Functional Anatomy of the Respiratory System

• Respiratory System - oversee the gas exchanges that occur between the blood and the external environment
• The Major Respiratory Organs

  A) Nasal Cavity

  B) Nostril

  C) Oral Cavity

  D) Pharynx

  E) Larynx

  F) Trachea

  G) Right main bronchus

  H) Left primary bronchus

  I) Right Lung

  J) Left Lung

  K) Diaphragm

  
• Upper respiratory tract - the passageways from the nose to the larynx
• Lower respiratory tract - from the trachea to the alveoli
• Nose - "button" or "hooked" in shape
• Nose - the only externally visible part of the respiratory system
• Nostrils - 2 openings on each side of the nose that allow air to enter the nasal cavity
• Nostrils are also called the nares
• Nasal Cavity - the interior of the nose
• Nasal Septum - the midline that divided the nasal cavity
• What are the two mucosa lining in the nose?

  Olfactory Receptors, Respiratory Mucosa
• Olfactory Receptors - located in the mucosa in the slit-like superior part of the nasal cavity, functions for the sense of smell
• Respiratory mucosa - rests on a rich network of thin-walled veins that warms the air as it flows past
• Conchae - the three mucosa-covered projections that greatly increase the surface area of the mucosa exposed to the air
• Palate - what separates the nasal cavity to the oral cavity
• Hard palate - the palate that is supported by bone
• Soft Palate - the unsupported palate
• Cleft Palate - failure of the bones forming the palate to fuse medially, resulting in breathing difficulty
• Rhinitis - inflammation of the nasal mucosa
• Pharynx - a muscular passageway that vaguely resembles a short length of red garden hose
• What is the common tern of the Pharynx?

  Throat
• Pharynx - serves as a common passageway for food and air
• What are the three regions of the Pharynx?

  Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx
• Esophagus - a tube where the food that comes from the mouth descends into
• Epiglottis - a flap that closes over the entrance to the trachea
• Tonsils - clusters of lymphatic tissues found in the pharynx
• Pharyngeal Tonsil - located in the nasopharynx
• Palatine tonsils - located in the oropharynx at the end of the soft palate
• Lingual tonsil - lies at the base of the tongue
• Tubal tonsils - protect the openings of the pharyngotympanic tubes in the nasopharynx
• Larynx - routes air and food into the proper channels and plays a role in speech
• What is the common term of Larynx?

  voice box
• Epiglottis - a spoon-shaped flap of elastic cartilage
• Thyroid Cartilage - a shield-shaped, and the largest of the hyaline cartilages
• What is the common term of Thyroid Cartilage?

  Adam's Apple
• Cough reflex - a protective reflex that is triggered when anything other than air enters the larynx
• Vocal folds - a part of the mucous membrane of the larynx forms a pair of folds that vibrate with expelled air, which allows us to speak
• What is the other term for vocal folds?

  true vocal cords
• Glottis - the slit-like passageway between the vocal folds
• Trachea - extends from the larynx travels down to the level of the fifth thoracic vertebra