Upper Respiratory Tract (URT) and Lower Respiratory Tract (LRT) Flashcards
What does the upper respiratory tract consist of?
Nasal cavity
Pharynx
Larynx
What are the roles of the larynx? (2)
Voice box = A set of cartilages, membranes and ligaments which produce sound from expired air.
Protection = protects the inlet to the respiratory system
At what vertebral level does the larynx become the trachea?
C6
What does the lower respiratory tract consist of?
Trachea
Main/principle/primary bronchus
Bronchioles
Alveoli
Where does the LRT receive motor innervation from?
- Sympathetic fibres originating in the upper thoracic spinal levels via pulmonary plexuses.
- Parasympathetic fibres from the vagus nerve.
Where is the pulmonary plexus located?
The termination of the main bronchi
How does sensory supply reach the spinal cord?
Via sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves
What is the arterial supply of the LRT?
Via bronchial arteries arising from the thoracic aorta and intercostal arteries.
Explain the venous drainage of the LRT?
Bronchial veins drain to the azygous venous system
What is the vertebral level of the trachea?
C6 - T4
Where is the bifurcation of the trachea?
T4
What is the V-shaped cartilage at the bifurcation of the trachea called?
Carina
Approximately how many cartilage rings are then in the trachea?
16 - 20
What muscles completes the tracheal ring posteriorly?
Trachealis muscle
What organ lies immediately posterior to the trachea?
Oesophagus