Histology of Respiratory system

Chantha Jayawardena
DBS
10/11/10
Why should I learn..RS
 Objectives

• Components
• Functions of each component
• Structural features (describe and draw) of
components including structure-function
relationship
• Identify (LM)
• Physiological aspect
• Clinical
Functions

Atmospheric air
RT
Dry
Full of dust
Functions

Atmospheric air
RT
Dry
Full of dust
Functions

Atmospheric air
RT
Dry
Full of dust
Components

Nose

Pharynx
Larynx

Upper respiratory tract

 Components
Trachea faculty.ksu.edu.sa

• Divide
dichotomously with
decreasing
diameter

FOD. SL
 Components
faculty.ksu.edu.sa

• Divide
dichotomously with
decreasing
diameter

• Changes takes
place gradually

FOD. SL
 Components
Nasal cavity
Pharynx
Conducting portion Larynx
Trachea
Conditioning air
• Adjustment
temperature
humidity
• Purification /cleaning
dust removal

Gas exchange
• Between blood and RP
Minimise damage
Respiratory portion
• Against foreign
particles
Structure including histology

Variations
• Epithelium (thickness, cilia, goblet cells)
• Lamina propria (LP)
• Submucosa (SM)
• Cartilage
• Smooth muscles
 Nasal cavity

• Cartilages, bones, mucous membrane

• Chonchae (increase surface area and

turbulent airflow – increase contact
between air and MM)
• Hairs (vibrissae) – (trap large particles)
Nasal cavity
 Histology of nasal cavity
• Respiratory epithelium (pseudostratified ciliated)

Epithelium
Lamina propria
Vein
Vein Vein
Veins ; Swell bodies
Vein

Bone
http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Histology of nasal cavity
• Respiratory epithelium (pseudostratified ciliated)

* *
Mag
Epithelium
Lamina propria
Vein
Vein Vein

Vein

Mag Bone
http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Pharynx and Larynx

• Cartilages and muscles

• Mucous membrane
– Epithelium
• (Pseudostratified
-Respiratory side
• (Stratified squamous
Food/ oral side)
 Epiglottis - Histology

• Elastic cartilage and mucous

membrane

Mag

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Trachea

• Hyaline cartilage & smooth

muscle
• 16-20 “C” shaped rings
(support)
• Smooth muscle (trachealis)
bridge open ends
posteriorly (control DM)
www.kgu.de
• Between rings-
fibroelastic tissue (allow
expansion)
 Trachea - histology

Epithelium
Mag

Lamina propria

Submucosa

Cartilage

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Trachea - histology

Epithelium

Lamina propria

Mag

Submucosa

Cartilage

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Trachea - histology

Epithelium

Lamina propria

Submucosa

Cartilage
Mag

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Trachea

• Draw and label

 Principal / primary / main bronchi -
histology
• Epithelium similar to trachea (goblet cells )

• Cartilages – interconnected plates

• Smooth muscles beneath the LP

• Submucosa – seromucous glands

 Bronchi - histology

• Diameter decreases
• Epithelium similar to trachea
• Shape and arrangement of the cartilage and
smooth muscle are different
• With decrease of DM – Cartilage ring become
irregular isolated plates
• Smooth muscles in the LP are spirally arranged
• Lymphocytes & lymphoid aggregations in the LP
 Segmental / Tertiary bronchi

• Epithelium – less stratified, less goblet

cells
• Smooth muscles prominent in the LP
• Less submucosa and seromucous
glands
• Few isolated cartilage plates
Segmental / Tertiary bronchi

Bronchus

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
Segmental / Tertiary bronchi

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Segmental / Tertiary bronchi

• Draw and label

Bronchioles
Bronchioles

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Bronchioles

• Draw and label

 Respiratory bronchiloes

• Sac like alveoli along the wall

• Epithelium – ciliated cuboidal
• No goblet cells, Clara cells present
• No cartilage
• Little smooth muscle in the LP
• No submucosa
 Alveolar duct and alveoli

• Exchange of gas
• Epithelium simple squamous
• Elastic and reticulin fibers – elastic recoil & prevent
over expansion
• Smooth muscles only at the openings of alveloar
ducts
• Cigarette smoking – break down alveolar tissue and
impair repair of tissue - emphysema
 Alveolar duct and alveoli

• Cells become very thin for gas

exchange
• Several cell types
• Squamous alveolar cells (Type I) – 97 %
– Desmosomes & tight junctions present -
prevent leakage of tissue fluid
 Alveolar duct and alveoli

• Surfactant secreting cells (Type II)– 3 % -

reduce surface tension
– Round cells

– Can proliferate & produce new type I & II cells

– Respiratory distress syndrome – Immature baby

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Alveolar duct and alveoli
• Alveolar macrophages – interalveolar septum,
surface of alveoli

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au
 Alveoli and blood-gas barrier

• Epithelium of alveoli & capillaries become

very thin
• Basement membrane of two epithelia fused each
other – thin barrier
 Blood-gas barrier

• Draw and label

 Trachea Bronchus Bronchiole Alveoli

Epithelium

Lamina
propria

Submucosa

cartilage
 Trachea Bronchus Bronchiole Alveoli

Thickness of
epithelium
Cilia
Goblet cells
Smooth muscle

Cartilage

Sero-mucous
glands
Function
 References

http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au//