Lower Respiratory Tract

Question 1

Where does the lower respiratory tract begin? What does it include?

Answer 1

trachea

bronchi, bronchial tubes, lungs (alveoli)

Question 2

What are the trachea, bronchi, and bronchial tubes lined with?

Answer 2

ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Question 3

What is the purpose of the cilia in the lower respiratory tract?

Answer 3

move mucous toward the laryngopharynx where it can be swallowed or coughed up

Question 4

What is the trachea continuous with?

Answer 4

larynx

Question 5

Where does the trachea extend from? to?

Answer 5

C6 vertebra to sternal angle at T4

Question 6

Where is the transverse thoracic plane?

Answer 6

through sternal angle to intervertebral disc between T4-T5

Question 7

What does the transverse thoracic plane intersect?

Answer 7

the midline of the trachea where it bifurcates into the two main bronchi

Question 8

What is the size of the trachea in adults?

Answer 8

3/4” diameter and 3 1/2 to 5 “ long

Question 9

What is the shape of the trachea?

Answer 9

cylinder with a cross-sectional profile shaped like a horseshoe

Question 10

What is the trachea composed of?

Answer 10

U shaped hyaline cartilage rings, smooth muscle on the posterior wall next to esophagus, and mucous glands

Question 11

What is the blood supply of the trachea?

Answer 11

superior and inferior thyroid arteries

superior, middle, and inferior thyroid veins

Question 12

What are the characteristics of the right main bronchus?

Answer 12

larger diameter, more vertical, shorter length

Question 13

What are the characteristics of the left main bronchus?

Answer 13

smaller diameter, less vertical, longer length

Question 14

How many secondary lobar bronchi does each side have?

Answer 14

3 on right, 2 on left

Question 15

How many tertiary segmental bronchi does each side have

Answer 15

10 on right: 3, 2, 5

8 on left: 4, 4

Question 16

What are the terminal bronchioles? What are they composed of?

Answer 16

branches of segmental bronchi

smooth muscle fibers, no cartilage

Question 17

What do the respiratory bronchioles contain?

Answer 17

alveoli and smooth muscle

Question 18

What is the thickness of alveloi? How are they organized? What are they surrounded by?

Answer 18

1 cell thick, clusters, dense capillary network

Question 19

What is the blood supply of the bronchi?

Answer 19

3 bronchial arteries (2 left, 1 right) from descending aorta. part of systemic circulation

Question 20

What veins drain the bronchi and alveoli?

Answer 20

bronchial veins to the axygos veins which are tributaries to the superior vena cava

Question 21

What is the oblique fissure?

Answer 21

divides left lung into upper and lower lobes; divides right lung into middle and lower lobe and upper and lower lobes

Question 22

What is the horizontal fissure?

Answer 22

only in right lung, divides upper lobe from middle lobe

Question 23

Where is the cardiac notch located?

Answer 23

upper lobe of the left lung adjacent to the heart

Question 24

Where is the lingula? What is its shape?

Answer 24

lower lobe of left lung adjacent to cardiac notch; shaped like a tongue

Question 25

Where is the apex of the lungs?

Answer 25

above the first ribs; also known as the cupola

Question 26

Where is the base of the lungs?

Answer 26

adjacent to the respiratory diaphragm at inferior border

Question 27

What does the hilum contain?

Answer 27

structures entering and exiting lungs: bronchi, pulmonary vessels, nerves, lymphatic vessels, bronchial vessels

Question 28

What is the visceral pleura?

Answer 28

serous membrane covering the external surface of the lungs

Question 29

Where does the pulmonary trunk emerge?

Answer 29

from right ventricle

Question 30

What is the alveolar capillary network?

Answer 30

functional part of pulmonary circulation; surface equal to surface area of all combined capillaries in the organs of the body

Question 31

What is the function of the pulmonary veins?

Answer 31

collect blood from alveoli and return it to the left atrium

Question 32

Where are the sensory (GVA neurons) contained?

Answer 32

in vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 33

Where are stretch receptors contained?

Answer 33

in alveoli and smooth muscles

Question 34

Where are irritant receptors located?

Answer 34

respiratory epithelium

Question 35

What is the function of tactile receptors?

Answer 35

detects foreign substances for cough reflex

Question 36

Where are baroreceptors of lungs? function?

Answer 36

in pulmonary arteries, measure BP in pulmonary circulation

Question 37

Where are chemoreceptors in lungs? function?

Answer 37

pulmonary veins, detect blood gases

Question 38

Where are the motor (GVE neurons) contained?

Answer 38

autonomic fibers in pulmonary nerve plexus

Question 39

What are sympathetic (post-ganglionic) nerve fibers? function?

Answer 39

smooth muscles and glands | inhibit glandular secretion, induce vasoconstriction of bronchial vessels, dilate bronchial tubes

Question 40

What are parasympathetic nerve fibers? function?

Answer 40

smooth muscle and glands | increase glandular secretion, induce vasodilation of bronchial vessels, and constrict bronchial tubes

Question 41

Where are pre-ganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers contributed to?

Answer 41

pulmonary nerve plexus by vagal nerves CN X

Question 42

Where do pre-ganglionic parasympthetic and post-ganglionic parasympathetic fibers synapse?

Answer 42

surfaces of bronchial tubes and bronchial vessels

Question 43

Where is the superficial plexus of the lymphatics of lower respiratory tract? What does it drain?

Answer 43

deep to visceral pleura; drains lymph from the visceral pleura and lung parenchyma to the bonchopulmonary lymph nodes in the hilum

Question 44

Where is the deep plexus of the lymphatics of lower respiratory tract? What does it drain?

Answer 44

substance of the bronchi; drains lymph from the bronchi to pulmonary lymph nodes near the hilum and then goes to bronchopulmonary nodes in the hilum

Question 45

What is the order of drainage of the lymph nodes of the lower respiratory system?

Answer 45

pulmonary nodes, bronchopulmonary (hilar) nodes, tracheobronchial nodes, and tracheal nodes

Question 46

Where does the right bronchomediastinal lymph trunk drain?

Answer 46

lymph from the right side of the trachea to the right lymphatic duct

Question 47

Where does the left bronchomediastinal lymph trunk drain?

Answer 47

lymph from the left side of the trachea to the thoracic duct