Lecture 14

Question 1

What is the role of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Conduct clean, warm and moist air in close proximity with the circulatory system’s blood for gas exchange

Question 2

What does the respiratory system need to be efficient?

Answer 2

A surface for gas exchange, a path for air to flow to reach the gas exchange surface in optimal condition, the ability to draw breath in and out and production of sound and smell

Question 3

What are the main components of the respiratory system?

Answer 3

Upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, thoracic cavity, joins and respiratory muscles

Question 4

What is the conducting zone?

Answer 4

From the nose to the bronchioles. Functions is to ensure air is warm, clean and moist

Question 5

What is the respiratory zone?

Answer 5

From the bronchioles to alveoli. Function is gas exchange

Question 6

What is the function of the nasal cavity?

Answer 6

Olfaction

Question 7

What is the function of the oral cavity?

Answer 7

A passage for air and food

Question 8

What is the general change in composition of epithelia as you move down the respiratory tract?

Answer 8

Becomes increasingly flattened. E.g. columnar -> squamose

Question 9

What are the components of a mucosa tract?

Answer 9

Epithelium is attached via a basement membrane to a connective tissue lamina propria

Question 10

Why does the epithelium change along the respiratory tract?

Answer 10

To reflect function

Question 11

What is the conducting region composed of?

Answer 11

Respiratory epithelium

Question 12

What is the oral cavity composed of?

Answer 12

Stratified squamose epithelia to create a barrier protecting against abrasions

Question 13

What is the respiratory zone composed of?

Answer 13

Simple squamose epithelia for efficient gas exchange

Question 14

What is the olfaction zone composed of?

Answer 14

Olfactory mucosa

Question 15

What is a gland?

Answer 15

A group of mucus-secreting cells that combine. Can be found in the mucosal layer or submucosa layer

Question 16

What is the submucosal layer?

Answer 16

Connective tissue that may contain glands

Question 17

What is the name of respiratory epithelium?

Answer 17

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells

Question 18

What does pseudostratified mean?

Answer 18

All cells are directly attached to the basement membrane giving simple epithelia however the allusion of stratified epithelia is created

Question 19

What are the basal cells of the respiratory epithelium?

Answer 19

The regenerative stem cells which divide and replenish the above layers

Question 20

What is a goblet cell?

Answer 20

Mucus producing cell which traps debris and moistens the air

Question 21

What is the function of cilia?

Answer 21

They beat in tandem, moving mucus which may contain debris towards the pharynx to be swallowed and broken down by the stomach acid

Question 22

What are the components of the URT?

Answer 22

Nose and nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx

Question 23

What is the function of the paranasal sinuses?

Answer 23

Resonating chambers for speech

Question 24

How does olfaction occur?

Answer 24

Through sensory receptors for smell

Question 25

What is the composition of the nose?

Answer 25

Soft and flexible cartilage, external nares, 2x nasal bones, vestibule lined with skin

Question 26

What is the function of the nasal cartilage?

Answer 26

To maintain a patent airway

Question 27

What is within the vestibule?

Answer 27

Sebaceous and sweat glands, hair follicles, vibrissae to filter inhaled air

Question 28

What is the nasal septum

Answer 28

The midline separating the left side from the right side of the nose. Anterior is cartilage and posterior is bone

Question 29

The internal nares open into the...?

Answer 29

Nasopharynx

Question 30

What is the floor of the nasal cavity formed by?

Answer 30

Hard and soft palates

Question 31

What are the conchae?

Answer 31

Three projections (superior, middle, inferior) which are covered in respiratory epithelium and swirl inspired air to make particles stick to the mucosa and allowing more time for warming and humidifying the air. Plus olfaction

Question 32

Where are the conchae?

Answer 32

On the lateral walls

Question 33

What is nasal epithelium composed of?

Answer 33

Mostly respiratory epithelium but also a specialised area on the roof of the nasal cavity, above the superior conchae with olfactory epithelium which contains olfactory nerve fibres, receptor cells, support cells and olfactory dendrites.

Question 34

What is nasal mucosa?

Answer 34

Epithelium which sits on lamina propria with thin walled vascular plexus that help warm incoming air. When air temp drops, plexus dilates and more heat is transferred. Where nose bleeds generally originate.

Question 35

What are the paranasal sinuses?

Answer 35

Cavities within the bones surrounding the nose which are lined with respiratory mucosa and drain into the pharynx

Question 36

Where are the paranasal sinuses found?

Answer 36

Within the frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid and maxillary bones

Question 37

What is the function of the paranasal sinuses?

Answer 37

To lighten the skull and increase the surface area to clean, warm and moisten the air. Also involved in sound resonance

Question 38

What is the pharynx?

Answer 38

The throat

Question 39

The pharynx is a...?

Answer 39

Muscular funnel-shaped tube shared by respiratory and digestive epithelium

Question 40

What are the three regions of the pharynx?

Answer 40

The nasopharynx, the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx

Question 41

What is the nasopharynx?

Answer 41

An air passage only! Posterior to the nasal cavity from the nares to the soft palate. Auditory tubes drain here from the middle ear to maintain pressure and the pharyngeal tonsils are on the posterior wall

Question 42

What is the function of the soft palate and uvula?

Answer 42

To block the nasopharynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the nasal cavity

Question 43

What is the oropharynx?

Answer 43

An air and food passageway with stratified squamous epithelium to protect against abrasions. Posterior to the nasal cavity from the soft palate to the hyoid bone. Contains the palatine tonsils and lingual tonsils

Question 44

What is the laryngopharynx?

Answer 44

An air and food passageway with stratified squamose epithelium. From the hyoid bone to the opening of the larynx/beginning of the oesophagus. Ends at the level where respiratory and digestive tracts diverge