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Respiratory system > Structure of the airway > Flashcards

Structure of the airway Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the function of the resp system

A
  • Primarily gas exchange
  • pH balance
  • Speech
  • Prostaglandin synthesis
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1
Q

What is in the conducting portion

A
  • Nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses
  • Pharynx
  • Larynx
  • Trachea
  • Bronchi, bronchial tree
  • Terminal bronchioles
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2
Q

What is in the respiratory portion

A

Respiratory bronchioles and alveoli

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3
Q

What is the nose

A

It is external structure (hyaline cartilage, muscle, soft tissue and nasal bone)

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4
Q

What are the nares and what to they do

A

They are the nostrils and they communicate with nasal cavities

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5
Q

What is the function of the bilateral nasal cavities

A

To warm, humidify and filter inhaled air

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6
Q

Where is the nasal cavity

A

It lies posterior to the nose

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7
Q

What is the nasal cavity

A

It is a bony structure covered by respiratory mucosa

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8
Q

What is the floor of the nasal cavity like

A

It is a hard and soft palate

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9
Q

What is in the lateral wall of the nasal cavity

A

Ethmoid, inferior nasal concha, maxilla, sphenoid, palatine bone, lacrimal, nasal bone

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10
Q

What is in the medial wall of the nasal cavity

A

Septal cartilage, ethmoid, vomer

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11
Q

What is in the roof of the nasal cavity

A

Frontal bone, ethmoid and sphenoid

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12
Q

What is the olfactory nerve

A

Cranial nerve 1

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13
Q

Describe the olfactory pathway

A
  • Olfactory mucosa
  • Olfactory nerves
  • Olfactory bulb
  • Olfactory tract
  • Medial and lateral striae
  • Piriform cortices
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14
Q

What is the structure of the resp mucosa

A
  • Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
  • Goblet cells
  • Rich vascular supply and submucosal glands
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15
Q

What is the function of the mucus

A

It traps foreign particles and cilia move mucus outside of the airway

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16
Q

Describe the innervation of the nasal cavity

A

It is mixed:
- CN1 - special sensory
- CN V1 and V2 (ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of trigeminal nerve) - somatic sensory
- CN VII - facial nerve, parasympathetic secretomotor
- Sympathetic innervation via peri-arterial fibres, from superior cervical ganglion

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17
Q

Describe the arterial supply of the nasal cavity

A
  • Rich vascular supply
  • Anastosome between external and internal carotid artery branches
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18
Q

Describe the route from the internal carotid artery

A
  • ICA
  • Ophthalmic artery
  • Anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries
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19
Q

Describe the route from the external carotid artery

A
  • ECA
  • Maxillary artery
  • Sphenopalatine and descending palatine
  • Greater palatine

Also,
- ECA
- Facial
- Superior labial
- Nasal

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20
Q

What are the paranasal sinuses

A

Epithelium lined cavities within facial bones around the nasal cavities

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21
Q

What are the 4 paranasal cavities

A

Frontal, sphenoidal, maxillary and ethmoidal

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22
Q

Describe the drainage of the paranasal sinuses

A

They drain to the nasal cavity. Below each conchae is a space called a meatus

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23
Q

What makes up the middle meatus

A

Frontal, anterior and middle ethmoidal and maxillary

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24
What makes up the superior meatus
Posterior ethmoidal
25
What makes up the spheno-ethmoidal recess
Sphenoidal
26
What makes up the inferior meatus
Nasolacrimal duct
27
What is the pharynx
It is a fibromuscular tube
28
What does the pharynx span over
From base of skull to oesophagus
29
What are the 3 compartments of the pharynx
Nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx
30
How many muscles does the pharynx have per side
6 muscles per side, 3 constrictors, 3 longitudinal
31
What is the function of the pharynx
Conducts air from nasopharynx to larynx. Conducts food/liquid from oropharynx to oesophagus
32
What is the larynx and its function
- It is composed of muscle, cartilage and ligaments/membranes - Guards airway during swallowing - Phonation - Allow voluntary increase in extra-abdominal pressure
33
What are the 3 unpaired cartilages of the larynx
Thyroid, cricoid and epiglottic (only elastic cartilage)
34
What are the 3 paired cartilages of the larynx
Arytenoids, corniculate, cuneiform
35
What is the function of the nasopharynx (nasal cavity)
Transports air, divided from oropharynx by soft palate
35
What is the function of the oropharynx (oral cavity)
Transports air, food and fluid but these must be separated so air passes into larynx, while food and fluid continue into the laryngopharynx
36
What is the function of the laryngopharynx (larynx)
Transports food and fluid
37
What are the membranes of the larynx
- Aryepiglottic fold - Vestibular fold - The vocal fold
38
What is the aryepiglottic fold
Upper edge of the quadrangular membrane (forms the laryngeal inlet). Closure of the inlet is by elevation of the larynx
39
What is the vestibular fold
It is formed by the lower edge of the quadrangular membrane
40
What is the vocal fold
It is the upper edge of the cricovocal/cricothyroid membrane (control laryngeal diameter for: speech, coughing, sneezing and raising the intra-abdominal pressure, vital in micturiton, defecation and lifting heavy objects
41
What are the laryngeal muscles
They open/close the inlet, open/close the rima glottis, shorten/lengthen the vocal folds
42
What are the nerves of the larynx
The superior and the recurrent laryngeal nerve
43
What does the superior laryngeal nerve do
It supplies only 1 muscle and sensation above vocal cords
44
What does the recurrent laryngeal nerve do
It supplies all other muscles, and sensation of vocal cords and below
45
What is the trachea
Fibrous and cartilaginous tube conducting air from larynx to bronchi
46
Where does trachea span over
C6 to T4/5
47
What shape are the cartilage rings
C shaped to maintain patency
48
What are the bronchi
They are the continuation of trachea, have smooth muscle and complete cartilage rings
49
What is the distribution of the secondary bronchi
3 right, 2 left
50
Where do bronchi receive blood from
Bronchial arteries, 1 right, 2 left
51
What happens as the number of serial divisions of bronchioles increases
Size individually decreases but total surface area increases
52
What are alveoli
They are pulmonary vasculature branches in a similar fashion to bronchi. They are a single cell thick ideal for gas exchange
53
What is the structure of bronchioles
- Smooth muscle but no cartilage, no glands - Vascular supply adjacent - Still resp epithelium - Surrounding alveoli
54
What is the structure of terminal bronchiole
- Alternating thick and thin portion - Sparse smooth muscle - Club cells
55
What are club cells
They are non ciliated, cuboidal epithelium producing protective secretions
56
What are acini
A cluster of cells composing the smallest unit of a compound gland
57
What is the hilum
A depression or fissure where structures such as blood vessels and nerves enter an organ
58
What covers the lungs
Visceral pleurae
59
What drives inspiration at rest
The diaphragm
60
Describe the mechanics of breathing
- Diaphragm contraction increases thoracic volume, drawing air into lungs - Gas exchange - Diaphragm relaxes and thoracic volume falls, air exhaled - Exhaling at rest is largely passive (elastic recoil)
61
What can higher demand for O2/CO2 involve
Accessory muscles
62
What structures lie in the root of the lung
- Main bronchus - Pulmonary artery - Pulmonary vein - Bronchial arteries - Lymph nodes and vessels
63
What is asthma
Inflammation of airways causing reduced diameter of bronchi
64
What is COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
65
What is pneumothorax
Air in pleural cavity. "Collapsed lung". Spontaneous

Respiratory system (1 decks)

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