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Histology of Respiratory System Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 2 portions of the respiratory system?

A

2 Portions:

Conducting Portion

Respiratory Portion

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2
Q

What are the components of the conducting portion?

A

Consists of all the components that condition air and bring it into the lungs: trachea, main bronchus, lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, terminal bronchiole

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3
Q

What are the components of the respiratory portion?

A

Responsible for gas exchange: respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, alveoli

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4
Q

What are the histological features of the respiratory epithelium?

A

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

  • rests on very thick BM
  • most abundant with long cilia on bulging apical ends
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5
Q

Identify the 3 types of cells of the respiratory epithelium.

A

3 Main Cell Types of Respiratory Epithelium:

  • ciliated epithelial cells
  • goblet cells
  • basal cells
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6
Q

Role of Ciliated Epithelial Cells

A

Features: extend to the surface, possess cilia

Role: move the mucus toward lymphatics

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7
Q

Role of Goblet Cells

A

Features: mucinogen granules

Role: produce mucus

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8
Q

Where are stem cells in the respiratory epithelium located?

A

Located in the basement membrane

Most of the small rounded cells at the basement membrane are stem cells

Makeup ~30% of the epithelium

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9
Q

Identify the immune cells found in the respiratory epithelium.

A

Types of Immune Cells:

  • mucus-secreting goblet cells
  • intraepithelial lymphocytes
  • dendritic cells: antigen-presenting cells; stimulate T cells
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10
Q

Give the functional significance of Cilia in respiratory epithelium

A
  • film of mucus traps most airborne dust particles and microorganisms
  • ciliary movements continuously propel the sheet of mucus toward the pharynx for elimination
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11
Q

What are brush cells and their characteristics?

A

Brush cells are another form of columnar cells

Characteristics:

  • small apical surfaces
  • short, blunt microvilli
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12
Q

What is the main role of olfactory epithelium?

A

-Olfactory epithelium contains olfactory chemoreceptors of the sense of smell

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13
Q

Where do olfactory receptor cells axons project?

A

-sends axons to the brain via small openings in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone

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14
Q

Give the histological features and cell types of the olfactory epithelium

A

Histology: pseudostratified epithelium

Cell types: basal stem cells, columnar support cells, bipolar olfactory neurons

-dendrites of these neurons have cilia specialized with many membrane receptors for odor molecules

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15
Q

How is the sense of odor detected and relayed to the brain?

A

Odor molecules bind to olfactory receptor cells - depolarization occurs, passing along basal axons to the olfactory bulb of the brain

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16
Q

Where is larynx located?

A

Between pharynx and trachea

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17
Q

What is the function of the Larynx?

A

Sound production: its wall contains skeletal muscles and pieces of cartilage for sound production (phonation)

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18
Q

Give the histological features of the larynx

A
  • laryngeal vestibule is surrounded by seromucous glands

- lateral walls of this region bulge as a pair of vestibular folds

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19
Q

Identify the histological features of vestibular folds

A
  • contain seromucous glands
  • is areolar tissue with lymphoid nodules
  • are largely covered by respiratory epithelium (regions near the epiglottis have stratified squamous epithelium)
  • ventricles (narrow spaces) located below each large vestibular fold
  • below each ventricle is another pair of lateral folds or cords
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20
Q

Identify the histological features of vocal cords

A
  • covered by stratified squamous epithelium

- contains a large striated vocalis muscle and nearer the surface a small ligament

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21
Q

How is sound produced through vocal cords

A

Muscles cause variable tension of these ligaments that produces different sounds as air is expelled across the vocal cords

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22
Q

Give the major histological features of the trachea

A
  • lines by typical respiratory epithelium
  • connective tissue of the lamina propria lies below the RE
  • seromucous glands are present in the lamina propria and submucosa
  • submucosa also contains C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage covered by perichondrium
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23
Q

Where do the primary bronchi enter the lungs?

A
  • trachea bifurcates as right and left primary bronchi
  • primary bronchi enter the hilum on the posterior side of each lung along with the pulmonary vessels, lymphatics, and nerves
  • within each lung, bronchi subdivide further to form the bronchial tree
  • bronchial tree is the last component of the air conducting system
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24
Q

Identify the branching features of a bronchial tree

A

bronchi –> bronchioles –> terminal bronchioles –> respiratory bronchioles –> alveolar ducts/sacs –> alveoli

