Lecture 14: The Upper Respiratory Tract Flashcards by Rory Patu

What is the role of the respiratory system?

Conducts warm, clean, moist air into close proximity with blood of the circulatory system for gas exchange

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What is the respiratory system?

Connected organs/structures that perform functions

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To be effective what does the respiratory system need?

A surface for gas exchange
A path for air to flow to reach the gas exchange surface in optimal condition
Ability to draw breath in and out

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What is needed as a part of an efficient gas exchange surface?

Blood and air to be close, but not in contact

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What are 2 additional function of the respiratory system?

Produce sound

- Olfaction

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What does URT stand for?

Upper respiratory tract

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What does LRT stand for?

Lower respiratory tract

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What are the main components of the respiratory system?

URT
LRT
Thoracic cavity
Joints
Respiratory muscles

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What is a function of the Nasal cavity?

Olfaction

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What is a function of the Oral cavity

Passage for air and food

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Where does the Conducting region stem?

The nose to bronchioles

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What is a function of the conducting region?

Ensure air is warm, clean and moist

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What is a function of the Respiratory region?

Sites of gas exchange

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What is included in the Respiratory region?

Alveoli

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What are most body organs lined with?

A mucosa

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What is mucosa composed of?

Epithelia attached via a basement membrane to the lamina propia

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What is the lamina propia?

Connective tissue, which may contain glands

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What is usually below the mucosa?

Submucosal layer

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What may be contained in the submucosal layer depending on the region?

Glands

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What is the respiratory tract lined with?

Mucosa

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What happens to the epithelium along the respiratory tract?

It changes to reflect function

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What is most of the conducting region lined with?

Respiratory epithelium

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What is the area where air and food travel lined with?

Stratified squamous epithelium

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What is the site of gas exchange lined with?

Simple squamous epithelium

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What is Olfaction lined with?

Olfactory mucosa

What is the description of respiratory epithelium?

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium (with goblet cells)

What do Goblet cells produce?

Mucus

What does mucus do?

Traps debris, moistens air

What do ciliated cells do?

Produce patterned movement that pushes mucus towards the pharynx

What can happen to mucus in the respiratory tract?

Swallowed and digested by stomach acid

What are the components of the URT? | 3

- Nose & Nasal cavity - Paranasal sinuses - Pharynx

What are the components of the Pharynx? | 3

- Nasopharynx - Oropharynx - Laryngopharynx

What is the function of the URT?

Conducting passage, that prepares air for the respiratory membrane making it warm, clean and moist

What are paranasal sinuses?

Resonating chambers for speech

What is olfaction made of?

Sensory receptors for smell

What is the primary passageway for air?

The nose

What is the bridge of the nose made of?

2 nasal bones (nasal septum)

What are the physical features of the nose cartilages? | 2

- Soft | - Flexible

What is the function of cartilages in the nose?

Maintain patent/unobstructed airways

What is contained within the nostrils of the nose?

External/anterior nares

What is the nose?

A vestibule lined with skin

What are accessory features found within the nose? | 2

- Sebaceous/sweat glands | - Hair follicles

What filters inhaled air in the nose?

Vibrissae (hairs of the nose)

Where is the nasal septum?

In the midline of the nasal complex

What is the anterior and posterior of the nasal complex made of? (2)

- Anterior is cartilage | - Posterior is bone

What do the internal/posterior nares open into?

The nasal pharynx

What is the roof of the nasal cavity formed by?

Ethmoid and Sphenoid bones

What is the floor of the nasal cavity formed by?

Hard and soft palates

What are on the lateral walls of the the nasal complex?

Conchae

What are Conchae?

Projections from the nasal wall

What are the names of the 3 conchae?

- Superior - Middle - Inferior

What covers Conchae?

Respiratory epithelium

What is the function of Conchae?

Cause inspired air to swirl and cause particles to stick to the mucosa, allowing more time for warming/humidifying of air plus olfactory detection

What's the Nasal cavity covered with?

Respiratory epithelium with an area of olfactory mucosa

What is contained within an area on the roof of the nasal cavity?

smell (olfactory) receptors

What does the epithelium sit on top of?

Lamina propia

What does the plexus of thin walled veins in the nasal mucosa do?

Helps warm incoming air (radiation)

What happens when cold air comes into the nasal mucosa?

The vascular plexus dilates meaning greater heat transfer

What are sinus's?

Cavity's within a bone

What does paranasal mean?

Surrounding the nose

Where are paranasal sinus found?

Within frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid and maxillary bones

What are paranasal sinuses lined with?

Respiratory mucosa

Where do the sinus drain?

Into the pharynx

What are functions of the Paranasal sinuses? | 3

- Lighten skull - Increase surface area to clean, warm, moisten air - Sound resonance

What can infected mucus do to paranasal sinuses?

Block drainage leading to blocked sinus

What is the Pharynx?

A muscular funnel shaped tube shared by respiratory and digestive system

What is the pharynx commonly called?

The throat

What are the 3 regions of the Pharynx?

- Nasopharynx - Oropharynx - Laryngopharynx

What is the nasopharynx a passage for?

Air only

What lines the Nasopharynx?

Respiratory mucosa

Where is the Nasopharynx located?

From the posterior of the nasal cavity (posterior nares) to the soft palate

What blocks the nasopharynx during swallowing to prevent food entering the nasal cavity?

Soft palate and uvula

Where do auditory tubes drain from into the nasopharynx?

The middle ear

What is on the posterior walls of the Nasopharynx?

Pharyngeal tonsils

What is the Oropharynx a passage for?

Air and food

What lines the Oropharynx?

Stratified squamous epithelium to protect against abrasion

Where is the Oropharynx?

Soft palate to hyoid bone

What 2 tonsils are present in the oropharynx?

- Palatine | - Lingual

What is the Laryngopharynx a passage for?

Air and food

What is the Laryngopharynx lined with?

Stratified squamous epithelium

Where is the Laryngopharynx?

From the hyoid bone to opening of the larynx/beginning of the esophagus

What has right of way along the Laryngopharynx whilst swallowing?

Food