Upper Resp tract Flashcards
(25 cards)
Functions of the nose (4)
- Humidify air
- Warms air
- Filters air (using cilia to trap particulates)
- Defence (cilia take particles backwards to be swallowed)
What lines the anterior nares?
Nostrils - skin lined and has stiff hairs
Purpose of turbinates/conchae (2)
Doubles SA of the nose
They create meatuses
What does the superior meatus contain? (3)
- Olfactory epithelium
- Cribriform plate
- Sphenoid sinus drains here
What drains into the middle meatus? (3)
Frontal, ethmoid and maxillary sinuses drain here
What drains into the inferior meatus?
Nasolacrimal duct drains here
What is a pneumatised area?
A bone that’s hollow or contains many air cells
Frontal sinus
- location
- innervation
- Location: in frontal bone, above the orbit
- Innervation: CN V1 (ophthalmic division of trigeminal)
Maxillary sinus
- location
- innervation
- Location: body of maxilla, pyramidal shape
- Innervation: CN V2 (maxillary division of trigeminal)
Ethmoid sinus
- location
- innervation
- Location: between the eyes (labyrinth of air cells)
- Innervation: CN V1 and V2 (ophthalmic and maxillary division of trigeminal)
Sphenoid sinus
- location
- innervation
- Location: medial to cavernous sinus, inferior to optic canal, close to pituitary gland
- Innervation: CN 1 (ophthalmic division of trigeminal)
Where does the pharynx start and end?
From skull base to C6
Function of pharynx
Tube which carries filtered air from nose to larynx
What structures make up the pharynx?
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Laryngopharynx
Structure of the nasopharynx
- Lined by respiratory epithelium (pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium w/ goblet cells)
- Contains Eustachian tube
What marks the inferior border of oropharynx?
Epiglottis
What marks the inferior border of laryngopharynx?
Cricoid cartilage (C6)
What are the 3 paired cartilages of the larynx?
- Arytenoid cartilage
- Corniculate cartilage
- Cuniform cartilage
What are the 3 unpaired cartilages of the larynx?
- Thyroid
- Cricoid
- Epiglottis
What are the 3 main functions of the larynx?
- Protection of lower airways
- Respiration
- Phonation
How is sound produced?
Arytenoid cartilages rotate on the cricothyroid cartilage to change vocal cords
What does the internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve do?
Sensation to muscles of the larynx
What does the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve do?
Motor to cricothyroid muscle
What do the recurrent laryngeal nerves do?
Motor to all muscles of larynx, except cricothyroid
