Nasal cavity, Paranasal Sinuses and Nasopharynx Flashcards
(90 cards)
What are the 3 functions of respiration?
- Ventilation (breathing)
- Gas exchange
- between the air and the blood in the lungs
- Between the blood and the tissues
• Oxygen utilisation by the tissues in the energy liberating reactions
What are the functions of the respiratory system?
- Warm, humidify and filter warm air
- Olfaction
- Help produce sound - resonating chamber
- Provide O2 and remove CO2 (main function)
- Acid base balance
- Protective and reflexive non-breathing air movements
- Assist the circulation of the blood and lymph towards the heart (generating negative pressure in the thorax)
- Assist the abdominal muscles during defecation, parturition, lifting a heavy object (increasing intra-abdominal pressure)
Upper respiratory tract
- Nose
- Nasopharynx
Lower respiratory tract
- Larynx
- Trachea
- Bronchial tree
- Alveolar ducts
- Pulmonary alveoli
- Alveolar sac
Conducting division
- Nose
- Nasopharynx
- Larynx
- Trachea
- Bronchial tree to terminal bronchioles
Respiratory division
- Alveolar ducts
- Pulmonary alveoli
- Alveolar sac
Name of the anterior opening of the nose
• Nares/nostrils
What is the role of the muscles around the nostrils?
- Act as sphincters or dilators
- Control the diameter of then are to adjust air flow
What do the nostrils lead in to?
The nasal vestibule
What is the nasal vestibule lined by?
Skin that has hair follicles (vibrissae) that act as the first air filters
What is the blue arrow?

Procerus
What is the green arrow?

Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi
What is the red arrow?

Nasalis
What is the septum made up of?
- Bone posteriorly: vomer and ethmoid
- Cartilage anteriorly
What is the blue?

Cartilage
What is the green?

Vomer
What is the purple?

Ethmoid
What makes up the roof of the nasal cavity?
- Nasal bone
- Frontal bone
- Ethmoid bone
- Sphenoid bone
What region is on the roof of the nasal cavity?
• Olfactory region
What makes up the floor of the nasal cavity?
- Palatine bone
- Maxilla
What does the floor separate?
The nasal and oral cavity
Describe the relevance of the hard palate and insertion of a nasogastric tube
It is horizontal, the tube should be inserted horizontally, when it touches the pharyngeal wall it causes a gag reflex which will cause swallowing
What is the difference between conchae and turbinates?
Concha= bone
Turbinate = bone and mucosal membrane
What is the role of the conchae?
- Increase the surface area
- Form air channels + laminar flow

















