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The Respiratory System

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Respiratory Anatomy

-Nasal cavity: The nasal cavity (or nasal fossa) is a large air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. The air passing through the nasal cavity is warmed or cooled to within 1 degree of body temperature . In addition, the air is humidified, and dust and other particulate matter is removed by vibrissae, short, thick hairs, present in the vestibule. The cilia of the rrespiratory epithelium move the particulate matter towards the pharynx where it is digested.

Oral cavity: The first space of the mouth is the mouth cavity

Larynx: The larynx (plural larynges), colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the trachea and sound p and sound production. The larynx houses the vocal folds, and is situated just below where the tract of the pharynx splits into the trachea and the esophagus.

Trachea: connects the nose and mouth to the lungs.

General overview of the respiratory system

-Terms they need to know are boxed in red

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Upper Respiratory Structures

-Nasal cavity and oral cavity are separated by the hard and soft palates

-The nasal cavity is divided by the nasal septum

-The chonchae are scroll-shaped bony projections into the nasal cavity covered with mucus lining (PSCC) which

cause turbulence when air is inhaled. This ensures that the air contacts the

epithelium to be filtered, humidified, and warmed.

-The nasopharynx lies posterier to the internal nares and dorsal to the soft palate.

It receives the auditory tubes, and houses the pharyngeal tonsil which catches

particles bigger than 10 µm. It is lined with PSCC

-The oropharynx extends from the space between the soft palate and the base of

the tongue inferiorly to the level of the hyoid bone. It contains the palatine tonsil

(located on the lateral walls) and the lingual tonsil (base of tongue), and is lined

with stratified squamous epithelium.

-The laryngopharynx extends from the hyoid inferiorly to the level of the cricoid

cartilage, and is lined with stratified squamous epithelium

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Nasal conchae (turbinates):

Superior nasal concha

Superior meatus

Middle nasal concha

Middle meatus

Inferior nasal concha

Inferior meatus

Nasal Septum

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Larynx

(ligament)

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Vocal Cords

Glottis closed

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Trachea

Lower Respiratory Structures

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Tracheal Bifurcation

Carina

Lower Respiratory Structures

Cardiac Notch

Hilus

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Lower Respiratory Structures

Visceral pleura

Parietal pleura

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Lower Respiratory Structures

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Alveoli Structure

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Olfactory Epithelium

Bowman’s Glands

Upper Respiratory Structures: Histology

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Respiratory Epithelium

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Olfactory v. Respiratory Epithelium

Olfactory Epithelium

Tracheal Glands

Respiratory Epithelium

Goblet cells

Bowman’s glands

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Trachea

Trachealis muscle

Tracheal gland

Tracheal ring

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Bronchus

Cartilage plate

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Bronchiole

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Respiratory Bronchiole

Respiratory bronchiole

Clara cells

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Alveolor Ducts and Alveoli

Alveolus