Welcome to your 9th Anatomy part in the Final!

In this part, we will continue talk about the Respiratory System.

RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
Laughing is Also Good For Your Respiratory System!

WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS 1. Provides oxygen to body tissues, remove carbon dioxide, and
OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM?
help maintain acid-base balance.
2. Portions of respiratory system are also used for sensing odors
and speech production.

• Anatomically:
HOW CAN WE DIVIDE THE
1. Upper Respiratory System: Nose, Pharynx, and Larynx.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM?
2. Lower Respiratory System: Trachea, Bronchi, and Lungs.
• Functionally:
1. Conducting Part: rigid pathways delivering air to areas of gas
exchange. This part includes the Nose, Nasal cavity, Pharynx,
Larynx, Trachea, and Bronchi.
2. Respiratory Part: areas of gas exchange. This part includes
Respiratory bronchioles and Alveolar ducts.

WHAT IS THE NOSE? Nose is divided into External Nose and Nasal cavity. Both are
divided by a Septum into two halves.

External Nose
It has two elliptical orifices called Naris (Nostrils), separated from
each other by a nasal septum.
- Lateral margins are called Ala nasi (Rounded and Mobile).
• External Nose framework consists of:
1. Superiorly: Nasal bones, Frontal processes of Maxilla, and Nasal
part of Frontal bone.
2. Inferiorly: Plates of Hyaline cartilage (Septal, Lateral, Lesser
Alar, and Greater Alar cartilages).
- In the most lateral part is some Dense connective tissue.

Nasal Cavity
Nasal cavity has multiple walls:
1. Floor: Palatine process of Maxilla + Horizontal plate of Palatine.

2. Roof (Narrow) is formed by:

a. Anteriorly: Nasal and Frontal bones.
b. Middle: Cribriform plate of ethmoid bone (below Anterior CF).
c. Posteriorly: downward sloping of body of Sphenoid bone.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER WALLS?
3. Medial Wall: formed by Nasal septum, which divides the nasal
cavity into right and left halves.
- This septum has Osseous and Cartilaginous parts: Prependicular
plate of ethmoid bone (Superior), Vomer (Inferior), and Septal
Cartilage (Anterior).

4. Lateral Wall: has 3 projections called Conchae (Superior,

Middle, and Inferior). Each concha has a space below it (Meatus).
- Remember: Superior and Middle conchae are parts of Ethmoid
bone, while Inferior concha is a separate bone.
• Meatuses of Lateral Wall has some openings:
1. Inferior Meatus: has opening of Nasolacrimal duct.
2. Middle Meatus: has openings of Maxillary, Frontal, Anterior
and Middle ethmoidal air sinuses.
3. Superior Meatus: Posterior ethmoidal air sinuses.
4. Sphenoethmoidal recess: Sphenoid sinus.
WHAT ARE THE PARANASAL
Paranasal sinuses are cavities found inside Maxilla, Frontal,
SINUSES?
Sphenoid, and Ethmoid bones.
- They are lines by Mucoperiosteum and filled with Air.
- They communicate with nasal cavity through small apertures.

WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS

Mucus produced by Mucous membrane is moved into Nasal cavity
OF THESE SINUSES? by the ciliary action of columnar cells.
- Drainage of mucous also happens when blowing the nose.
• Functions of Paranasal sinuses include:
1. Resonators of voice.
2. Reduce the weight of the skull.
3. Warm and moisten the inhaled air.
4. Act as shock absorbers in trauma.

Maxillary Sinus
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
These are Paired and Symmetrical sinuses that are Pyramidal in
EACH SINUSES?
shape. They are located within the body of the Maxilla.
- Roof of this sinus is made by the Floor of the orbit, while Floor of
this sinus is related to the roots of 2nd Premolar and 1st Molar.

Frontal Sinus
These sinuses are rarely symmetrical. They are separated from
each other by a bony septum.
- Each sinus is roughly triangular, extending upward above medial
end of eyebrow and backward into medial part of orbital roof.

Sphenoidal Sinus
These sinuses are located below Sella turcica. It extends between
Dorsum sellae and Posterior clinoid processes.
WHAT ELSE?
Ethmoid Sinus
Ethmoid sinuses are Anterior, Middle, and Posterior sinuses. They
lie in the ethmoid bone between the nose and the orbit.
- They are separated from the orbit by a thin plate of bone. So, an
infection can easily spread from the sinus to the orbit.
WHAT IS THE PHARYNX?
Pharynx is a Fibromuscular tube that is a common passage for Air
and Food. It lies behind Nasal cavity, Oral cavity, and Larynx.
- It extends from Base of the Skull to the inferior Border of Cricoid
cartilage (Anteriorly) or Inferior border of C6 (Posteriorly).

WHAT ARE THE RELATIONS OF

• Superior: Base of the Skull (Body of Sphenoid and Basilar part
THE PHARYNX?
of Occipital bone).
• Inferior: continuous with Esophagus (‫)اﳌﺮيء‬.
• Anterior (incomplete): Nasal cavity, Oral cavity, and Larynx.
• Posterior: Retropharyngeal space (between Buccopharyngeal
and Prevertebral fascia).

WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF THE 1. Nasopharynx: from Base of Skull to Nasopharyngeal isthmus.
PHARYNX? 2. Oropharynx: from Nasopharyngeal isthmus to Hyoid bone level.
3. Laryngopharynx: from Hyoid bone level to Lower border of Cri.

Nasopharynx
• Anterior: Nasal cavity via Posterior nasal apertures (Choana).
• Roof: Basisphenoid and Basiocciput.
• Posterior: Prevertebral muscles and fascia.
• Floor: Soft palate (anteriorly) and is deficient posteriorly. It
communicates with Oropharynx via Nasopharyngeal isthmus.
• Lateral: Pharyngeal openings of Eustachian tube at level of
inferior nasal conchae (to anterior part of Middle ear).

