Module 1 Part 1: The Anatomy of the Respiratory System

Vocabulary practice flashcards defining key anatomical terms, physiological structures, clinical connections, and histological components of the upper and lower airways from Module 1 Part 1.

Upper Airway

The air passageway consisting of the nose, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx that functions to conduct air, humidify air, and prevent aspiration.

Nasal Vibrissae

Hairs located inside the nares that filter large particles from incoming atmospheric air.

Turbinates (Conchae)

Structures within the nasal cavity (superior, middle, and inferior) that greatly increase its internal surface area to optimize warming, filtering, and humidifying incoming air.

Pseudostratified Ciliated Columnar Epithelium

Epithelial tissue covering the posterior two-thirds of the nasal cavity and conducting airways, serving functional role as the mucociliary escalator.

Mucus Blanket

A fluid coating composed of a gel layer and a sol layer made of $95\%$ water that traps inhaled debris and provides moisture to incoming air via evaporation.

Tracheostomy

A surgical opening created directly into a patient's throat/windpipe to establish an airway.

Endotracheal Intubation

The procedure of passing an endotracheal tube through the patient's mouth and glottis into the windpipe.

Nasopharynx

The upper pharyngeal region extending from the posterior nasal cavity to the superior portion of the soft palate, containing the pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) and openings to the eustachian tubes.

Eustachian Tube (Pharyngotympanic Tube)

A structure opening at the lateral surface of the nasopharynx that connects it to the middle ear to equalize pressure and drain fluid.

Oropharynx

The central pharyngeal region located between the soft palate and the base of the tongue, containing the palatine tonsils and lingual tonsil.

Laryngopharynx

The lower pharyngeal region located between the base of the tongue and the entrance to the esophagus.

Pharyngeal Reflex

The gag or swallowing reflex controlled by the muscles and innervation of the laryngopharynx.

Aryepiglottic Folds

Mucous membranes extending around the margin of the larynx starting from the epiglottis.

Larynx

The structure known as the 'voice box' that serves as a passageway for air, protects against aspiration, generates sound, and enables voluntary closure for coughing.

Epiglottis

A single, spoon-shaped, leaf-like laryngeal cartilage that rotates downward during swallowing to cover the glottic opening and direct food/fluid into the esophagus.

Glottis

The opening between the true vocal cords into the trachea, which serves as the narrowest point of the upper airway in adults.

Cricoid Cartilage

A single laryngeal cartilage located inferior to the thyroid cartilage that represents the narrowest point of the upper airway in infants and children.

Single Laryngeal Cartilages

The three unpaired supportive cartilages of the larynx: thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, and epiglottis.

Paired Laryngeal Cartilages

The three sets of paired supportive laryngeal cartilages: arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform cartilages.

Acute Epiglottitis

A serious, bacterial-induced inflammation of the epiglottis causing airway swelling, inspiration stridor, a characteristic 'thumb print sign' on X-ray, and potential airway obstruction.

Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis)

A viral infection common in children that causes sub-glottic laryngeal swelling and results in a characteristic harsh, seal-bark cough.

Trachea

A semi-rigid airway supported by C-shaped cartilage rings and closed posteriorly by a fibroelastic membrane shared with the esophagus.

Carina

The bifurcation point of the trachea into the right and left mainstem bronchi, by which point incoming air should be fully warmed to body temperature and fully humidified.

Right Mainstem Bronchus

The primary bronchus that branches off the trachea at a $25^\circ$ angle, making suction catheters and aspirated fluids more likely to enter it.

Left Mainstem Bronchus

The primary bronchus that branches off the trachea at a sharper angle of $40^\circ\text{ to }60^\circ$.

Conducting Zone

The non-gas-exchanging portion of the tracheobronchial tree extending from generation $0$ (trachea) through generation $16\text{--}19$ (terminal bronchioles).

Respiratory Zone

The gas-exchanging region of the lungs beginning at generation $20\text{--}23$ (respiratory bronchioles) where alveoli first appear.

Mast Cells

Cells in the airway lining that release histamine during allergic reactions, resulting in bronchoconstriction.

Type I Alveolar Cells

Specialized squamous epithelial cells covering $95\%$ of the total alveolar surface area that allow gas exchange with pulmonary capillaries.

Type II Alveolar Cells

Alveolar cells that produce and secrete pulmonary surfactant to reduce alveolar surface tension and prevent alveolar collapse.

Alveolar Macrophages

Phagocytic cells residing in the alveoli that ingest and remove foreign particles, pathogens, and debris.