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The respiratory system

 Functions of The respiratory system

a. The primary function

is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

b. The secondary functions

are phonation and olfaction.
Parts of respiratory system

1. The nasal cavity.

2. Pharynx.
3. Larynx.
4. Trachea.
5. Main bronchi.
6. Lungs
 The nose

Formed of 2 parts:
a. External nose
b. Nasal cavity

Separated into 2 halves by nasal

septum
 The external Nose

• Anteriorly: It is called the anterior

nasal openings (nostrils).
• Its lateral margin is called ( the ala
nasi) is rounded and mobile.
• Its framework is formed of bones
above, cartilages below, muscles
and covering skin.
 The Nasal Cavity
It extends from the nostrils anteriorly to
the posterior nasal openings posteriorly
(where it communicates with the
nasopharynx) .

It is lined by nasal mucosa whose :

❖ upper part is concerned with smell
❖ lower part modulates air temperature.

• It has a floor, roof, lateral wall and

medial wall
 Boundaries of nasal cavity
• Floor: It is formed by the hard palate which separates it from oral cavity
• Roof: It is lined by olfactory mucosa.
• Its middle part is formed by cribriform plate of the ethmoid where the
fibers of olfaction pass.

• Medial wall: It is formed by the nasal septum

 Boundaries of nasal cavity
• Lateral wall:
It has three bony projections covered by mucous membrane called superior, middle
and inferior conchae.
✓ The space below each concha is called a meatus
✓ There is superior, middle and inferior meatuses
✓ These meatuses contain the openings of the paranasal sinuses through which
mucus secretions pass
✓ The inferior meatus contains the opening of the nasolacrimal duct which connects
the nose with the eye.
 The Pharynx

▪ The pharynx is incomplete fibro-muscular

tube

▪ Extends from the base of the skull to the

level of the 6th cervical vertebrae where the
esophagus and trachea begins.

▪ It is a common passage for air and food.

▪ Anteriorly its wall is absent as it communicates with nasal cavity
(its upper part), the oral cavity (its middle part) and the larynx (its
lower part).

Parts of the Pharynx:

A) Nasopharynx (Upper)
B) Oropharynx (Middle)
C) Laryngeo-pharynx (Lower)
 Nasopharynx
It is the highest part that lies behind the
nasal cavity.

Anteriorly: it communicates with the nasal

cavity through the posterior nasal openings.

On each side: it is communicated with

middle ear through the auditory tube
(Eustachian tube).

Its roof contains a mass of lymphoid tissue in

the roof and posterior wall of the
nasopharynx (pharyngeal tonsil).

Enlargement of these tonsils is called the adenoids

adenoid.
 Oropharynx
• It is common to both alimentary and respiratory system.
• it communicates anteriorly with the oral cavity.
• is guarded by the palatine tonsils

LARYNGEO-PHARYNX

• It is the lower part of the pharynx.

• It lies behind the larynx.
 Larynx
• It is the part of air passages responsible for voice
production through movement of vocal cords

• It connects the laryngopharynx above with the

trachea below.

• It extends in the middle line of the neck from 3rd

to 6th cervical vertebrae.

• It is lined by mucous membrane.

• It consists of number of cartilages connected with

ligaments, membranes and muscles.
 larynx
• The most important cartilages are:
❖Thyroid cartilage: is the largest cartilage.
❖The epiglottis closes the laryngeal inlet during
deglutition prevents food from entering the
larynx.
❖Cricoid cartilage

• N.B. Each vocal cord is a fold of mucosa

containing the vocal ligament.
 Trachea
• It is a cartilaginous and membranous tube
• It is about 10 cm long and about 2 cm wide.
• It extends from the C6 to T4 vertebra
• it ends by dividing into the right and left main bronchi.
• It descends in the midline of the neck in front the esophagus.
• It is formed of 20 incomplete (C shaped) cartilaginous rings
connected together with membranes
• its defective posterior part is replaced by involuntary muscle.
• The main function of the trachea is to provide a passage for
air during respiration and the rings maintain its patency.
 The main Bronchi
Right main bronchus Left main bronchus

Shorter (2.5 cm) Longer (5cm)

Wider Narrower

More vertical More horizontal

-Passes to the right below arch of -passes to left below the arch of
azygous aorta to enter the hilum of lung

-Gives superior lobar bronchus before -divides after it enters the lung into
entering the hilum superior and inferior lobar bronchi
-Divides inside the lung into middle and
inferior lobar bronchi
 The lungs

• Essential organs of respiration (gas

exchange process)
• Each lung has the shape of inverted half
cone with:
• Apex: directed upwards lies above the 1st
rib.
• Base: concave, directed downwards.
• Lateral surface: convex and related to the
chest wall.
• Medial surface: concave and related to the
heart and contains the hilum of the
lung.
 The Hilum of the Lung

❑It is also called the root of the lung

❑Through the hilum the following structures pass to the lung:
1. The pulmonary artery ( carrying deoxygenated
venous blood) blood)
2. The bronchus
3. The pulmonary veins (superior and inferior) ( carrying oxygenated
arterial blood)blood)
4. Bronchial vessels
5. Lymph nodes and vessels
6. Pulmonary plexuses of nerves

N.B. The diaphragm separates the right lung base from the liver and the left
lung base from the liver, stomach and spleen.
Difference between the right and left lung

Right lung Left lung

Size Larger Smaller
Length Shorter Longer
Width Wider Narrower
Anterior border Straight Has a cardiac notch
Fissures Two One
Lobes Three lobes Two lobes
 The pleura
• They are thin double layered slippery serous membrane which surrounds each lung
• The (outer) parietal layer lines the thoracic cavity
• The (inner) visceral pleura is adherent to the lungs and dips into fissures.
• The pleural cavity is potential space between these 2 layers contains serous fluid
• The serous fluid acts as:
• A) a lubricant to facilitate the lung movement
• B) it preserves the negative pressure, so it plays an important role in lung inflation
after expiration
• Inflammation of the pleura is called Pleurisy