Chapter 22, Lesson 1: Anatomy of the Respiratory System

Flashcards from Chapter 22, Lesson 1 of McGraw Hill Anatomy and Physiology, Tenth Edition, by Kenneth S. Saladin.

Respiratory system

Organ system that takes in and expels air from the body

Respiration (breathing)

Ventilation of the lungs

Respiratory system functions

• Gas exchange (O₂ and CO₂)

• Acid-base balance (CO₂ pH regulation)

• Blood and lymph flow and filtration (pressure)

• Platelet production (transfer to blood)

• Blood pressure regulation

• Abdominal content expulsion

• Olfaction (smell)

• Communication (speech)

Respiratory system organs

• Nose

• Pharynx

• Larynx

• Trachea

• Bronchi

• Lungs

Respiratory system zones

• Conducting zone (airflow)

• Respiratory zone (gas exchange)

• Upper respiratory tract (nose to larynx)

• Lower respiratory tract (trachea to lungs)

Conducting zone

Area of the respiratory system that serves only for airflow, no gas exchange (nostrils)

Respiratory zone

Areas of the respiratory system that participate in gas exchange (alveoli, other structures)

Upper respiratory tract

Area of the respiratory system from the nose to the larynx

Lower respiratory tract

Area of the respiratory system from the trachea to the lungs

Nose

Part of the respiratory system made of cartilage that warms, cleanses, and humidifies air while detecting odors and amplifying voice through chambers

Ala nasi

Flared portion at the lower end of the nose made of specialized cartilage

Nasal septum

Structure that divides the nasal cavity into the left and right nasal fossae; made of cartilage

Vestibule

Small chamber inside the nostrils with guard hairs that block insects and debris from entering the nose

Nasal conchae (turbinates)

Tissue that vibrates the vestibule from behind to move mucus

Goblet cells

Mucus-producing cells

Ciliated cells

Cells with motile cilia that move mucus

Olfactory epithelium

Tissue within the nose involved in smell through chemical detection

Erectile tissue (swell body)

Tissue that restricts airflow to each nostril 30 to 60 minutes at a time by swelling with blood to allow recovery from drying

Pharynx

Muscular funnel extending about 13 cm that is divided into three regions:

1. Nasopharynx

2. Oropharynx

3. Laryngopharynx

Nasopharynx

Part of pharynx that receives the auditory tubes and contains the pharyngeal tonsil

Oropharynx

Part of the pharynx that contains the palatine tonsils

Laryngopharynx

Part of the pharynx that is posterior to the larynx and begins the esophagus

Larynx

A cartilaginous chamber to keep food and drink out of the airway and produce sound

Epiglottis

Flap of tissue over the top of the larynx that prevents airway occlusion

Thyroid cartilage

Shield-shaped and largest laryngeal cartilage; contains the laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple) which is larger in males due to testosterone

Vestibular folds

Folds of the larynx that play no role in speech but close the larynx during swallowing; supported by vestibular ligaments

Vocal cords (vocal folds)

Folds of the larynx that produce sound when air passes between them, contains vocal ligaments to endure vibration and contact alongside muscles to create sound

Gender vocal cord differences

Males have longer and thicker vocal cords that vibrate slower and produce lower-pitched sounds

Trachea (windpipe)

Rigid tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi; is anterior to the esophagus and supported by cartilage rings

Mucociliary escalator

Mechanism for debris removal to move particle-trapping mucus upwards towards pharynx to be swallowed

Tracheotomy

A temporary opening in the trachea with a tube to allow airflow, preventing asphyxiation, but can dry out mucous membranes and increase infection risk by bypassing the nasal cavity

Intubation

Directly introducing air into the trachea with a ventilator; air is filtered and humidified

Base

The broad, concave portion of the lung resting on the diaphragm

Apex

Tip of the lung that projects above the clavicle

Costal surface

Part of the lung pressed against the ribcage (costals)

Mediastinal surface

Part of the lung that faces medially toward the heart

Hilum

Slit through the lung recieving the main bronchus, blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves

Lobe diffferences

Right lung has three lobes (superior, middle, and inferior) while left lung has two (superior and inferior)

Cardiac impression

The left lung’s indentation to accomodate the heart

Bronchial tree

A branching system of air tubes in each lung

Main bronchi (primary bronchi)

Bronchi that arises from the fork of the trachea; right is wider and more vertical than left leading to higher aspiration rates

Lobar bronchi (secondary bronchi)

Bronchi branhcing off into each lobe of the lung into to superior, middle, and inferior lobar bronchi (superior and inferior in the left lung)

Segmental bronchi (tertiary bronchi)

Bronchi that branch off the lobar bronchi into smaller segments

Bronchioles

Continuations of the bronchi without supportive cartilage, <1 mm in diameter

Terninal bronchioles

The final branches of the conducting zone and bronchi before the alveoli; no mucous glands or goblet cells (instead moving on mucociliary escalator)

Respiratory bronchioles

Bronchioles that branch off terminal bronchioles with alveoli budding from the walls for gas exchange; considered part of the respiratory zone

Alveolar sacs

Clusters of alveoli around a central space

Alveoli

Microscopic air patches in the lungs about 0.2 to 0.5 mm in diameter for gas exchange

Alveolar macrophages (dust cells)

One of the most numerous cells in the lung, they wander the alveoli and connective tissue by phagocytizing (“eating”) dust particles then go up the mucociliar escalator

Respiratory membrane

The thin barrier between the alveolar air and blood where gases are exchanged across

Pulmonary circuit pathway

After passing through pulmonary valve:

1. Pulmonary trunk

2. Pulmonary arteries

3. Lobar arteries

4. Capillaries around alveoli

5. Pulmonary veins

Then to left atrium

RIght-to-left shunt

Blood flow pattern in the heart where some deoxygenated blood passes to the oxygenated left ventricle, diluting oxygen content

Alveolar pressure

Lower to prevent accumulation and increase aeration

Pleura

Serous membrane that lines the thoracic wall and forms the surface of the lung, split into the visceral (surface) and parietal (medastinal) pleura

Visceral pleura

Pleura that forms the surface of the lung

Parietal pleura

Pleura that adheres to the mediastinum and inner surface of the rib cage

Pleural cavity

The potential space between the pleurae for friction reduction and pressure maintenance