A&P 2 respiratory system

what is the function of the respiratory system?

to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide

what are the different subprocesses of respiration?

pulmonary ventilation, external respiration, transport of respiratory gases, and internal respiration

what is pulmonary respiration?

"breathing" bringing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide

what system performs pulmonary respiration and external respiration?

the respiratory system

what is external respiration?

the exchange that occurs at the lung: carbon dioxide leaving the blood and oxygen entering the blood

what is the transportation of respiratory gases?

the transport of CO2 out of tissues and O2 in

what is internal respiration?

the exchange that occurs at the capillaries: picking up CO2 and dropping off O2

what system performs transportation of respiratory gases and internal respiration?

the circulatory system

what are the anatomical components of the respiratory system?

the nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchial branches, lungs, alveoli/air sacs of the lungs

what are the 2 portions/zones of the respiratory system?

the conducting zone and the respiratory zone

where is the conducting zone?

from the nose to the pharynx

where is the respiratory zone?

from the respiratory bronchioles to the alveoli

what is the function of the respiratory zone?

to actually exchange the respiratory gases

what is the function of the conducting zone?

to conduct or bring air into the body while simultaneously humifidying, warming, and filtering the air before it hits the respiratory zone

what is the function of the nose?

to act as a passageway for air, an air cleanser, an air warmer, and an air humidifier. It also has olfactory receptors that allow a sense of smell. It has a part in quality of speech/speech production

what are the 2 components of the nose?

the external nose and the interior nasal cavity

describe the features of the exterior nose

has an anterior area/dorsum nasi ("nose bridge") ending at the apex with exterior openings called "nostrils or nares with the alae laterally"

what bones make up the skeleton of the nose?

nasal and frontal bones, maxillary bones, and plates of hyaline cartilage

what are some characteristics of the skin of the nose?

thin with many many sebaceous glands

what separates the right & left nasal cavities?

the nasal septum

what makes up the various segments of the nasal septum?

anterior: cartilage

posterior: vomer bone & perpendicular plate of ethmoid

where does the nasal cavity end?

the nasopharynx

what bones make up the roof of the nasal cavity?

the ethmoid and sphenoid bones

what bones make up the floor of the nasal cavity?

the palate (which separates the nasal and oral cavities)

what kinds of palate make up the 2 sections of the floor of the nasal cavity?

anterior: hard palate

posterior: soft palate

what bones make up the hard palate?

the palatine bones and the palatine processes of the maxillary bones

what is the nasal vestibule?

the inner curve of the nose between the environment and the ends of the nostrils that is equipped with sweat and sebaceous glands as well as hair follicles

what 2 types of mucus line the nasal cavity (with the exception of the nasal vestibule)?

olfactory mucosa and respiratory mucosa

where is the olfactory mucosa and what does it contain?

in the superior part of the nasal cavity; contains olfactory receptors

what kind of tissue makes up the respiratory mucosa?

pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells sitting on a lamina propria containing mucous and serous glands

what kinds of materials exist within the respiratory mucosa?

lysozyme (antibacterial enzyme), and defensins (natural antibiotics made by cilia)

what is the function of the respiratory mucosa?

to entrap inhaled pathogens and move them up (via cilia) to the throat

what exists in respiratory mucosa that allows it to warm incoming air?

numerous blood vessels

what are the nasal conchae?

3 projections (superior middle and inferior) on each lateral wall of the nasal cavity covered in mucous

what is the nasal meatus?

grooves between the conchae ("turbinate bones") that causes more entrapment in the nasal mucosa

What structures surround the nasal cavity? What are their functions?

Paranasal sinuses (frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid & maxillary) which lighten the skull and humidify the skull (lined with respiratory mucosa)

What is rhinitis? What does it cause?

Inflammation of the respiratory mucosa; increased mucous production

what is the laymen's term for pharynx?

throat

what does the pharynx connect?

the nasal/oral cavities to the esophagus & larynx

how long is the pharynx?

~13cm

where does the larynx start and end?

the base of the skull to ~C6

what are the 3 divisions of the pharynx from superior to inferior?

naso-, oro- and layngopharynx

what tissues make up the pharynx?

skeletal muscle lined with respiratory mucosa

where is the nasopharynx in relation to the nasal cavity and the soft palate?

posterior to the nasal cavity and superior to the soft palate

is the nasopharynx a passageway for food, air or both?

air

what happens when you swallow to keep food and drink from going up into the nasal cavity?

the soft palate rises, sealing the connection between the nasal and oral cavities

what is the name for the tip of the soft palate?

the uvula

which section of the pharynx has an opening to the middle ear? what is the name of the connection and its function? what lymphatic tissue exists at this connection?

the nasopharynx; the eustachian tube; to equalize pressure; tubal tonsils

what kind of tissue lines the nasopharynx?

pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

what lymphatic tissue exists at the posterior wall of the nasopharynx?

the pharyngeal tonsil

where is the oropharynx in relation to the oral cavity, the soft palate and the epiglottis?

