Sawsan .A.

Mohammed LECTURE THREE

Assist Lect ANATOMY OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The respiratory system (called also respiratory apparatus, ventilator system) is a

biological System consisting of specific Organs and structures used for the process
of respiration in an organism. The respiratory system is involved in the intake and
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between an organism and the environment
generally divided into:

FIRST : Upper respiratory organs:

upper respiratory tract includes the nose and nasal cavity, nasal sinuses and the
pharynx.

The upper respiratory organs are lined with mucous membranes:

a. Epithelial tissue, connective tissue with many goblet cells (mucus).
b. Specifically, pseudo stratified columnar epithelial tissue in the trachea.
c. The mucus functions to trap debris.
d. The cilia beat the debris to the pharynx to be swallowed and destroyed by
digestive enzymes.
e. This tissue also serves to warm and moisten incoming air.

Nose (or nostrils)

1. Nose consist of bone & cartilage with internal hairs.
2. Hair trap dirt and large particles ( filters air ).

Nasal cavity (separated by nasal septum)

1. Nasal cavities is hollow spaces where air flows in and out. They are lined
with mucous membranes and separated by nasal septum which made of
bone and cartilage .
2. Warms and moistens incoming air.
3. Olfactory reaction.
4. Resonating chambers for speech.
Nasal conchae (within nasal cavity)
1. There are three nasal conchae in each nasal cavity including the superior,
middle and inferior nasal conchae.
2. Divide nasal cavity into a series of groove - like passageways.
3. Lined by mucous membranes .
4. Function increase turbulence of incoming air (to better warm, moisten and
filter).

Nasal sinuses
1. The four pairs of sinuses are named by their corresponding bones and include
: The maxillary sinuses, frontal sinuses, sphenoidal sinuses, ethmoidal
sinuses.
2. Drain into nasal cavity and lined with mucous membranes.
3. The function is Decreasing weight of the skull.
4. Impacts the resonance of human voice for speech.
Pharynx (or throat)
1. The pharynx is a hollow tube or passages that starts behind the nose, goes
down the neck, and ends at the top of the trachea and esophagus. We have
three parts of the pharynx are nasopharynx (uppermost) , oropharynx
(middle); hypopharynx (lowest)
2. Passage way for air and food.
3. Resonant chamber for speech sounds.

SECOND : Lower respiratory organs:

The lower airways or lower respiratory tract includes the larynx, trachea,
bronchi and bronchioles, lungs.
Larynx (or voice box)
The larynx is located within the anterior aspect of the neck, anterior to the inferior
portion of the pharynx and superior to the trachea.

Consist of (9 pieces of cartilage) :

1. Thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple ).

2. Epiglottis closes off the airway during swallowing.
3. Cricoid cartilage is ring of hyaline cartilage attached to first ring of trachea;
site of tracheotomy.
4. 3 pairs (Arytenoid cartilages; Corniculate , cartilages, Cuneiform cartilages).
5. Two pairs of vocal cords, (false over true vocal cords).
6. Glottis = triangular slit : opening between two pairs of vocal cords .

Voice production (Mucous membranes form 2 pairs of folds):

1. Upper vestibular folds (false vocal cords).
2. Lower vocal folds (true vocal cords).
3. Space between them = glottis.
Sound originates from vibration of the vocal folds, but other structures (pharynx,
mouth, nasal cavity, and Para nasal sinuses) convert that sound into recognizable
speech.

Trachea (windpipe)
⮚ Location in mediastinum, anterior to esophagus; extends from larynx to T5.

⮚ Structure: 16 - 20 incomplete rings of hyaline cartilage = C – rings. ⮚

Rings are completed by tracheal is muscle and elastic CT facing esophagus ⮚

Lined by mucous membranes (pseudo stratified columnar ET). ⮚ Carina =
point where trachea divides into right & left bronchus

Bronchial tree within lungs

Primary bronchus leads into each lung and then branches into Secondary
bronchi, which branch to each lobe and then branch in to Tertiary bronchi which
each serve one of 10 lobules (bronchopulmonary segment)that divide into
Bronchioles which branch several times into tubes called Terminal bronchioles.

Structure of the Respiratory Tubes

1. Each terminal bronchiole subdivides into microscopic branches called ⮚

Respiratory bronchioles (lined by simple squamous epithelium), which
subdivide into several (2 - 11).
⮚ Alveolar ducts, which terminate into numerous.
 ⮚ Alveoli and alveolar sacs (2 - 3 alveoli that share a common opening)
2. With this extensive branching:

⮚ Epithelium changes from ciliated pseudo stratified columnar

epithelium to non - ciliated simple columnar epithelium in terminal
bronchioles
⮚ Innervated by ANS and hormones:
I) Parasympathetic nerve and histamine constrict bronchioles (i.e.
bronchoconstriction)
II) Sympathetic nerve and epinephrine dilate bronchioles (i.e.
bronchodilation).

Alveoli (microscopic air sacs): wall consist of two types of epithelial cells
and macrophages, the alveoli cell consist of two types:

⮚ Type I - Alveolar cells form continuous simple squamous lining of the alveolar

wall.

⮚ Type II - Alveolar cells interrupt above lining .

⮚ Alveolar Macrophages remove dust particles and other debris from alveolar

spaces .

⮚ Alveolar membrane Composed of :

⮚ Simple squamous epithelium of alveolus.

⮚ Basement membrane of alveolus.

⮚ Endothelium of the lung capillary.

The lungs The lungs are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located on either
side of the chest (thorax) and contain more than 300 million alveoli for gas
exchange .

Blood Supply to Lungs (two fold):

⮚ pulmonary circuit (deoxygenated blood).

⮚ Oxygenated blood is delivered through bronchial arteries (off thoracic aorta).

⮚ lungs Location = thoracic cavity:

A. Description:
1. paired, cone - shape organs .
2. covered by pleural (serous) membranes:
∙ visceral pleura.

∙ parietal pleura.

∙ pleural cavity filled with serous fluid, In contrast to the lubrication

function we attributed to serous fluid in the past, the pleural fluid has
a very high surface: tension that allows the two membranes to act as
one.
B. Gross Anatomy:
1. Each lung is divided into lobes by fissures:
∙ Right lung has 3 lobes.

∙ Left lung has 2 lobes.