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BMS12 > Respiratory System Histology > Flashcards

Respiratory System Histology Flashcards

(55 cards)

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1
Q

What are the structures of the upper respiratory tract?

A

Nasal cavity

Paranasal sinuses

Oral cavity

Pharynx

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2
Q

What are the functions of the upper respiratory tract?

A

Filtration via nasal hairs

Humidify and warm inhaled air to prevent damage to epithelium

Smell

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3
Q

Where does the lower respiratory tract start?

A

Larynx

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4
Q

What is the function of the larynx?

A

Phonation

Sphincter stops things entering respiratory tract

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5
Q

List the arrangement of the lower respiratory tract from the trachea to the alveolar sacs.

A

Trachea

Primary bronchi

Secondary bronchi

Tertiary bronchi

Terminal bronchioles

Respiratory bronchioles

Alveolar ducts

Alveolar sacs

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6
Q

What is the alternative name for secondary bronchi and why?

A

Lobar bronchi

One per lung lobe

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7
Q

What is the alternative name for tertiary bronchi and why?

A

Segmental bronchi

Reflects bronchopulmonary segmentation

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8
Q

Describe typical respiratory epithelium.

A

Pseudostratified, columnar, ciliated epithelium with goblet cells

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9
Q

What is the length of cilia often the same as?

A

Diameter of nucleus

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10
Q

What cells are found in the trachea/bronchi?

A

Tall columnar ciliated cells

Goblet cells

Neuroendocrine/Kulchitsky cells

Basal cells

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11
Q

What do Kulchitsky cells do?

A

Secrete serotonin, bombesin and calcitonin which affect the smooth muscle beneath the epithelium

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12
Q

What is the function of the goblet cells and submucosal glands of respiratory epithelium?

A

Produce mucus to trap dust, bacteria and viruses

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13
Q

What is the ‘muco-ciliary escalator’?

A

Coordinated beating of cilia propels mucus from as low as bronchioles to the pharynx

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14
Q

What is the function of the serous secretions of the submucosal glands for the respiratory epithelium?

A

Humidifies inspired air to prevent dehydration and damage

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15
Q

How long are cilia?

A

7-10um

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16
Q

Describe the structure of a cilium.

A

20 microtubules arranged as 9 doublets around a central pair (9+2)

Microtubules growing out from a basal body (similar to centrioles)

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17
Q

What is the function of the C-shaped cartilage rings of the trachea?

A

Prevent collapse during inspiration and expiration

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18
Q

What joins the free ends of the cartilage of the trachea?

A

Trachealis muscle

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19
Q

What is the function of trachealis muscle?

A

Contraction reduces diameter of trachea to raise intrathoracic pressure

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20
Q

What type of muscle is trachealis muscle?

A

Smooth muscle

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21
Q

Describe the layers of the trachea.

A

Tall respiratory epithelium

Highly cellular and vascular lamina propria rich in elastin

Submucosa contains mucoserous glands (with ducts) located mainly between ends of cartilaginous rings

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22
Q

How do the layers of the primary bronchi compare to the trachea?

A

Shorter respiratory epithelium

Fewer goblet cells proportionally

Discontinuous smooth muscle layer separates lamina propria and submucosa

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23
Q

How is the cartilage different in the bronchi compared to the trachea?

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A

Plates rather than C-shaped rings

24
Q

Describe the layers of tertiary bronchi.

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A

Tall columnar respiratory epithelium with little pseudostratification (mainly simple)

Even fewer goblet cells

Complete layer of smooth muscle below lamina propria

Few mucoserous glands

25
How do you differentiate between a bronchus and bronchiole?
Bronchi have cartilage whereas bronchioles do not
26
How wide are the airways of bronchioles?
<1mm
27
Describe the layers of bronchioles. (4)
Columnar respiratory epithelium gradually changes to cuboidal Discrete bundles of smooth muscle No submucosal glands Goblet cells only present in larger bronchioles
28
What is the smallest, purely conducting airway?
Terminal bronchioles
29
Describe terminal bronchioles.
Simple cuboidal ciliated epithelium Clara cells Terminate in respiratory bronchioles
30
What is the function of Clara cells?
Secrete components of surfactant May also be stem cells
31
What is surfactant?
Protein and lipid mixture which lowers surface tension of aqueous surfaces
32
How does cystic fibrosis affect the lungs?
Defective chloride transporter in surfactant secreting cells Impaired effect of surfactant so hard to breathe
33
Describe respiratory bronchioles.
Similar to terminal bronchioles but have single alveoli in their walls Terminate in alveolar ducts
34
Describe alveolar ducts.
Passageway made up entirely of alveoli Supported by a spring-like spiral thread of smooth muscle cells, collagen and elastin which recoils during exhalation Terminate in alveolar sacs/alveoli
35
What is the function of alveoli?
Site of gas exchange
36
Describe type 1 pneumocytes.
Squamous cells lining alveoli Flat and thin for efficient exchange
37
Describe type 2 pneumocytes.
More rounded and found especially at angles between adjacent septa Secrete surfactant Stem cells
38
How do type 2 pneumocytes produce surfactant?
Contain lamellar bodies rich in phospholipids and cholesterol Phospholipids released by exocytosis and combine with secreted surfactant proteins Tubular lipoprotein lattice coats cell surfaces
39
Which phospholipid is especially rich in lamellar bodies of type 2 pneumocytes?
Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine
40
How is the alveolar wall adapted for gas exchange?
Extensive capillary plexus Endothelial cells share a common basal lamina with type 1 pneumocytes to create a thin diffusion barrier (as little as 0.2um)
41
What is the function of alveolar macrophages?
Remove inhaled particulate matter from alveoli
42
What happens to dust-laden alveolar macrophages?
Crawl back to ciliated part of tract to join muco-ciliary escalator OR Travel to lymph nodes via lymphatics present at bronchiole level
43
What are alveolar pores?
Small openings in alveolar wall, 8-10um dia.
44
What are the functions of alveolar pores?
Allow equilibration of pressure between adjacent alveoli Provide an alternative route for air circulation in case of blockages
45
What is the function of alveolar elastin?
Support alveolar walls (especially condensed around openings of alveoli) With collagen and smooth muscle form a 3D spiral network to support the lung parenchyma as a whole - important for passive recoil
46
What happens to alveolar elastin in emphysema and what does this cause?
Destruction of elastin contributes to breakdown of alveolar walls Inefficient recoil leading to shortness of breath
47
What is the anatomical dead space and its average value?
Volume of purely conducting airways, ~150ml (third of an average breath)
48
What is the physiological dead space?
Volume of alveoli contributing little to gas exchange due to damage or poor blood supply
49
Describe the pulmonary arteries. (4)
Supply deoxygenated blood Bifurcate along with adjacent bronchi Elastic in character up to bronchioles then changes to muscular Relatively thin-walled (lower pressures)
50
How does pulmonary systolic pressure compare to systemic systolic pressure?
5 times lower
51
Describe bronchial arteries.
Muscular arteries Supply oxygenated blood to bronchi, bronchioles and pleura
52
When do the pulmonary and bronchial arteries anastomose?
At levels of respiratory bronchioles
53
Are there valves in the pulmonary veins?
No
54
How does blood from the bronchial arteries return to the heart?
Via alveolar capillaries (after anastomosing) draining into pulmonary veins to left heart Small proportion via azygos and hemiazygos veins into right heart
55
Describe the lymphatic system of the lungs.
Absent from alveoli - fluid diffuses from interstitium to small lymphatics around respiratory bronchioles Drain into larger lymphatics which follow airways back to hilum, passing through the hilar lymph nodes

BMS12 (7 decks)

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