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25
Vestibules of nasal cavities
- epithelium: stratified squamous, keratinized to nonkeritinized - musculoskeletal support: hyaline cartilage - functions: filter and humidify air; has vibrissae (stiff hairs)
26
Most areas of the nasal cavities
- epithelium: respiratory - musculoskeletal support: bone and hyaline cartilage - functions: humidify and clean air; have glands and rich vasculature
27
Superior areas of nasal cavities
- epithelium: olfactory, with bipolar neurons - musculoskeletal support: bone (ethmoid) - functions: solubilize and detect odorant molecules in air
28
Nasopharynx and posterior oropharynx
- epithelium: respiratory and stratified squamous - musculoskeletal support: bone and skeletal muscle - functions: conduct air to larynx, pharyngeal, and palatine tonsils
29
Larynx
- epithelium: respiratory and stratified squamous - musculoskeletal support: elastic and hyaline cartilage, ligaments, skeletal muscle - functions: site for phonation, epiglottis closes while swallowing
30
Trachea
- epithelium: respiratory - musculoskeletal support: C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage with smooth (trachealis) muscle in posterior opening of each - functions: conduct air to primary bronchi entering lungs; some MALT
31
Epithelium and Function of Bronchi
- epithelium: respiratory | - function: repeated branching;; conduct air deeper into lungs
32
Epithelium and Function of Bronchioles
- epithelium: simple ciliated cuboidal to columnar, with Clara cells - function: conduct air; important in bronchoconstriction and vbronchodilation
33
Epithelium and Function of Alveolar Sacs
- epithelium: simple cuboidal between any alveoli | - function: conduct air; gas exchange
34
Give the major histological features of a tertiary bronchus
- the lining of respiratory epithelium and the mucosa are folded due to contraction of its smooth muscle; the wall is also surrounded by many pieces of hyaline cartilage - contains many seromucous glands in the submucosa; these glands drain into the lumen - arteries and veins are seen in the connective tissue surrounding the bronchi; these vessels branch as smaller vessels as they approach the respiratory bronchioles - all bronchi are surrounded by distinctive lung tissue; lung tissue is characterized by many empty spaces of pulmonary alveoli
35
Give the histological features of the bronchial wall
- epithelial lining of bronchi; pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells with a few goblet cells - lamina propria contains the distinct layer of smooth muscle surrounding the entire bronchus - submucosa - site of supporting cartilage - adventitia - blood vessels and nerves; surrounded by lung tissue
36
What are the prominent histological features of a large bronchiole?
- folded respiratory epithelium - prominent smooth muscle - supported only by fibrous connective tissue
37
What are the characteristics of the smooth muscle of bronchioles?
-smooth muscle has elastic fibers with high elastic content
38
Where are the elastic fibers present?
-elastic fibers present in the tunica media of large arteriola and to lesser extent in accompanying venule
39
What is the nature of epithelium in small bronchioles and terminal bronchiole?
Small Bronchioles: epithelium is columnar and ciliated Terminal Bronchiole: epithelium is ciliated cuboidal cells and many low columnar nonciliated cells
40
Where are Clara cells present?
Terminal bronchioles*****, respiratory bronchioles, bronchioles
41
What are the histological characteristics of Clara cells?
nonciliated; have bulging domes of apical cytoplasm containing granules
42
What are the functions of Clara cells?
- secrete components of surfactant which reduces surface tension and helps prevent the collapse of the bronchioles - also produce the secretory component for the transfer of: IgA into the bronchiolar lumen; lysozyme and other enzymes active against bacteria and viruses; several cytokines that regulate local inflammatory responses
43
Where are stem cells located in bronchiolar epithelium?
- give rise to all the cells within the bronchiolar epithelium - also included among Clara cells
44
What are the components of the respiratory portion?
- respiratory bronchioles - alveolar ducts - alveolar sacs - alveoli
45
What gives rise to respiratory bronchiole?
- similar to terminal bronchioles except for the presence of scattered alveoli along their length - pulmonary blood vessels travel with the bronchioles
46
What structures surround each alveoli?
a dense layer of branching capillaries travel with the bronchioles
47
What are the histological features of respiratory bronchioles
- lung tissue has a spongy structure (due to alveoli) - branching continuity with alveolar ducts and sacs - have a layer of smooth muscle and some regions of cuboidal epithelium - runs along a thin-walled branch of the pulmonary artery - branches of the pulmonary vein course elsewhere in the parenchyma - alveolar ducts and alveoli
48
What is the histology of alveoli?
Alveolar ducts consist of a linear series of alveoli - each with smooth muscle fibers around the opening - end in two or more clusters of alveoli called alveolar sacs - individual alveoli all open to the sacs or ducts
49
What are the components of the air-blood barrier?
Air-blood barrier: gas exchange between air and blood occurs at a membranous barrier between each alveolus and the capillaries surrounding it Components: alveolar type I cell, endothelial cell, their fused basement membranes
50
Where does gas exchange take place at the air-blood barrier?
Oxygen diffuses from alveolar air into capillary blood and carbon dioxide moves in the opposite direction The inner lining of alveoli is covered by a layer of surfactant which lowers fluid surface tension and prevents the collapse of alveoli
51
Compare the features and functions of alveolar Type I and Type II cells
Type I alveolar cells: Squamous; line almost entire alveolus surface; gas exchange occurs across these cells Type II alveolar cells: line a bit of each alveolus; are large rounded cells; often bulge into the alveolus; have many functions of Clara cells, including the production of surfactant
52
Where are alveolar macrophages present?
Present in alveoli or in interalveolar septa
53
What is the role of alveolar macrophages?
Clean debris to avoid hindrance of gas exchange
54
Outline the steps involved in surfactant production by type II cells
- protein-lipid complexes are synthesized initially in the ER and Golgi apparatus - further processing and storage in large organelles: lamellar bodies - smaller multivesicular bodies form initially - the vesicles in multivesicular bodies are added to lamellar bodies - surfactant is secreted continuously by exocytosis (forms an oily film containing phospholipids and surfactant protein)
55
What is asthma?
A chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by episodes of acute bronchoconstriction Symptoms: shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness, wheezing, rapid respiration
56
What are the histological changes occurring in asthma?
Airflow obstruction in asthma is due to bronchoconstriction that results from: Contraction of bronchial smooth muscle Inflammation of the bronchial wall Increased secretion of mucus
57
What is COPD?
A chronic, irreversible obstruction of airflow that is usually progressive and characterized by persistent symptoms Symptoms: cough, excess mucus production, chest tightness, breathlessness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue
58
What is the greatest risk factor for COPD?
smoking
59
What are the histological changes in COPD?
there is small airway fibrosis Obstruction and/or destruction of alveoli and of elastin fibers in the lung parenchyma
60
What is pleura?
A serous membrane (serosa) associated with each lung and thoracic cavity
61
Parietal pleura
lines the inner surface of the thoracic cavity
62
Visceral pleura
Covers the outer surface of the lung
63
Pleural cavity
narrow space between the pleuras
64
What are the histological features of pleura?
Simple squamous mesothelium on a thin layer of connective tissue

Histology (3 decks)

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