Learn: beachy upper respiratory system

What is the primary function of the lungs?

To bring atmospheric gases into contact with blood.

What is ventilation?

The process of moving gas into and out of the lungs.

What is respiration?

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

What are the two major airway divisions?

Upper airways and lower airways.

What are conducting airways?

Tubes that connect outside air with the gas-exchange membrane in the lungs.

What are the three main functions of the conducting airways?

They warm, humidify, and filter inspired gas.

Do conducting airways normally participate in gas exchange?

No. There is zero gas exchange across the conducting airway walls.

What is anatomical dead space?

The volume of the conducting airways where no gas exchange occurs.

What are the main structures of the upper airway?

Nose, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx.

What is the role of the nose in respiration?

It warms, humidifies, and filters inspired gas.

What is the oral cavity?

An alternative pathway for air entering the respiratory system.

What are the three divisions of the pharynx?

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

What is the larynx?

The transition point between the upper and lower airways.

What is another name for the larynx?

The voice box.

What is the nose's role as an air-conditioning device?

It warms, humidifies, and filters inspired air.

What is the preferred breathing route for adults at rest?

The nose.

When may adults breathe through the mouth instead of the nose?

When nasal mucous membranes swell or during rapid breathing.

What happens to airflow resistance when the nasal mucosa swells?

Resistance to airflow increases.

What structures make up the anterior portion of the nose?

Cartilage and the nasal septum.

What is the function of the nasal septum?

It divides the nasal cavity into right and left fossae.

What bones form the posterior nasal septum?

The vomer and ethmoid bone.

Where do the nasal fossae open posteriorly?

Into the nasopharynx.

What are conchae?

Scroll-shaped bones that project from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity.

What is another name for the conchae?

Turbinates.

What are the three meatuses created by the conchae?

Superior, middle, and inferior meatuses.

What is the function of the nasal conchae?

They increase surface area and contact time between inspired gas and the nasal mucosa.

What type of epithelium lines the anterior nose?

Squamous, non-ciliated epithelium.

What type of epithelium lines the posterior nose?

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.

What is PCCE?

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.

What is respiratory mucosa?

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium that lines much of the respiratory tract.

What lies deep to the respiratory mucosa of the nose?

A very rich arterial and venous blood supply.

How does blood flow in the nasal mucosa contribute to respiration?

It contributes greatly to heating and humidifying inspired air.

How do the turbinates help filter inspired air?

They create opportunities for airborne particles to become trapped in the mucus layer.

Why is the nasal mucosa considered a first line of defense?

It helps prevent larger airborne particles from reaching the lower respiratory tract.

What is the hard palate?

The anterior, bony portion of the palate that separates the nasal and oral cavities.

What is the soft palate?

The posterior portion of the palate consisting of muscles and cartilaginous structures.

What happens to the nasal cavity during swallowing?

The nasal cavity is isolated from the oral cavity.

What does respiratory mucosa secrete?

Mucus.

What lies beneath the respiratory mucosa and helps control its thickness?

An extensive capillary network connected to high-capacity blood vessels.

How do capillaries in the nasal mucosa help humidification?

Fenestrations allow water transfer toward the epithelial surface.

What is countercurrent blood flow?

A blood-flow arrangement that improves the nasal mucosa's ability to adjust the temperature and water content of inspired gas.

What happens to small airborne particles in the nasal cavity?

They adhere to the respiratory mucosa.

What substances in the nasal mucosa contribute to defense?

Immunoglobulins and inflammatory cells.

What are the three major functions of the nose?

Humidification, heating, and filtering.

What are paranasal sinuses?

Air-filled spaces connected to the nasal cavity.

What type of mucosa lines the paranasal sinuses?

Respiratory mucosa continuous with the nasal cavity.

What are the four pairs of paranasal sinuses?

Frontal, maxillary, sphenoid, and ethmoid sinuses.

Where does mucus from the paranasal sinuses drain?

Into the nasal cavity through openings beneath the nasal conchae.

Why can a sinus infection potentially contribute to lower respiratory tract infections?

The pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium is continuous between the sinuses and respiratory tract.

What are the three anatomical divisions of the pharynx?

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Where is the nasopharynx located?

From the posterior nasal cavity down to the soft palate.

What connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx?

