5 respiratory system

Question 1

What structures make up the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 1

Nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx.

Question 2

What is the main function of the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 2

To condition inspired air by warming, humidifying, and filtering it before it reaches the lungs.

Question 3

What size particulates are filtered by the upper respiratory system?

Answer 3

Particulates larger than 10μm.

Question 4

What structures are part of the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 4

Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveolar ducts and sacs, and alveoli.

Question 5

What is the main function of the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 5

Gas exchange and further removal of particulates.

Question 6

What part of the brain controls the rhythm of breathing?

Answer 6

The medulla oblongata in the brainstem.

Question 7

Which neurones are active during inspiration?

Answer 7

Inspiratory neurones.

Question 8

What are the two main types of pleura?

Answer 8

Parietal pleura and visceral pleura.

Question 9

Where is the apex of the lung located?

Answer 9

Just above the first rib, at the level of T1.

Question 10

How many lobes does each lung have?

Answer 10

Right lung: 3 lobes; Left lung: 2 lobes.

Question 11

What fissures separate the lobes in the lungs?

Answer 11

Right lung: Horizontal and oblique fissures; Left lung: Oblique fissure only.

Question 12

What is the lingula of the lung?

Answer 12

A tongue-like projection on the left lung extending over the anterior surface of the heart.

Question 13

What structures pass through the hilum of the lung?

Answer 13

Pulmonary artery, 2 pulmonary veins, main bronchus, bronchial vessels, nerves, lymphatics.

Question 14

How can you distinguish bronchi, arteries, and veins at the hilum?

Answer 14

Bronchi have thick, cartilaginous walls; arteries have elastic walls; veins have thin, collapsible walls.

Question 15

What are the surfaces of the lung?

Answer 15

Costal, mediastinal, and diaphragmatic.

Question 16

What are the borders of the lung?

Answer 16

Anterior, posterior, and inferior.

Question 17

: What is a potential space in the pleura?

Answer 17

A space that normally doesn’t exist but can fill with air/fluid in illness or injury.

Question 18

What fluid is produced by the pleura and why?

Answer 18

Serous fluid; to lubricate the lungs and maintain surface tension during respiration.

Question 19

What are the four parts of the parietal pleura?

Answer 19

Costal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic, and cervical pleura.

Question 20

How far does the pleural cavity extend below the lungs during quiet respiration?

Answer 20

Midclavicular line: rib 8; Midaxillary line: rib 10; Posteriorly: vertebra T12.

Question 21

Why is the right lung larger than the left?

Answer 21

Because the heart bulges more to the left, reducing space for the left lung.

Question 22

What modifies the automatic rhythm of breathing?

Answer 22

Afferent input from chemoreceptors, the brain, and receptors in the lungs.

Question 23

What are lung impressions and where are they found?

Answer 23

Marks left by adjacent mediastinal structures on the mediastinal surface of the lung.

Question 24

Where are the right lung lobes mainly in contact with the thoracic wall?

Answer 24

Superior: anterior and neck;
Middle: anterior and lateral;
Inferior: posterior and inferior thoracic wall

Question 25

Where is the oblique fissure located?

Answer 25

Posteriorly at T4, crosses 4th–5th intercostal spaces laterally, follows rib 6 anteriorly.

Question 26

What are pleural recesses?

Answer 26

Potential spaces at the margins of the pleural cavity where lungs don't extend in quiet breathing; allow expansion or fluid accumulation.

Question 27

What are the two functions of serous pleural fluid?

Answer 27

Allows smooth lung movement and provides surface tension to keep lungs adhered to the chest wall.

Question 28

Where do the visceral and parietal pleura become continuous?

Answer 28

At the root of the lung (hilum).

Question 29

What is the appearance of healthy living lungs, and how can pollution affect this?

Answer 29

Soft, light, spongy; may have black deposits from polluted air.

Question 30

🦴What are the three parts of the sternum?

Answer 30

🦴 Manubrium, sternal body, and xiphoid process.

Question 31

🦴What part of the rib articulates with the vertebra?

Answer 31

🦴The head of the rib.

Question 32

🦴 What are true ribs?

Answer 32

🦴Ribs 1–7; they articulate directly with the sternum via their own costal cartilages.

Question 33

🦴What are false ribs?

Answer 33

🦴Ribs 8–12; they articulate indirectly or not at all with the sternum.

Question 34

🦴What are floating ribs?

Answer 34

🦴 Ribs 11–12; they do not articulate with the sternum and are shorter and pointier.

Question 35

🦴How many thoracic vertebrae are there and what do they articulate with?

