NCM 112: Assessment of the Respiratory Tract

Nose

Passageway for air to pass to and from the lungs

Paranasal sinuses

resonating chamber in speech, common site of infection

Types of paranasal sinuses

• frontal

• ethmoid

• sphenoid

• maxillary

Pharynx/ throat

• divided into three regions:

  • nasal

  • oral

  • laryngeal

Pharynx/ throat

Passageway for the respiratory and digestive tracts

Adenoids/ pharyngeal tonsils

• guarding the body from invasion by organisms entering the nose and the throat

Larynx

• voice box

• connects the pharynx and the trachea

Larynx

Consists of the following:

• epiglottis

• glottis

• thyroid

• cartilage

• cricoid cartilage

• arytenoid cartilage

• vocal cords