Lecture 21 (Upper Respiratory System)

Question 1

What’s the function of the nose? What’s it structure?

Answer 1

Primary passageway for air entering the respiratory system when resting and breathing quietly.

Structure: External nose and Nasal Cavity

Question 2

Describe the external nose structure

Answer 2

Part that protrudes from the face
Consists of cartilage, bone, skin & sebaceous glands
- 2 nasal bones (surrounded by the maxilla)
- Cartilage
- Nostrils

Question 3

What are platines bones?

Answer 3

• Base of the nasal cavity
• Roof of the mouth
• Separate nasal cavity from mouth

Question 4

What’s a cleft palate?

Answer 4

Palatine bones that fail to unite at their center during development

Question 5

What is the function of the nasal cavity? What is it composed of?

Answer 5

Air enters the nasal cavity through the external nostrils.

Composed of: Nasal vestibule, Nasal meatuses, Nasal conchae, Posterior nares

Question 6

What’s the septum?

Answer 6

The septum separates the nasal cavity into right and left cavities.

Question 7

Describe the Nasal Vestibule

Answer 7

• Superior to the Nostrils
• Lined with skin containing sebaceous and sweat glands and numerous hair (vibrissae) follicles

Question 8

Describe the Nasal Meatuses

Answer 8

Each nasal cavity is separated into three passageways called meatuses : superior, middle, inferior

Question 9

Describe the Nasal Conchae

Answer 9

• 3 shelflike structures that protrude into the nasal cavity on each side (Superior, Middle and Inferior conchae)
• The mucosa-covered conchae greatly increase the surface over which air must flow as it passes through the nasal cavity.
• As air moves over the conchae and through the nasal cavities, it is warmed and humidified

Question 10

Describe the Posterior Nares

Answer 10

Openings that allow air to pass from the nasal cavity into the next major segment of the upper respiratory tract = Pharynx

Question 11

What are the functions of the Nasal mucosa and Conchae during inhalation?

Answer 11

During inhalation:
- Filter, heat and moisten air
- Ciliated mucosal cells remove contaminated mucus

Question 12

What are the functions of the Nasal mucosa and Conchae during exhalation?

Answer 12

During exhalation:
- Reclaim heat and moisture
- Minimize heat and moisture loss

Question 13

Name the 4 paranasal sinuses. Be able to situate them

Answer 13

Frontal, Maxillary, Sphenoidal and Ethmoidal

Question 14

What is the function os the lacrimal sacs?

Answer 14

They collect tears from the corner of each eyelid and drain them into the nasal cavity.

Question 15

What are the functions of the nose?

Answer 15

• Provide a passageway fro air traveling to and from the lungs
• Filters the air
• Aids speech
• Makes possible the sense of smell

Question 16

What’s another name for the pharynx? Describe it and explain its structure

Answer 16

Throat
Passageway for respiratory and digestive tracts.

Structure:
Made of muscle and divided into three parts (Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx)

Question 17

Describe the Nasopharynx

Answer 17

-Posterior to the nasal cavity
-Serves only as an air passageway
-During swallowing the soft palate closes, it prevents food from entering the nasal cavity
-Contains 2 auditory tubes openings, allowing the middle ear to equalize pressure

Question 18

What’s another name for Larynx? Where is it located? What’s its function? Describe its structure.

Answer 18

Voice Box
Between root of tongue and upper end of trachea
Forms part of the airway to the lungs and produces voice