Chapter 23
Anatomy of the Respiratory System
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Slide 1
Overview of the Respiratory System
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The respiratory system functions as an air distributor and
gas exchanger—supplying oxygen and removing carbon
dioxide from cells (Figure 23-1)
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Alveoli—sacs that serve as gas exchangers; all other parts of
respiratory system serve as air distributors
The respiratory system also warms, filters, and humidifies air
Respiratory organs influence speech, homeostasis of body pH,
and olfaction
The respiratory system is divided into two divisions:
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Upper respiratory tract—organs are located outside of the thorax
and consist of nose, nasopharnyx, oropharnyx, laryngopharnyx,
and larnyx
Lower respiratory tract—organs are located within the thorax and
consist of trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs
Accessory structures include oral cavity, rib cage, and diaphragm
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Slide 2
Upper Respiratory Tract
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Nose
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External portion of the nose consists of a bony and cartilaginous
frame covered by skin containing sebaceous glands—the two
nasal bones meet and are surrounded by the frontal bone to form
the root; nose is surrounded by the maxilla (Figure 23-2)
Internal nose (nasal cavity) lies over the roof of the mouth,
separated by the palatine bones
• Cleft palate—palatine bones fail to unite completely and only
partially separate the nose and the mouth, producing difficulty in
swallowing
• Cribriform plate—separates the roof of the nose from cranial cavity
• Septum—separates nasal cavity into a right and a left cavity;
consists of four structures: the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid
bone, the vomer bone, the vomeronasal cartilages, and the septal
nasal cartilage
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Each nasal cavity is divided into three passageways: superior,
middle, and inferior meati (Figure 23-3)
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Slide 3
Upper Respiratory Tract
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Nose (cont.)
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Anterior nares—external openings to the nasal cavities, open
into the vestibule
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Sequence of air through nose into pharynx—anterior nares to
vestibule to all three meati simultaneously to posterior nares
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Nasal mucosa—a mucous membrane that air passes over;
contains a rich blood supply (Figure 23-4)
• Olfactory epithelium—specialized membrane containing many
olfactory nerve cells and a rich lymphatic plexus
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Paranasal sinuses—four pairs of air-containing spaces that open
or drain into nasal cavity; each is lined with respiratory mucosa
(Figure 23-5)
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Nose is passageway for air traveling to and from lungs—filters
the air, aids speech, and makes possible the sense of smell
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Slide 4
Upper Respiratory Tract
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Pharynx (throat)
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Tubelike structure extending from the base of skull to the
esophagus; made of muscle and divided into three parts
(Figure 23-6):
• Nasopharnyx
• Oropharynx
• Laryngopharnyx
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Pharyngeal tonsils—located in the nasopharynx, called
adenoids when they become enlarged
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Oropharynx contains two pairs of organs—the palatine
tonsils (most commonly removed) and the lingual tonsils
(rarely removed)
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Pharynx is pathway for respiratory and digestive tracts
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Slide 5
Upper Respiratory Tract
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Larynx (Figures 23-7 and 23-8)
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Located between root of tongue and upper end of trachea
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Consists of cartilages attached to each other by muscle and lined
by a ciliated mucous membrane, which forms two pairs of folds
(Figure 23-9):
• Vestibular (false) vocal folds
• True vocal cords
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Framework of larynx is formed by nine cartilages:
• Single laryngeal cartilages—the three largest cartilages: the thyroid
cartilage, the epiglottis, and the cricoid cartilages
• The paired laryngeal cartilages—three pairs of smaller cartilages:
arytenoid, corniculate, and cuneiform cartilages
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Slide 6
Upper Respiratory Tract
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Larynx (cont.)
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Muscles of larynx
• Intrinsic muscles both insert and originate within larynx
• Extrinsic muscles insert in larynx but originate on some
other structure
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Larynx functions as part of the airway to the lungs
and produces the voice
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Slide 7
Lower Respiratory Tract
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Trachea (windpipe) extends from the larynx
to the primary bronchi (Figure 23-11)
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Furnishes part of the open airway to the lungs—
obstruction causes death
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Slide 8
Lower Respiratory Tract
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Bronchi and alveoli
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Lower end of trachea divides into two primary bronchi, one
on right and one on left, which enter lung and divide into
secondary bronchi that branch into bronchioles, which
eventually divide into the alveolar ducts (Figure 23-13)
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Alveoli are the primary gas exchange structures
• Respiratory membrane—the barrier between which gases are
exchanged by alveolar air and blood (Figure 23-16)
• Respiratory membrane consists of alveolar epithelium, capillary
endothelium, and their joined basement membranes
• Surfactant—a component of the fluid coating the respiratory
membrane that reduces surface tension
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Bronchi and alveoli distribute air to lung’s interior
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Slide 9
Lower Respiratory Tract
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Lungs
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Cone-shaped organs extending from the diaphragm to above the
clavicles (Figure 23-18)
• Hilum—slit on lung’s medial surface where primary bronchi and
pulmonary blood vessels enter
•
•
•
•
•
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Base—inferior surface of lung that rests on diaphragm
Costal surface—lies against ribs
Left lung is divided into two lobes—superior and inferior
Right lung is divided into three lobes—superior, middle, and inferior
Lobes are further divided into functional units—bronchopulmonary
segments
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Ten segments in right lung
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Eight segments in left lung
Lungs have two functions—air distribution and gas exchange
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Slide 10
Lower Respiratory Tract
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Thorax (Figure 23-19)
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Thoracic cavity has three divisions divided by
the pleura:
• Pleural divisions—part occupied by lungs
• Mediastinum—part occupied by esophagus, trachea,
large blood vessels, and heart
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Thorax functions to bring about inspiration
and expiration
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Slide 11
Cycle of Life: Respiratory System
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Respiration may be affected by developmental
defects, age-related structural changes, or loss
of function throughout the life cycle
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Age-related changes affect vital capacity, make
ventilation difficult, or reduce the oxygen– or
carbon dioxide–carrying capacity of blood
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Respiratory efficiency is reduced in old age as
a result of changes in ribs, respiratory muscles,
and hemoglobin levels
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Slide 12