Oropharynx
• Anterior: deficient above (oral cavity). Below, it has Base of the
Tongue, Lingual tonsil, and Valleculae (cup-shaped depressions
between base of the tongue and anterior surface of epiglottis).
• Posterior: Retropharyngeal space (at level of C2 and upper C3).
• Lateral: Anterior pillar (Palatoglossal arch) and Posterior pillar
(Palatopharyngeal arch).
- It communicates with:
1. Nasopharynx: through Nasopharyngeal (Pharyngeal) isthmus.
2. Oral cavity: through Oropharyngeal isthmus (Fauces).
3. Laryngopharynx: at the upper border of Epiglottis.
WHAT ELSE?
Laryngopharynx
This is the lowest part and is located posterior to larynx. It extend
from upper border of Epiglottis to the lower border of Cricoid.
• Anterior (Post-cricoid region): Laryngeal inlet and Posterior
surfaces of Cricoid and Arytenoid cartilages.

WHAT IS THE LARYNX? Larynx is an organ located in the anterior part of the neck. It is
part of respiratory tract. Functions of larynx include Phonation,
Cough reflex, and Protection of lower respiratory tract.
- It extends from C3 to C6. It is continuous inferiorly with Trachea
and opens superiorly into Laryngopharynx.
- It is covered anteriorly by Infrahyoid muscles and Laterally by
Lobes of the Thyroid gland.
- It is related to the major blood vessels of the neck (Laterally). It
is related to the Esophagus posteriorly.
WHAT ARE THE CARTILAGES
OF THE LARYNX?
There are 9 cartilages in the Larynx:
1. 3 Single (Unpaired cartilages): Epiglottis, Cricoid, and Thyroid.
2. 3 Paired: Arytenoid, Corniculate, and Cuneiform.
- These cartilages from the shape of the Larynx.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT Thyroid Cartilage

EACH CARTILAGE? This is a large, prominent cartilage that is easily visible in males.
It is composed of 2 sheets (Laminae) joined anteriorly by the
Laryngeal prominence (Adam’s Apple).
- Posterior border of each sheet projects Superiorly and Inferiorly
to form Superior and Inferior horns (cornu).
- Superior horns are connected to Hyoid bone by the Lateral
thyrohyoid ligaments. Inferior horns articulate with Cricoid.

Cricoid Cartilage
It is a signet ring-shaped complete ring of hyaline cartilage that
consists of a broad sheet posteriorly and a narrow arch anteriorly.
- It forms the inferior border of the larynx (level of C6).
- It articulates with Arytenoid cartilages and Inferior horns of
thyroid cartilage posteriorly.

Epiglottis
It is a leaf-shaped plate of elastic cartilage that marks entrance to
the larynx. It has a lower tapering end that articulate with the
back of the anterior aspect of thyroid. Its wide upper end is free!
- During swallowing, the epiglottis flattens and moves posteriorly
to close off larynx and prevent the entrance of food into Trachea.
WHAT ARE THE PAIRED
Arytenoid Cartilages
CARTILAGES?
These are pyramidal-shaped cartilages that sit on Cricoid. They
consist of an Apex, Base, 3 Sides, and 3 Prominences.
• Apex: articulate with corniculate cartilage.
• Base: articulate with superior border of cricoid cartilage.
• Vocal Process: provide attachment for Vocal ligaments.
• Muscular Process: provide attachment of Posterior and Lateral
Cricoarytenoid muscles.

• Corniculate cartilages are small cartilaginous structures that

articulate with Apices of arytenoid cartilages.
• Cuneiform cartilages are located within Aryepiglottic folds.
They have no direct attachment, but act to strengthen the folds.
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF THE
LARYNX? Anatomically, internal cavity of larynx is divided into:
1. Supraglottis: from inferior surface of epiglottis to Vestibular
folds (False vocal cords).
2. Glottis: contains vocal cords and 1 cm below them. The opening
between the Vocal cords is called Rima glottidis. This size of this
opening is altered by the muscles of phonation.
3. Infraglottis: from inferior border of Glottis to inferior border of
Cricoid cartilage.
WHAT ARE MEMBRANES AND
LIGAMENTS OF LARYNX?
• Extrinsic ligaments act to attach components of the larynx to
the external structures (Hyoid bone and Cricoid cartilage).
• Intrinsic ligaments hold cartilages of the larynx together.
WHAT ARE EXTRINSIC
LIGAMENTS?
1. Thyrohyoid Membrane: between superior aspect of thyroid
cartilage and hyoid bone.
2. Median Thyrohyoid Ligament: anteromedial thickening of M↑.
3. Lateral Thyrohyoid Ligaments: posterolateral thickening of M.
4. Hyo-epiglottic Ligament: connects hyoid bone to anterior aspect
of the epiglottis.
5. Cricotracheal Ligament: connects cricoid cartilage to Trachea.

WHAT ARE INTRINSIC 1. Cricothyroid Ligament: connect Thyroid cartilage to the arch of
LIGAMENTS? Cricoid cartilage. Elastic fibers (Conus elasticus) form the lateral
part of this ligament.
2. Median Cricothyroid Ligament: it is Anteromedial thickening of
Cricothyroid ligament.
3. Vocal Ligament: free upper border of Cricothyroid ligament. It
is attached anteriorly to Thyroid and posteriorly to Arytenoid.
4. Quadrangular Membrane: between Arytenoid cartilage and
lateral aspect of epiglottis. It has upper (free) and lower margins.
5. Vestibular Ligament: thickening of lower margin of QM ↑.