Upper respiratory tract Flashcards
What are the functions of the nasal cavity? (4 functions)
Warms and humidifies air
Removes and traps pathogens
Senses smell
Drains and clears paranasal sinuses
What are the three regions of the nasal cavity?
Olfactory region
Vestibule
Respiratory region
What are nasal conchae?
Curved shelves of hard bone projecting from the lateral walls of nasal cavity?
How many conchae are there in total?
3 in each half (divided by nasal septum):
Superior
Middle
Inferior
What is the function of the nasal conchae?
Increase surface area contact between air and cavity
Disrupts laminar air flow, making it slower and turbulent
What are the superior, inferior and middle meatuses?
Pathways for the air to flow from nasal cavity to naspharynx
What is the sphenoethmoidal recess?
A meatus superior to the superior chonca
What is the function of the vibrassae within the nasal cavity?
Nose hair used to filter the air
What is the function of the venous plexus within the nasal cavity?
Warms the air
What is the function of the serous glands within the nasal cavity?
Produce serous fluid that helps humidify the air
What is the name given to the serous glands within the olfactory region that are responsible for smell?
Bowmans glands
What is the choanae of the nasal cavity?
The name given to the opening of the individual meatuses into the nasopharynx
Name the four paranasal sinuses…
Frontal sinus
Sphenoid sinus
Maxillary sinus
Nasolacrimal duct
What sinuses drain into the sphenoethmoidal recess?
Ethmoidal sinuses
What sinuses drain into the superior meatus?
Sphenoid sinuses
What sinuses drain into the middle meatus?
Frontal and maxillary
What sinuses drain into the inferior meatus?
Nasolacrimal duct
From what bone is the larynx suspended?
Hyoid bone
What are the 3 regions of the larynx? What structures are found in these regions?
Supraglottis (false vocal chords)
Glottis (vocal chords)
Subglottis (cricoid cartilage)
What are the names of the cartilages associated with the larynx? (4)
Cricoid
Epoglottis
Arytenoid
Thyroid
What structures are found posterior to the trachea? (2)
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Esophageous
What structures are found to the left of the trachea? (4)
Left phrenic nerve
Left subclavian
Left carotid sheath
Left lobe of thyroid gland
What structures are found to the right of the trachea? (4)
Azygous vein
Right carotid sheath
Right thyroid lobe
What structures are found anterior to the trachea? (4)
Aortic arch
Isthmus of thyroid
Left brachiocephalic vein
Origin of left carotid artery
