Respiratory System: An Overview

Respiratory System Overview

• Respiration is the process where the body receives O2 and expels CO2
• Pulmonary ventilation, external respiration, respiratory gas transport, and internal respiration are the three basic steps involved
• Pulmonary ventilation/breathing includes inhalation and exhalation and concerns air exchange between the atmosphere and lung alveoli
• External respiration is the exchange of gases between lung alveoli and blood in pulmonary capillaries
• Blood in pulmonary capillaries gains O2 and loses CO2 during external respiration
• Respiratory gas transport involves the bloodstream's conveyance of oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Internal respiration includes gas exchange between blood in systemic capillaries and tissue cells.
• Blood loses O2 and gains CO2 during internal respiration
• Cellular respiration refers to the metabolic reactions within cells consuming O2 and producing CO2 as ATP is made

Structural Components

• The respiratory system consists of organs and structures that facilitate breathing
• The nose, pharynx(throat), trachea (windpipe), larynx(voice box), bronchi and lungs
• The upper respiratory system is composed of the nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, and associated structures
• The lower respiratory system includes the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs
• Functionally, the respiratory system separates into conducting and respiratory zones

Functional Components

• The conducting zone filters, warms and moistens air and conducts air into the lungs
• The conducting zone consits of the nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and terminal bronchioles
• The respiratory zone is the location of gas exchange
• The respiratory zone consists of the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli

Function of the Respiratory System

• The respiratory system provides for gas exchange providing O2 and expelling CO2
• The respiratory system regulates pH balance in blood
• The respiratory system also contains receptors for smell and filters inspired air and produces vocal sounds (phonation)
• The respiratory system shares responsibility with the cardiovascular system
• The respiratory system exchanges O2 and carbon dioxide between the blood and external environmental
• Only Alveoli are the site of gas exchange
• The function of other structures is only to warm and purify the air, acting as passageways

Otorhinolaryngology

• Otorhinolaryngology is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of ears, nose, and throat

Nose and Structure

• The nose is a specialized organ where the respiratory system entrance is that filters air
• The nose if composed of an external and internal portion
• The external nose framework comprises bone and hyaline cartilage and it is lined by a mucous membrane
• The bony framework of the external nose involves the maxillae, nasal and frontal bones
• The cartilaginous framework is comprised of hyaline cartilage pieces, they are somewhat flexible

Nares and Cartilages

• External Nares consists of two openings that lead into nasal vestibules
• Pliable hyaline cartilage makes up the alar cartilages found in the nostril walls
• The septal nasal cartilage forms the anterior part of the nasal septum
• Lateral nasal cartilages inferior to the nasal bones

Nose Functionality

• The interior structures of the exterior nose moisten, warm, and filter incoming air
• They also detect olfactory stimuli and modify speech vibrations through large resonators

Sound Resonance

• Resonance is the amplification, prolongation, or modification of a sound by vibration

Surface Anatomy of Nose

• Root - Superior attachment point of the nose to the frontal bone
• Apex - the tip of the nose
• Bridge - the bony framework of the nose formed by nasal bones
• External Naris - the nostril; external opening into the nasal cavity

Internal Nose/Nasal Cavity

• The nasal cavity is a large space in the anterior aspect of the skull that lies inferior to the nasal bone and superior to the oral cavity
• The nasal cavity is lined with muscles and mucous membranes
• Tiny surface hairs called Cilia line the sticky mucus membranes
• The vertical partition known as the nasal septum separates nasal cavity into right and left sides
• Hyaline cartilage is the primary component of the anterior nasal septum, while the ethmoid, palatine, and vomer bones comprise the remainder

Conchae and Passageways

• Posteriorly the nasal cavity connects with the pharynx via internal nares/choanae
• The ethmoid, lacrimal, maxillary, palatine, and inferior nasal conchae bones develop the internal nose's lateral walls
• The ethmoid bone also forms the roof
• The floor of the internal nose is developed by the palatine processes of the maxillae and the palatine bones
• The paranasal sinuses drain mucus and serve as resonating chambers
• Conchae extend from each lateral wall that subdivide each side of the nasal cavity into air passageways
• Superior, middle, and inferior nasal meatuses are air passageways

Interior Lining

• The nasal cavity's shelves and walls feature a mucous membrane lining with olfactory epithelium
• There are no goblet cells, but it contains cilia
• Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium lines the respiratory region frequently called the respiratory epithelium
• The Nasolacrimal ducts drain tears
• Nostrils contain an anterior portion called the nasal vestibule with a cartilage exterior and bony interior

Pharynx Structure

• The Pharynx/Throat is a funnel-shaped tube
• The Pharynx is about 13 cm (5 in.) long that starts at the internal nares and extends to the level of the cricoid cartilage
• The cricoid cartilage is the larynx's (voice box) most inferior cartilage
• The pharynx's posterior to the nasal cavity, superior to the Larynx and anterior to cervical vertebrae
• Its structure is that a wall is composed of skeletal muscles and has a mucous membrane lining

Pharynx Function

• The pharynx serves as a chamber for speech and passageway for air and food and houses tonsills
• The tonsils found in the pharynx involve in immunological tasks against foreign invaders

