Respiratory System Overview

Components of the Respiratory System

• Includes the nasal cavity, air sinuses, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, and alveoli.

Function of the Respiratory System

• Facilitates gas exchange, allows for the sense of smell, and enables voice production.

Upper Respiratory Tract

• Comprises the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, and air sinuses.

Lower Respiratory Tract

• Consists of the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli.

Nasal Cavity

• Divided into right and left halves by the nasal septum. Each half has olfactory and respiratory parts.
• Features three conchae: superior, middle, and inferior, which create spaces called meatuses.
• Functions include warming, moistening, and cleaning inspired air.

Paranasal Air Sinuses

• Located in the maxillae, frontal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
• Open into the nasal cavities and help condition inspired air, provide voice resonance, and lighten the skull.

Epistaxis

• Refers to nosebleeds, with common risk factors including vascular issues, infections, inflammation, trauma, and neoplasms.

Sinus Names

• Four paranasal sinuses: Maxillary, Frontal, Sphenoid, Ethmoid.
• Causes of sinusitis include inflammation, allergies, and polyps.

Pharynx

• A muscular tube positioned behind the nasal and oral cavities, divided into three segments: nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

Nasopharynx

• Contains the adenoid tonsil and eustachian tube openings, which help equalize pressure in the ear.

Oropharynx

• Situated behind the oral cavity and contains palatine tonsils.

Laryngopharynx

• Located behind the larynx, with the piriform fossa as a common site for lodging foreign objects.

Larynx

• Consists of cartilages, ligaments, membranes, and muscles, with key cartilages including the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis.
• Responsible for voice production via vocal cords.

Trachea

• A cartilaginous tube that begins in the neck and divides into right and left bronchi.
• The right bronchus is wider and shorter, while the left is narrower and longer, with both dividing into smaller bronchioles.

Alveoli

• Serve as the functional units of the respiratory system, facilitating gas exchange.

Lungs

• Soft, spongy organs covered by pleurae (visceral and parietal).
• The hilum of the lung transmits bronchi, pulmonary arteries, and veins.

Pleural Effusion

• Characterized by abnormal fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, generally due to inflammation, tuberculosis, malignancy, or pneumonia.

Pneumothorax

• Occurs when air enters the pleural cavity, often from penetrating wounds.

Hydrothorax and Hemothorax

• Hydrothorax refers to fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, while hemothorax involves blood collection.

Lung Differences

• Right lung has three lobes, is short and wide, lacking a cardiac notch.
• Left lung has two lobes, is long and narrow, and possesses a cardiac notch.

Muscles of Respiration

• Diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration.
• External intercostals aid in inspiration, while internal intercostals facilitate expiration.

Explore the essential components and functions of the respiratory system in this quiz. Learn about the upper and lower respiratory tracts and their roles in gas exchange, smell, and voice production. Test your knowledge on the anatomy and physiological functions of this critical system.