CCP Upper and Lower airway (2026)

Upper AW consist of

nose, oral cav, pharynx

Upper AW primary functions

Conduction of air, Filter, Speech & Smell

Croup =

Steeple Sign = narrowing of air column

Epiglottitis =

Swollen Epiglottis

Nose primary functions

Filter, Humidify, Warm/cool insp air

Nose is made of

Upper third made of bone & lower two thirds made of cartilage (mainly made of cartilage)

Alar

Cartilages on outer portion of nose

Nasal Septum seperates

Nasal Cavity into two chambers

Posterior section of nose formed by

The superior portion of the soft palate

Vestibule with hair follicles

Vibrissae (first line of defense)

Turbinates/Conchae are

Bony protrusions on lateral walls of nasal cavity

Turbinates/Conchae function

Increase surface/contact area for inspired gas adding more humidity & heat

Nasal Passage also called

Choanae

Paranasal Sinuses

Frontal, Ethmoid, Maxillary, Sphenoid

Paranasal Sinuses function

Producing mucus and resonating chamber for sound

The roof of the mouth is

The floor of the nasal cavity

Oral Cavity roof has

Hard and Soft palate

Hard Palate =

Palatine process of maxilla & Palatine bones

Soft Palate =

moves upward and backward to close opening b/t nasal and oropharynx to help with sucking, blowing and swallowing

Palatine Tonsils connects to

The soft palate

Pharynx is divided into three parts

nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx

Nasopharynx location

posterior to nasal cavity

Nasopharynx contains

Pharyngeal Tonsils/Adenoids and Eustachian Tubes

Eustachian Tubes function

Equalizes pressure in the middle ear

Oropharynx location

Between the soft palate & base of the tongues

Lingual Tonsils @

Root of tongue

Laryngopharynx location

Between the base of tongues and entrance to the esophagus

Epiglottis is

Anterior to the Laryngopharynx

When by passing upper aw you need

Warm and Humidify

If you do not bypass the upper aw correctly you can have

Excessive secretions, Partial and Full AW obstruction, Air trapping/Mucus plug

Larynx Functions

Air passage between pharynx and trachea, aspiration protection, and speech sound generation

Larynx Location

Between the base of the tongue and the upper end of the trachea.

Single Laryngeal Cartilages

Thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis.

Paired Laryngeal Cartilages

Arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform.

Thyroid Cartilage (adams apple) is the

Largest cartilage with a V-shaped notch along the superior border.

Thyrohyoid Membrane

Membrane associated with the thyroid cartilage.

Epiglottis Structure and Function

Second largest spoon-shaped cartilage; covers glottic opening when swallowing to prevent aspiration

The epiglottis is connected to

the base of the tongue

Epiglottis is located and attached to

above the glottis and attached to medical (middle) surface of thyroid cartilage

Cricoid Cartilage

Third largest, signet-ring-shaped cartilage inferior (below) to the thyroid cartilage

Cricoid cartilage inferior border attached to

First ring of the trachea

Arytenoid Cartilage

Three-sided pyramid whose base rests on the cricoid.

Arytenoid’s projection is called

vocal process

Arytenoid apex articulates with

the corniculate cartilages

Cuneiform and corniculate cartilages

Accessory cartilages stiffen the glottic folds.

The interior of the larynx is

Lined by mucous membrane that forms two folds that protrude inwards

Which vocal cords are true and false

Upper folds are the false vocal cords and lower pair are the true vocal cords

The glottis is

The space in between the true vocal cords.

What’s the vocal ligament

The medial border composed of a strong band of elastic tissue

Vocal Cord Action During Inspiration

Abduct (open).

Vocal Cord Action During Expiration

Adduct (close) slightly while maintaining an open glottic space.

Valsalva's Maneuver

Massive adduction of vocal folds tightly sealing the larynx.

Valsalva's Maneuver Function

Prevents air escape during lifting, coughing, straining, and childbirth.

Three major layers of the Tracheobronchial tree

Epithelial lining, Lamina Propria and Cartilaginous Layer

Trachea Generation, Zone and Airway

Generation zero; cartilaginous airway in the conducting zone.

Main Stem Bronchi Generation, Zone and Airway

Generation 1; cartilaginous airway in the conducting zone

Lobar Bronchi Generation, Zone and Airway

Generation 2; cartilaginous airway in the conducting zone.

Segmental Bronchi Generation, Zone and Airway

Generation 3; cartilaginous airway in the conducting zone.

Subsegmental Bronchi Generation, Zone and Airway

Generations 4 to 9; cartilaginous airways in the conducting zone.

Bronchioles Generation, Zone and Airway

Generations 10 to 15; noncartilaginous airways in the conducting zone.

Terminal Bronchioles Generation, Zone and Airway

Generations 16 to 19; noncartilaginous airways in the conducting zone.

Respiratory Bronchioles Generation, Zone and AIrway

Generations 20 to 23; gas exchange airways in the respiratory zone.

Alveolar Ducts Generation, Zone and Airway

Generations 24 to 27; gas exchange airways in the respiratory zone.

Alveolar Sacs Generation, Zone and Airway

Generation 28; gas exchange airway in the respiratory zone.

Epithelial Lining Type

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with mucous glands.

The epithelial lining is separated from __________ by a basement membrane

The lamina propria

Epithelium _______ in height as

Decreases in height as epithelial lining airway diameter decreases.

As diameter of a tube decreases by 1/2

Resistance increases by a factor of 16

Cilia Presence

Absent in the respiratory bronchioles

Mucous Blanket is the

Mucous layer lining the tracheobronchial tree

Mucous blanket is produced by

Goblet Cells and Submucosal Glands (Submucosal Glands produce the most)

Two distinct mucous blanket layers

Gel (thicker layer) and Sol (thinner layer) layers

Mucus production is controlled by

Cranial nerve x / Parasympathetic nerves

Mucus moves towards the larynx @

2 cm/min to promote cough like an escalator