12. Respiratory System Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are the two main regions of the respiratory system?
Upper respiratory tract and Lower respiratory tract.
What are the primary functions of the respiratory tracts?
- Facilitate transport of air to the alveoli, allowing for gaseous exchange to occur.
- Inhalation of oxygen.
- Exhalation of carbon dioxide.
What are the secondary functions of the respiratory tract?
- Prevent foreign material from entering the airway.
- Moisten air to improve gaseous exchange.
What is the Upper Respiratory Tract?
Mouth/Nose to Larynx
What are the components of upper respiratory tract?
Nostrils
Nasal Cavity
Nasopharynx
Oral Cavity
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
Larynx
What are the tonsils and where are they located?
Lymphatic tissue masses.
Located in the posterior aspect of the nasopharynx and oropharynx.
What is the function of the tonsils?
!st line of immune defence against ingested or inhaled pathogens.
What are the pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) and where are they located?
Collection of lymphoid nodules.
On the posterior aspect of the nasal cavity.
What are the tubal tonsils and where are they located?
Paired regions of lymphoid tissue.
Around entrance to Eustacian tubes in wall of the nasopharynx on each side.
What are the palatine tonsils and where are they located?
Paired regions of lymphoid tissue.
On each side of the soft palate.
What are the lingual tonsils and where are they located?
Collection of lymphoid nodules.
On posterior aspect of tongue.
Where is the larynx located + comprise of?
Connects pharynx with trachea
Cartilaginous with connecting ligaments
- Epiglottis - guards entrance to airway
- Thyroid cartilage - Adams apple.
- vocal cords
- Cricoid cartilage rings
- Smaller cartilages anchor vocal cords.
What are the main functions of the larynx?
Prevent food/drink from entering the trachea.
Enable speech.
What is the Lower respiratory tract?
The trachea to the alveoli.
What are the main components of the lower respiratory tract?
Thoracic cage
Trachea
Bronchial tree
Mediastinum
Lungs
Diaphragm
Where is the mediastinum located?
Lies centrally between lung lobes.
From thoracic inlet level with the 1st rib superiorly, diaphragm inferiorly.
From sternum anteriorly to thoracic vertebrae posteriorly.
What does the mediastinum contain?
Trachea
heart
Oesophagus
Thoracic portion of the great vessels
Explain the macroscopic anatomy of the trachea.
Tube shaped
10-13cm long
15-29 D shaped cartilage rings, anterolaterally supported by ligaments with smooth muscle and fibrous tissue closing the D posteriorly
C6-T4
Explain the anatomy of the bronchial tree.
1 trachea
2 main bronchi
5 secondary bronchi supplying individual lobes
Multiple tertiary bronchi
Bronchioles (no cartilaginous rings)
Terminate at Alveoli
What blood vessel supplies blood to the lungs?
The external carotid artery
Which blood vessel drains lymph from the lungs?
Tributaries of internal jugular veins
Explain the mechanism of inspiration
Inspiration
1. external intercostal muscles contract, internal intercostal muscles relax
2. ribcage moves up and out
3. diaphragm contracts and flattens
4. volume of thorax increases so the pressure inside the thorax decreases
5. so air is drawn in
Explain the mechanism of exhalation.
- external intercostal muscles relax, internal intercostal muscles contract
- ribcage moves down and in.
- diaphragm relaxes and becomes dome shaped
- volume of thorax decreases, pressure inside thorax increases
- air is forced out
Explain the mechanism of breathing in simple terms.
Inspiration - Diaphragm moves down, respiratiory muscles contract to expand chest. Air rushes in under positive pressure.
Exhalation - elastic recoil driven
