ACB 2200A: Systemic Anatomy of the Human Body - Upper Respiratory System

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the upper respiratory system anatomy, embryology, and associated innervation and musculature.

Respiratory diverticulum

The structure originating from the primitive gut tube that branches out into lung buds during development.

Conducting Zone

The structural division from the nasal cavities to the terminal bronchioles that cleanses, warms, and humidifies incoming air.

Respiratory Zone

The structural division from the respiratory bronchioles to the alveoli where gas exchange occurs.

Choanae

The posterior nasal apertures or exit holes at the back of the nose leading into the nasopharynx.

Olfactory Mucosa

The specialized lining on the roof of the nasal cavity that houses the Olfactory Nerve ($CN\text{ I}$) for the sense of smell.

Respiratory Mucosa

The sticky lining of the nasal cavity that warms, moistens, and traps foreign particles in the air.

Conchae (Turbinates)

Scroll-like bony protrusions that increase surface area and create air turbulence to ensure air contacts the mucous membranes.

Meatus

The empty space located underneath each nasal concha.

Perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone

The bone forming the upper/superior component of the bony nasal septum.

Vomer bone

The bone forming the lower/inferior and back/posterior component of the bony nasal septum.

Trigeminal Nerve ($CN\text{ V}$)

The nerve providing general somatic sensory innervation (touch, pain, temperature) to the face and nasal cavity.

Ophthalmic Branch ($CN\text{ V}_1$)

The branch of the trigeminal nerve that handles sensation for the top/front areas of the nasal walls.

Maxillary Branch ($CN\text{ V}_2$)

The branch of the trigeminal nerve that handles sensation for the bottom/back areas of the nasal walls.

Epistaxis

The clinical term for a nosebleed, most commonly occurring at the anteroinferior region of the septum where vessel branches anastomose.

Paranasal Sinuses

Air-filled spaces lined with respiratory mucosa within the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, and maxillary bones.

Maxillary sinus

The sinus most prone to infection because its drainage hole is at the top, requiring mucus to flow upward against gravity.

Eustachian tube

The tube connecting the nasopharynx directly to the middle ear, which can allow nasal infections to travel to the ear.

Nasopharynx

The section of the pharynx located posterior to the nasal cavity that serves as a passage for air only.

Oropharynx

The middle section of the pharynx located posterior to the oral cavity that serves as a passage for both air and food/liquid.

Laryngopharynx

The bottom section of the pharynx where the pathway splits into the larynx (anteriorly) and the esophagus (posteriorly).

Thyroid cartilage

The large, shield-like hyaline cartilage (Adam's apple) that protects the vocal cords.

Cricoid cartilage

A complete ring of hyaline cartilage located inferior to the thyroid cartilage that forms the base of the larynx.

Epiglottis

A leaf-shaped valve made of elastic cartilage that folds down to cover the laryngeal opening during swallowing.

Arytenoid cartilages

Pyramid-shaped cartilages sitting on the posterior cricoid cartilage that act as anchors for the vocal cords.

Hyoid bone

A U-shaped bone in the neck that anchors the tongue and connects to the larynx via the thyrohyoid ligament.

Vocal Ligaments (True Vocal Cords)

Tissue strings that attach to the thyroid cartilage and arytenoids to produce voice sounds.

Vestibular Ligaments (False Vocal Cords)

Structures sitting just above the true vocal cords that do not participate in normal sound production.

Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle

The only intrinsic laryngeal muscle that abducts (opens) the vocal folds to open the airway.

Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle

A muscle that adducts (closes) the vocal folds by rotating the arytenoid cartilages inward.

Cricothyroid muscle

The muscle that elongates and tenses the vocal cords to raise vocal pitch; it is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

Thyroarytenoid muscle

A muscle that shortens and relaxes the vocal folds to lower vocal pitch.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

The branch of $CN\text{ X}$ (Vagus Nerve) that innervates all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroid.