answer 20

The 9th cranial nerve

Question 21

Which nerve innervating the larynx is responsible for motor input?

Answer 21

The 10th cranial nerve (Vagus nerve).

Question 22

How many cartilages house the larynx and what are they?

Answer 22

9: Thyroid, cricoid, paired cuneiform, paired arytenoid, paired corniculate

Question 23

How many cartilages house the larynx and what are they?

Answer 23

9: Thyroid, cricoid, epiglottis, paired cuneiform, paired arytenoid, paired corniculate.

Question 24

What is the only complete cartilage in the airway?

Answer 24

The cricoid cartilage, the rest are C-shaped.

Question 25

What is the narrowest point of adult and infant airways?

Answer 25

Adult= glottis
Infant= cricoid

Question 26

What is epiglottitis?

Answer 26

An infection of the epiglottis that causes it to become inflamed and can potentially impede air flow and can make it difficult to intubate because irritating the epiglottis can make the issue worse.

Question 27

What is the function of the thyroepiglottis muscle?

Answer 27

Controls the epiglottis to prevent aspiration of food when swallowing.

Question 28

When looking at the larynx using a laryngoscope, what are the bumps on the dorsal membrane just below the vocal cords?

Answer 28

The cuneiform cartilage

Question 29

What is the function of the arytenoid and corniculate cartilage?

Answer 29

They anchor the vocal chords and allow the musculature to open (abduct) or close (adduct) the vocal cords.

Question 30

When do the vocal cords abduct?

Answer 30

Upon inspiration

Question 31

When do the vocal cords adduct?

Answer 31

Upon exhalation

Question 32

What is a Valsalva maneuver?

Answer 32

When the true and false vocal cords adduct completely and allow you to build up pressure, for example when coughing or sneezing.