posterior to the oral cavity

inferior to the soft palate

superior to the epiglottis

what is the isthmus of fauces?

the location where the oral cavity opens into the oropharynx

is the isthmus of fauces a passageway for food or air or both?

both

what type of material lines the oropharynx? what is the function of that material?

a mucosa of statified squamous epithelium; to protect the esophagus from abrasions/friction/chemicals from swallowing food

what are the two types of tonsils in the oropharynx and where are they specifically?

palatine (lateral walls of the isthmus)

lingual (base of the tongue)

what tissue lines the laryngopharynx?

stratified squamous epithelium

is the laryngopharynx a passageway for food or air or both?

both

where does the laryngopharynx span?

from posterior to the epiglottis to the larynx

what does the laryngopharynx separate into at its termination?

the esophagus (posteriorly) and the larynx (anteriorly)

what passes through the esophagus?

food

what passes through the larynx?

air

what's another term for the larynx?

the voice box

how long is the larynx?

~5cm from C4-C6

what is the larynx continuous with?

the trachea

what are the functions of the larynx?

to pass air, to ensure food and air are properly routed and is the location of the vocal cords for voice production

explain the detailed cartilage network of the larynx

there are 9 cartilages connected by ligaments and membranes all hyaline except the elastic epiglottis.

Largest: thyroid - 2 fused plates "laryngeal prominence" or "adam's apple"

cricoid cartilage - inf. to thyroid sup. to trachea

3 pairs: form lateral & posterior larynx walls

2 arytenoids - largest, pyramid-shaped, anchor vocal cords

2 cuneiform and 2 carniculate

epiglottis - extends from post. tongue to thyroid cartilage

what mechanisms occur during swallowing?

the larynx rises, the epiglottis flops over to block the opening

where are the vocal ligaments?

in folds of mucosa connecting the arytenoids to the thyroid cartilage

what kind of ligaments are the true vocal cords/folds?

elastic

what is the glottis?

the opening between the vocal cords

what are the false/vestibular vocal cords?

a pair of mucosal folds superior to the true vocal cords that are inelastic and serve to protect the true vocal cords

where in the throat does the tissue change from stratified squamous to pseudostratified ciliated columnar?

the nasopharynx = pseudo cil. col. epith. the oropharynx and below = strat. squam. the sup. larynx = strat. squam. larynx below vocal cords = pseudo cil. col.

what produces speech?

the release of air and the opening/closing of the glottis

what changes the length of the vocal cords?

the contraction/relaxation of the laryngeal muscles

what is the relationship between the tension on the vocal cords and the pitch of the resulting sound?

higher tension --> higher pitch

what is the relationship between the width of the opening of the glottis and the tone of the sound

wider glottis opening --> deeper tone

narrower glottis openeing --> higher pitch

what happens to boys' vocal cords during puberty?

they thicken and lengthen to create deeper sounds

what contributes to the loudness of the voice?

the amount of force with which the air passes through the vocal cords

what muscles can be recruited to make the voice louder?

abs, chest and back muscles

what are the contributors to resonance of voice?

nasal cavity, oral cavity, and paranasal sinuses

what is laryngitis?

the inflammation of the vocal cords which leads to redness and swelling and reduced ability/inability to vibrate

what is the trachea?

the windpipe

how long is the trachea and where does it extend?

~11cm from the larynx to the mediastinum

where does the trachea divide and what does it divide into?

at the mediastinum; into its 2 main bronchi

what are some characteristics of the trachea?

2cm wide, 11cm long and flexible

what are the 3 layers of the tracheal wall?

mucosa, submucosa and adventitia

describe the mucosa layer of the tracheal wall

pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with a thick lamina propria and elastic fibers

describe the submucosa layer of the tracheal wall

equipped with serous and mucous glands

describe the adventitia layer of the tracheal wall

connective tissue with ~15-20 c-shaped cartilage rings

what is the first thing affected in the respiratory system of a smoker?

the cilia of the mucosa

whats the relationship between breathing and the movement of the trachea

inhale --> trachea up

exhale --> trachea down

what is the function of the cartilage rings of the trachea?

to prevent it from collapsing under the pressure of respiration

why are the cartilage rings of the trachea c-shaped and which way does the opening face?

opens posteriorly so that the esophagus, during contraction/expansion doesn't rub against hard hyaline cartilage

what is the carina?

the last (v-shaped) cartilage at the end of the trachea

describe the bronchi and their entrance into the lungs

they enter the medial aspect of each lung at an oblique angle

what's different about the right bronchus?

its shorter wider and more vertical upon enrty

which bronchus usually gets materials lodged in it?

the right

where does the conducting zone begin?

where the trachea divides into the two primary/main bronchi

what structures make up the bronchial respiratory tree?

the right and left primary bronchi, the secondary/lobar bronchi, tertiary/segmental bronchi, the bronchioles and the terminal bronchioles

what are the diameters of the bronchioles and the terminal bronchioles?

<1mm

<0.5mm