Answer 35

🦴12; they articulate with the ribs and each other.

Question 36

🫁 What is the diaphragm and where is it located?

Answer 36

🫁: A dome-shaped musculotendinous sheet separating thorax and abdomen.

Question 37

🫁 What innervates the diaphragm?

Answer 37

🫁Right and left phrenic nerves (C3-C5) — “C3, C4, C5 keeps the diaphragm alive”.

Question 38

🫁What level is the diaphragm highest and lowest?

Answer 38

🫁Highest at T9 (at rest), attached inferiorly at T12.

Question 39

🫁What are the three major structures passing through the diaphragm?

Answer 39

🫁Aorta, inferior vena cava, oesophagus.

Question 40

🫁What is the effect of diaphragm contraction?

Answer 40

🫁Flattens diaphragm, increases thoracic volume for inspiration.

Question 41

💪What are the three layers of intercostal muscles?

Answer 41

💪External, internal, innermost.

Question 42

💪 Where are intercostal neurovascular bundles located?

Answer 42

💪Along the lower border of each rib.

Question 43

💪 What is the function of external intercostals?

Answer 43

💪Elevate ribs during inspiration.

Question 44

💪What is the function of internal intercostals?

Answer 44

💪Depress ribs during active respiration.

Question 45

💪 Where are innermost intercostals located?

Answer 45

💪Deep to internal intercostals, separated by neurovascular bundles.

Question 46

🌬Name three accessory muscles of respiration.

Answer 46

🌬Sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis minor, scalene muscles.

Question 47

🫁What is the 'pump handle' motion?

Answer 47

🫁Anteroposterior rib movement during breathing.

Question 48

🫁What is the 'bucket handle' motion?

Answer 48

🫁 Lateral rib movement during breathing.

Question 49

🌳Where does the trachea bifurcate?

Answer 49

🌳At vertebral level T4.

Question 50

🌳What are the differences between the right and left primary bronchi?

Answer 50

🌳Right is wider, shorter, and more vertical.

Question 51

🌳What do secondary (lobar) bronchi supply?

Answer 51

🌳Each lobe of the lung.

Question 52

🌳What do tertiary (segmental) bronchi supply?

Answer 52

🌳Bronchopulmonary segments.

Question 53

🌳Where do bronchioles first appear?

Answer 53

🌳Around the 12th generation of branching.

Question 54

🌳What marks the beginning of the respiratory zone?

Answer 54

🌳Respiratory bronchioles.

Question 55

🫁What is the primary site of gas exchange in the lungs?

Answer 55

🫁Alveoli.

Question 56

🫁What is a lung lobule?

Answer 56

🫁 A cluster of alveoli supplied by one respiratory bronchiole.

Question 57

🫁 What helps prevent alveolar collapse?

Answer 57

🫁Surfactant produced by type II pneumocytes.

Question 58

🧬What type of epithelium lines the nasal cavity and sinuses?

Answer 58

🧬 Pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia and goblet cells.

Question 59

🧬 How does epithelium change along the airways?

Answer 59

🧬 Becomes thinner and less ciliated distally.

Question 60

🧬 What supports large bronchi?

Answer 60

🧬 Rings of hyaline cartilage.

Question 61

🧬 What lines the bronchioles?

Answer 61

🧬 Simple ciliated columnar epithelium, few goblet cells.

Question 62

🧬 What lines alveolar ducts?

Answer 62

🧬 Flattened epithelium.

Question 63

🔬 What are type I pneumocytes?

Answer 63

🔬Thin, flat cells for gas diffusion, covering 90% of alveolar surface.

Question 64

🔬What are type II pneumocytes?

Answer 64

🔬Rounded cells that secrete surfactant; also act as stem cells.

Question 65

🔬What is the role of alveolar macrophages?

Answer 65

🔬Patrol alveolar spaces, phagocytose debris/pathogens.

Question 66

🔬What protein gives lung tissue elasticity?

Answer 66

🔬Elastin.

Question 67

⚠️ What is a pneumothorax?

Answer 67

⚠️Air in the pleural cavity causing lung collapse.

Question 68

⚠️What is a haemothorax?

Answer 68

⚠️ Blood in the pleural cavity, usually from intercostal vessel injury.

Question 69

⚠️What is a hydrothorax?

Answer 69

⚠️Accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity.

Question 70

⚠️What happens if surface tension in the pleura is broken?

Answer 70

⚠️Pleural cavity becomes a real space → lung collapses.

Question 71

⚠️How is a collapsed lung treated?

Answer 71

⚠️Insertion of a chest drain to remove air/fluid.