Respiratory Strand: Lecture 1 - Introduction to Respiratory Anatomy

Question 1

What are 3 functions of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

1. Gas exchange -O2 passes from air to blood -CO2 passes from blood to air 2. Speech Vocal chords and larynx change size and shape as we exhale 3. Smell Specialised epithelium called mucosa in superior aspect of nasal cavity

Question 2

How is the respiratory system divided functionally?

Answer 2

Into two: 1. Conducting portion -transports air -conditions air (warms, moistens and filters air as structures are delicate) 2. Respiratory portion -thin, moist, delicate membrane -site of gaseous exchange

Question 3

What are sinuses?

Answer 3

Air filled spaces in the skull

Question 4

Explain how air travels in the conducting portion

Answer 4

Air enters via nasal cavity 1. trachea 2. primary bronchi 3. lobar (secondary) bronchi 4. segmental (tertiary) bronchi 5. terminal bronchi image slide 9

Question 5

How many paranasal sinuses are there, and what do they do?

Answer 5

Four Nasal cavity opens into paranasal sinuses They warm, moisten and filter air

Question 6

What is the mediastinum?

Answer 6

The space containing the heart

Question 7

Explain how the thoracic cavity is sub divided (image)

Answer 7

-2 pleural sacs (invaginated by lungs) -trachea divided into 2 primary bronchi -midline region: mediastinum (encloses heart, major vessels and nerves, trachea, oesophagus) -cut edge of ribs -diaphragm

Question 8

Explain how the right lung is divided

Answer 8

It has 3 lobes: inferior, middle, superior image

Question 9

Explain how the left lung is divided

Answer 9

It has 2 lobes: inferior and superior

Question 10

How are the left and right lung different?

Answer 10

Right lung is shorter, broader and larger than the left Left is tall and narrow

Question 11

Why does the right lung have 3 lobes but the left has two?

Answer 11

Because of the presence of the heart

Question 12

How are the lobes separated?

Answer 12

Oblique fissures

Question 13

What does the respiratory portion involve?

Answer 13

Branching of terminal bronchioles to respiratory bronchioles and alveolar sacs

Question 14

What do the capillary beds that surround the alveolar sacs do?

Answer 14

1. Receive deoxygenated blood via the pulmonary arteries 2. Send oxygenated blood via pulmonary veins Image slide 10

Question 15

What do arteries do?

Answer 15

Carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart

Question 16

What do veins do?

Answer 16

Carry oxygenated blood to the heart

Question 17

What pattern of bronchi do both arteries and veins follow?

Answer 17

To lungs, to lobes, to segments

Question 18

How are the lungs divided anatomically? Why is this important?

Answer 18

Upper respiratory tract (URT) and lower respiratory tract (LRT) Important for classifying respiratory tract infections

Question 19

What do the URT and LRT each consist of?

Answer 19

URT - nasal cavity to pharynx to larynx (also includes sinuses) LRT - Trachea to Bronchi to lungs

Question 20

What are the functions of the thoracic cage?

Answer 20

1. Protection Bony cage around vital organs (including upper abdominal organs) 2. Respiratory movements Changes in thoracic volume underlie movement of fresh air into lungs and stale air out

Question 21

How many pairs of ribs do we have?

Answer 21

12 pairs of ribs

Question 22

Do all ribs have their own coastal cartilage?

Answer 22

No 1-10 is attached to sternum via costal cartilage 11 and 12 are floating ribs- they aren’t attached at all image - slide 14

Question 23

What are the 3 planes of movement of breathing?

Answer 23

Vertical or antero-posterior or transverse or all 3

Question 24

Give 6 features of the diaphragm

Answer 24

-Closes off thoracic outlet -Separates thorax from abdomen -Comprises radial muscle fibres inserted into central tendon -Domes upwards – more on right -Plays major role in breathing; -Apertures allow passage of structures (vessels, nerves, oesophagus) to and from abdomen.

Question 25

What are the 3 thin muscle layers in between each intercostal space?

Answer 25

-external intercostal -internal intercostal -innermost intercostal

Question 26

Which direction does the sternum/ upper ribs move?

Answer 26

superior and anterior movement

Question 27

Which direction do the lower ribs move?

Answer 27

They increase transverse diameter

Question 28

What is the pleural cavity?

Answer 28

A membranous sac that encloses and surrounds each lung

Question 29

What is the function of the thin film of fluid that the pleural cavity contains?

Answer 29

-helps the lungs to slide -creates surface tension between the parietal and visceral (lung) layers to aid inspiration (pleural fluid creates tension so as the cavity expands it pulls the lung out with it)

Question 30

How is the parietal pleura divided?

Answer 30

Into four parts depending on their location within the thoracic cavity: 1. Cervical 2. Costal 3. Diaphragmatic 4. Mediastinal

Question 31

Why is the division of the pleura important?

Answer 31

Different parts of the parietal pleura receive sensory innervation from different nerves