The Eustachian tubes.

What type of epithelium lines the anterior one-third of the nasopharynx?

Squamous, non-ciliated epithelium.

What type of epithelium lines the posterior two-thirds of the nasopharynx?

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.

Where is the oropharynx located?

From the posterior oral cavity, extending from the soft palate to the base of the tongue.

What passes through the oropharynx?

Food and air.

What type of epithelium lines the oropharynx?

Non-ciliated, stratified squamous epithelium.

Where is the laryngopharynx located?

Below the base of the tongue and above the larynx.

What happens to the digestive and respiratory tracts at the laryngopharynx?

They separate.

What is the pharyngeal reflex?

A protective reflex that helps prevent aspiration into the lower airways.

Why do inhaled particles sometimes collide with the pharyngeal mucosa?

Inhaled gas changes direction in the pharynx, causing foreign particles to collide with and adhere to the mucous membrane.

What role does lymphatic tissue play in the pharynx?

It provides immune protection at a strategic location.

Why is pharyngeal musculature important?

It helps prevent respiratory aspiration.

Which cranial nerve provides the sensory component of the pharyngeal reflex?

The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX).

Which cranial nerve provides the motor component of the pharyngeal reflex?

The vagus nerve (X).

What reflexes are involved in protecting the lower airways from aspiration?

The gag and swallowing reflex arcs.

How does normal pharyngeal muscle tone affect the airway?

It helps maintain airway patency.

What can happen to the airway in a deeply unconscious person?

The airway can progress from snoring to apnea.

How can head position affect the upper airway?

A forward-drooped head can obstruct the airway, while proper positioning helps align the oral and nasal cavities with the pharynx and larynx.

What is the larynx?

A cartilaginous, cylindrical structure that acts as a valve on top of the trachea and contains the vocal cords.

What structures form the larynx?

Cartilage, ligaments, and muscles.

What is the glottis?

The opening between the vocal cords.

Where is the larynx located in adult men?

Approximately at the level of C4 to C6.

Where is the larynx located in women and children compared with adult men?

It is slightly higher.

What type of epithelium is found above the vocal cords?

Stratified squamous epithelium.

Why is stratified squamous epithelium found above the vocal cords?

The slide identifies it as the mucous membrane above the vocal cords; the presentation does not give a further explanation.

What type of epithelium is found below the vocal cords?

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium continuous with the trachea.

What is the epiglottis?

A thin, flat, leaf-shaped cartilage that rises above the glottis.

What type of cartilage is the epiglottis made of?

Elastic cartilage.

What is the function of the epiglottis?

It plays a role in protecting the airway and can be involved in acute upper airway obstruction.

What is the vallecula?

The space between the epiglottis and tongue.

Why is the vallecula clinically important?

It is an important landmark during endotracheal intubation.

How many laryngeal cartilages are there?

Nine.

What is the largest laryngeal cartilage?

The thyroid cartilage.

What is the cricoid cartilage?

A complete ring of cartilage in the larynx.

Why is the cricoid cartilage clinically important?

It is non-expandable and limits endotracheal tube size.

What is the narrowest point of the airway in infants?

The cricoid region.

What is the cricothyroid membrane?

The membrane located between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages.

What is a cricothyrotomy?

An emergency airway access procedure through the cricothyroid membrane.

What is a tracheostomy?

A surgical airway created approximately 1-3 cm below the cricoid.

What are the arytenoid cartilages?

A pair of laryngeal cartilages that provide attachment for the vocal ligaments.

What are the corniculate cartilages?

A pair of laryngeal cartilages.

What are the cuneiform cartilages?

A pair of laryngeal cartilages.

What are the nine laryngeal cartilages?

One epiglottis, one thyroid, one cricoid, two arytenoid, two corniculate, and two cuneiform cartilages.

What are the false vocal cords?

Vocal folds that are not the true vocal cords and contribute to the laryngeal structure.

What is the rima glottidis?

The triangular opening formed by the vocal folds; also called the glottis.

What is the narrowest part of the adult upper airway?

The glottis/rima glottidis.

What can the vocal cords do?

They can open and close by abducting and adducting.

How do the vocal cords contribute to coughing?

They help generate pressure for an effective cough.

Why is the cough mechanism important?

It is an important defense mechanism for the lungs.