Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the main function of the respiratory system?
-exchanging gases; CO2 for O2
Name the two zones of the respiratory system:
-conducting zone
-respiratory zone
Which zone does gas exchange occur in?
-respiratory zone
What are the paranasal sinuses?
-several bones that help form the walls of the nasal cavity that have air-containing spaces
-frontal sinus
-maxillary sinus
-sphenoidal sinus
-ethmoidal sinus
What are the functions of the sinuses?
-producing mucus
-lightening the weight of the skull
The conchae, meatuses, and paranasal sinuses are lined by what type of tissue?
-respiratory epithelium: pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What are goblet cells?
-specialized columnar epithelial cells that produce mucus to trap debris
What is the purpose of the cilia of the respiratory epithelium?
-removing the mucus and debris from the nasal cavity with a constant beating motion
-sweeping materials towards the throat to be swallowed
What is the pharynx?
-a tube formed by skeletal muscle and lined by mucous membrane that is continuous with the nasal cavities
What are the three major regions of the pharynx?
-nasopharynx
-oropharynx
-laryngopharynx
Where are samples taken from to test for strep throat?
-oropharynx
Which type of epithelial tissue lines the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx?
-stratified squamous epithelium, non-keratinized
As the nasopharynx becomes the oropharynx, the epithelium changes from what to what?
-from pseudostratified ciliated columnar to stratified squamous (non-keratinized)
Name the two distinct sets of tonsils in the oropharynx:
-palatine
-lingual
Where is the laryngopharynx located?
-inferior to the oropharynx and posterior to the larynx
What does the laryngopharynx do?
-continues to the route for ingested material and air until its inferior end, where the digestive and respiratory systems diverge
What is the larynx continuous with?
-the laryngopharynx
From what tissue does the larynx transition into what other tissue?
-it transitions from stratified squamous epithelium into pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium + goblet cells
What do the cilia in the larynx do?
-beat the mucus upward towards the laryngopharynx, where it can be swallowed down the esophagus
Describe the anatomy of the trachea:
-extends from the larynx down toward the lungs
-formed by 16-20 stacked C-shaped pieces of hyaline cartilage that are connected by dense connective tissue
-inside lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
What is the bronchial tree?
-the trachea branches into the right and left primary (main stem) bronchi
-these bronchi are also lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium + goblet cells
What does the respiratory zone include?
-structures that are directly involved with gas exchange
-begins where the terminal bronchioles join a respiratory bronchiole (smallest type)
-alveolar duct
-alveoli (simple squamous epithelium)
Where and how do O2 and CO2 exchange in the respiratory zone?
-passive diffusion through the simple squamous epithelium in the alveoli
-(non-polar molecules pass through the non-polar plasma membranes which are made of fat)
What do the alveoli include?
-alveolar duct (tube of smooth muscle and connective tissue)
-alveolus (one of the small sacs attached to the ducts)
-alveolar sac (cluster of individual alveoli)