Respiratory Tract Flashcards Preview

BDS1 BAMS: Respiratory System > Respiratory Tract > Flashcards

Flashcards in Respiratory Tract Deck (47)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

What are the 2 components that make up the respiratory tract?

A

Upper respiratory tract

Lower respiratory tract

2
Q

What is the purpose of the respiratory tract?

A

The process of respiration

3
Q

Which structures make up the upper respiratory tract?

A
  • Mouth
  • Paranasal sinuses
  • Mouth (incl. tonsils)
  • Throat/pharynx
  • Larynx
4
Q

What type of tissue lines the inner portion of the nose?

A

Mucous membrane

5
Q

What is the protuberance of the nose?

A

Nostrils

6
Q

What type of cartilage is present in the nose?

A

Hyaline cartilage

7
Q

Where is the nasal cavity located in relation to the nose?

A

Superior and posterior to the nose

8
Q

What are the superior and inferior boundaries of the nasal cavity?

A
Superior = anterior cranial fossa
Inferior = mouth
9
Q

The nasal cavity is continuous with which structures?

A

External nose (nares) and pharynx

10
Q

Which ducts open into the nasal cavity?

A

Ducts from paranasal sinuses and the nasolacrimal duct

11
Q

What is the nasal septum composed of?

A

Cartilage and bone

12
Q

What type of epithelium lines the respiratory segment of the nose?

A

Ciliated pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium

13
Q

What type of epithelium lines the olfactory segment of the nose?

A

Ciliated pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium with olfactory receptors

14
Q

What is the function fo the conchae/turbinates?

A

Warms and filters air

15
Q

What do olfactory receptors in the nose enable?

A

Small

16
Q

Which structure is responsible for vocal resonance and modification of speech?

A

Paranasal sinuses

17
Q

What are paranasal sinuses?

A

Air filled structures within the bones of the skull and face

18
Q

What is the purpose of the paranasal sinuses?

A

To make the head lighter

19
Q

What is the inferior boundary of the maxillary sinuses?

A

Maxillary molars

20
Q

What is a fistula?

A

Abnormal communication exists between 2 epithelium lined organs/structures that do not usually connect

21
Q

What is an oro-antral fistula?

A

An opening created between the paranasal sinus and the mouth. The 2nd upper molar is directly below the paranasal sinus. Floor of the paranasal sinus can be removed by accident when extracting this tooth.

22
Q

What is the pharynx?

A

Muscular tube from the base of the skull to the oesophagus (~C6)

23
Q

What is the purpose of the pharynx?

A

Conducts air

Muscles direct food to oesophagus

24
Q

What are the 3 parts of the pharynx?

A

Nasopharyx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx

25
Q

Which structures make up the lower respiratory tract?

A
  • Larynx
  • Trachea
  • Right bronchus and left bronchus
  • Lungs
  • Blood air barrier
26
Q

What is the purpose of the larynx?

A
  • Voicebox - sound is generated here
  • C3 - C6
  • Acts as a sphincter: makes sure food and fluid goes one way, and air goes another way
27
Q

How many cartilages are present in the larynx?

A

9

28
Q

Which cartilage in the larynx is the biggest of all 9 cartilages?

A

Thyroid cartilage

29
Q

Which is the only type of cartilage that forms a complete circle all the way around?

A

Cricoid cartilage

30
Q

Apart from the cricoid cartilage, why are the other 8 types of cartilage present in the larynx incomplete rings?

A

Due to the presence of the oesophagus posteriorly

31
Q

What are the 9 cartilages present in the larynx?

A
  • Thyroid cartilage
  • Cricoid cartilage
  • Arytenoid cartilage (x2)
  • Corniculate cartilage (x2)
  • Cuneiform cartilage (x2)
  • Epiglottis
32
Q

What type of cartilage is the epiglottis made of?

A

Elastic cartilage

It is bendy

33
Q

When might a cricothyroidotomy be performed?

A
  • If a foreign object is stuck in the upper airway
  • Facial trauma
  • Oedema - swelling of glottis
34
Q

What is a cricothyroidotomy?

A

An incision is made in the cricothyroid ligament (between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages)
Trying to establish an airway

35
Q

How long is the trachea?

A

4-5 inches

36
Q

Where does the trachea begin?

A

C6

37
Q

What is the trachea composed of?

A

15-20 incomplete cartilaginous rings

38
Q

What is the purpose of the cartilaginous rings that make up the trachea?

A

Maintains patent airway

39
Q

What is the trachea also known as?

A

The windpipe

40
Q

What is the posterior part of the trachea made up of?

A

Smooth muscle called trachealis - under involuntary control

Not cartilage

41
Q

What is the wall of the trachea composed of?

A

Fibrous tissue

42
Q

What is a tracheostomy?

A
  • Making an incision in the trachea and inserting tube
  • For acutely ill patients
  • Long term mechanical ventilation
  • Where failed endotracheal intubation has failed
43
Q

Which bronchus is shorter?

A

Right bronchus

44
Q

How does the right bronchus differ from the left bronchus?

A

Right bronchus is vertical, has a greater diameter and is shorter than the left bronchus

45
Q

Which bronchus is a foreign object more likely to get stuck in?

A

The right bronchus

46
Q

What do Type II pneumocytes do?

A

Produce surfactant from ~24-25 weeks in utero

47
Q

At what stage in utero does surfactant become really effective?

A

~ 35 weeks