Respiratory System - Basic Anatomy

Question 1

Describe the nervous structure of the nasal cavity

Answer 1

• Olfactory bulb/olfactory tract on the cribiform plate
• Split into olfactory nerves
• Medial internal nasal branc of anterior ethmoidal node goes along the nose
• Nasopalatine nerve foes to the roof of the moth

Question 2

List the paranasal air sinuses

Answer 2

• Frontal sinus at the forehead
• Ethmoid air cells with sphenonoidal sinus and frontonasal duct
• Other sinus is the maxillary sinus
• Conchi (inferior and middle conchi)

Question 3

What are conchi, and what is their function?

Answer 3

• Ridges of bone that contain endothelial cells, and increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa
• This warms the air or cools it as necessary, as well as moistening the air and catching particulates

Question 4

List the components of the pharynx

Answer 4

• Nasopharynx connects from the base of the skull to the nasal cavity above the soft palate
• The Oropharynx connects from the soft palate to the epiglottis
• The laryngopharynx splits into the oesophagus and larynx

Question 5

What is the epiglottis?

Answer 5

A flap in the throat that prevents food entering the windpipe

Question 6

List the cartilages of the larynx

Answer 6

• Hyoid bone
• Thyroid cartilage
• Cricothyroid ligament
• Cricoid carilage
• Arytenoid cartilage attaches to the vocal ligaments, allowing us to make sounds

Question 7

Describe how the larynx prevents food entering the lungs.

Answer 7

During phonation (making sound) the vocal chords close

Question 8

What is trachealis muscle?

Answer 8

It is a muscle that bridges the gap between the ends of the cartilagenous ring, allowing the diameter to change.

Question 9

What part of the trachea and bronchi are outside the lungs (extrapulmonary)?

Answer 9

• Whole trachea

- Primary bronchi

Question 10

How are bronchi held open?

Answer 10

Cartilage horseshoes and plates

Question 11

How is bronchiolar and alveolar surface tension reduced?

Answer 11

By surfactant

Question 12

What drives oxygen across the blood-air barrier?

Answer 12

• Higher PO2 in the air than in the blood

- Air moves down partial pressure gradient

Question 13

Why does the centre of the diaphragm bulge up?

Answer 13

• Due to the pressure difference between the pleural and abdominal cavities
• Therefore it is highest in expiration

Question 14

What are the three types of movements in the thoracic cavity during breathing, and where do they occur?

Answer 14

• Bucket handle action in the ribs
• Water pump action in the sternum
• Diaphragm acts as a syringe (pulling force0

Question 15

What is the function of the pharynx?

Answer 15

• Allows movement of air from the nose and mouth to the larynx for the process of breathing
• Also serves as a pathway for movement of food from the mouth to the oesophagus