Parts of Pharynx

• The Pharynx can be divided into three regions: Orphopharynx, Nasopharynx, and Laryngopharnx
• The superior Nasopharynx lies posterior to the nasal chamber and extends up to the soft palate
• The nasopharynx receives dust laden mucus with dust and air from the nasal cavity
• Ciliated pseudostratified columnar lines the nasopharynx with downward moving cilia
• The Auditory tubes use exchange minute quantity of air equalize the atmosphere pressure and the middle ear.
• The soft palate is a partitions that separates the oropharnx from the nasopharnx and makes the mouth roof
• Two internal nares, the opening to the oropharnyx and two openings to the audiotry tubes make up the five areas that lie in the soft palate’s wall
• The posterior wall of the pharynx is made up of the pharyngeal tonsil/adenoid

Oropharynx and Laryngopharynx

• Between the hyoid bone and palate, an intermediate portion called the Oropharynx lies posterior to the Oral cavity
• Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium lines a portion that is prone to particle abrasion
• Palatine and lingual tonsils are housed in the oropharynx
• Swallowed food, air, and drink commonly pass through the respiratory and digestive pathway
• The fauces are an opening in the mouth
• Laryngopharynx/Hypopharynx lies at the hyoid bone’s level
• Posteroirly it is a food carrying esophagus and anteriorly is an airway in the larynx
• Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium lines both a digestive and respiratory pathways
• Food and air is passed through this area

Larynx Structure

• The Larynx is the structure that Connects the laryngopharynx with the trachea
• The larynx, is ~5cm of length and found the middle of the neck
• Anterior to the oesophagus and Vertabrae 4-6
• Made out nine pieces of cartilage out three occueing singularl and three in pairs

Larynx Cartilage Details

• The cartilages that occur singularlly are the thryroid, cricoid, and epiglotis
• the cartilages that occur in pairs are the arytenoid, cuneiform, and corniculate
• Nine c-rings of cartilage are in place to give a framework
• Arytenoid are important because they influence positin and tension in vocal cords/folds
• The cavities that are formed are down the Crico cartilage. The Laryngeal and Infraglottis

Larynx Parts and Action

• Adams Apple (Thyroid Cartlidge) is formed from two fusions
• Both genders have it but males are normally bigger because of their hormones
• To the voicebox and is called the thyrohyoid membrane to the hyoid bone
• A big piece the epiglottis with elastic to contain epithelium
• The larynx elevates to receive food or drink and this is what is makes the door over them
• Is the gap between the vocal chords the Rima glottidis
• Is what attaches the cartlidge to the trachea by the crico cartilage

Voice Production Structures

• Mucus membrane forms two pairs of folds and ligaments in the larynx with pairs
• Vestibular pairs do not function in voice production but have other functions
• breath is held because the cavity gets closed from pressure like in when a person lifts
• Squamous covers the larynx but at the bottom it is columnar
• Goblet cells and cilia trap the bad air
• and either remove trap matter or either move trapper particles back down

Cartilages of the Larynx

• Artynoid is attached to the posterior of the voicebox
• They hold synapse connections
• Coniculate is found at the apex of the artynoid
• The the voice cords gets supporeted by the cuneiform that is elastic shape

More Vocal Structure

• Superior to cords: nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
• Inferior to folds: ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
• Cilia move trash and mucus for the upper and back tract to trap and remove particles away

Voice Production

• Under squamous which is connective bands
• Bands make like like strings
• They move alone to make noise and vibrations
• Spaces betweem folds is called rima vestibuli and larengyal venrticle

Laryngeal Muscles

• They move both cords for contracted
• They move carts, move rigids together
• The elastic and rigids get moved and tight and then the openings get thin
• Contracting gets muslces to pivot and slide
• Contractions that makes muscle move and so forth
• When that tension gets controlled then higher and lower pitches become more controlled and vocal cords thicker to vibrate

Sound and Volume

• Mouth and sinuses are used and needed for converting sound into recognizeable speeech
• The human in the voice gets changed by changing by consitricing and relaxing the muscles in the sides
• Then just some portion gets closed and no pitch gets made with no shape

Trachea Structure

• Is a tublar air passageway that 5 in. long and 1 in in diameter
• Found anterior near esphogus
• Below or near thoracic fifth
• columnar epethilum and that remove forign particles
• The layers are mucosa, submosa, cartlidge, adventitia, and connective tissues

Trachea Mucosa

• Forign particles get lined by the mucosa by epethilial columar
• The Submucosa contins fluids and glad that is elastic
• Muscle connective tisues make up the fibromusclar
• They change the diamter for efficient flow
• The walls are prevented form collapsing because of it
• The outside is connective tissues to adjoin or round outside tissues

More Detail on the Bronchi

• The air will come from the right to the left and is vertical wider and may lodge
• left primary is just for the left
• They just have cartilidge and contain columnar epithium
• Carina is at that split and causes some senstivity
• Carinomas appear with the trach and grow

Bronchio and Lobar

• Lobar are the parts that make up the lungs.
• Mental tertiary is inside
• Smallest branchers are in the teritary area
• Cells have a ciliated columnar and are mixed in the clara
• Alveor ducts get more generated with the branch and branch till respiratory bronchioles happen
• First branching comes first and is the inital then secondary is from
• Main and into what then goes in to the alveolar side chain
• Structural more generation gives several changes a branch gets wider

Bronchial Tree Changes

• Columnar changes with main areas that is is psuedo that is and ciliated also And from there goes down
• cartilidge change to incomplete because there is cartilage

Bronchi and Smooth Muscle

• More the cartillage is decreased the muscle that encricles and is spiral
• Since those spasms could close what is going on for good when and is a life to situation