Chapter 3 The Respiratory System

nose
the upper
pharynx respiratory tract
the
larynx
respiratory the lower
trachea respiratory
the respiratory tract
principal bronchi tract
system

dthe lungs

Function: fulfil the gas exch

anges in metabolism.
 Section 1 The Nose

external nose

the nose nasal cavity

paranasal sinuses

Function: respiratory tract,

smell , phonation.
The External Nose

bones and cartilages co

vered with skin

a root, a back, an apex

two alae nasi
two nares
 The Nasal Cavity
the nasal vestibule
nasal cavity
(by the limen nasi) the proper nasal cavity (four walls)

nares (in front)

choanae (behind)
 The proper nasal cavity
the lateral wall:
three projections----the superior, middle and inferio
r nasal conchae
The spaces below the conchae are the corresponding
meatuses
the sphenoethmoidal recess
The paranasal sinuses (Four pairs)
the frontal sinus open into the
middle nasal
the maxillary sinus anterior group meatuses
middle group open into the su
the ethmoidal sinus
posterior group perior nasal me
the sphenoidal sinus open into the sphatuses
enoethmoidal rec
esses
 The opening of the nasolacrimal duct is at the
inferior nasal meatus.
The nasal mucous membrane

the olfactory region: receiving smell stimulation

the respiratory region: warm and humidify air
 Section 2 The Pharynx
The nasopharynx lies between the base of t
he skull and the soft palate. It communicates
with the nasal cavity through the two choana
e (posterior nasal apertures).
 Section 3 The Larynx

functions: respiratory
passage and phonation

It lies in the neck

region and extends to
the trachea at the level
of the sixth cervical
vertebra.
 The larynx consists of a
framework of cartilages
that are connected together
by ligaments, membranes
and joints. It also has a
number of small muscles
moving the cartilages.
 I. The Laryngeal Cartilages
The Thyroid Cartilage(1) The Cricoid Cartilage(1)
The Arytenoid Cartilages(2) The Epiglottic Cartilage(1)

anterior view posterior view

 II .The Laryngeal Joints
I) The cricothyroid joint
It make the thyroid cartilag
e inclines anteriorly and come
back, so adjust the length and
the tenseness of the vocal fold.
II) The cricoarytenoid joint
When the arytenoid cartil
age rotate through the vertical
axis, apposition and abduction
of vocal folds occur.
III. The Laryngeal Ligaments and Membranes
I) The thyrohyoid membrane
II) The conus elasticus

Its superior border is free

and forms the vocal ligament.
The part between the inferior
border of the thyroid cartilag
e and the superior border of t
he cricoid cartilage is called t
he median cricothyroid ligam
ent.
III) The quadrangular
membranes
Their lower borders are
free and form the vestibular
ligaments paralleling with
the vocal ligament.
IV. The Muscles of Larynx
function examples

open and clos the posterior cricoarytenoid

e the glottis (open), the transverse aryten
oid and the oblique arytenoid
(close)
regulate the t the thyroarytenoid (relax and
ension of the shorten), the cricothyroid (m
vocal fold ake the vocal fold tense and l
engthen)
the change of the thyroepiglottic (enlarge);t
the aperture he aryepiglottic ( narrow and
of larynx lesser)
 V. The Laryngeal Cavity
Between the vestibular fold and the vocal fold, the
laryngeal cavity can be divided into three parts:
① the laryngeal vestibule
② the intermedial cavity of larynx (narrowest)
③ the infraglottic cavity
the rima vestibuli; the fissure of glottis
the ventricles of larynx; the vocal folds
The glottis consists of the vocal folds and the slit b
etween them.
 In normal phonation the vocal folds are
apposition; and in deep breath, they are
abduction to widen the passageway and allow
utmost air in respiratory tract.
 Section 4 The Trachea
The trachea extends from the lower border of the
cricoid cartilage at the level of sixth cervical vertebr
a to the level of the sternal angle .
It divides into the
right and left principal
bronchi.
tracheal cartilages :
15-30 C-shape

The posterior wall of

trachea is soft and permits
the esophagus to expand
during swallowing.
 The carine of trachea is a sagittal semilu
nar ridge inside the bifurcation of trachea,
which can be seen through bronchoscope a
nd used as a guide to the bronchi.
 Section 5 The Bronchi

The left principal bronchus

is longer, finer and less vertical
(oblique).
The right principal bronchus
is about shorter, wider in
diameter and more vertical in
position than the left, thus
foreign objects from the
trachea usually pass into the
right bronchus.
the principal bronchus ￫ lobar bronchi ￫ the
segmental bronchi ￫ bronchioles ￫ the
terminal bronchioles

the bronchial tree: the principal

bronchus subdivided into the
different even smaller tubes. In
the end connect the tissue of
lung. These branches resemble
an inverted tree and so are
called the bronchial tree .
 Section 6 The Lungs

The lungs are the essential organs of

respiration. At birth the lungs are pinkish-white
but they turn dark grey with age and become
almost black due to carbonaceous deposits.
 I. The Position and the External features of the
lungs

The lungs are situated one on each side within t

he thorax, and separated from each other by the
heart and other contents of the mediastinum.
The right lung is shorter and wider.
The left lung is longer and narrow.
 Each lung is conical and has an apex, a base,
two surfaces and three borders. The apex of lung is
rounded and extends to about 2~3cm above the
level of the medial one-third of the clavicle. The
base of lung is concave and related to the
diaphragm, so it is also called the diaphragmatic
surface.
 Two surfaces are the costa
l surface and the medial surf
ace. The costal surface is sm
ooth, convex and related to t
he inner surface of the thora
x. The medial surface is relat
ed to the mediastinum, so it i
s also called the mediastinal
surface.
 Near the center of mediasti
nal surface of the lung, there i
s a depression called the hilum
of lung . The structures enteri
ng and emerging the hilum is
called the root of lung , which
is short broad pedicle and con
sists of the bronchi, pulmonar
y artery and veins, nerves, bro
nchial vessels, lymphatics and
lymph nodes.
 The borders of lung include anterior, posterior
and inferior borders.

the cardiac notch

of left lung ; the
lingual of left lung.
 II. The Lobes and Segments of Lungs

The left lung is divided

into superior and inferior
lobes by an oblique fissure.
The right lung is divided into
superior, middle and inferior
lobes with a horizontal
fissure and an oblique
fissure.
 The lobes of lung are subdivided into smaller uni
ts having independence structure and function and
are called the bronchopulmonary segments . Each l
ung has ten segments.
 Section 7 The Pleura
The pleura is thin, glistening, slippery serous
membrane lining the inner surface of the thorax
and the surfaces of lungs. It includes the parietal
pleura and the viscer
al pleura. Between th
ese two pleura there
are the pleural caviti
es.
 The parietal pleura is divided into four portions:
the costal pleura, the diaphragmatic pleura, the me
diastinal pleura and the cupula of pleura.
 The costal and diaphragmatic pleurae are in c
ontact with each other to form the costodiaphrag
matic recess . It is the lowest portion of the pleur
al cavity.
 The visceral pleura covering the lungs and
extending into the fissures of lung.
 Below the root of lung the mediastinal pleura
extends as a double layer to the mediastinal sur
face of lung. This double layer is called the pul
monary ligament . It is the turning point from t
he parietal to the visceral pleura.
The pleural cavity contains a film of fluid. T
wo pleural cavities are separated from each oth
er by the mediastinum.
 The body surface projection of the Lungs and pleurae

The body surface projection of the apex of lung and t

he cupula of pleura are at about 2~3cm above the level o
f the medial one-third of the clavicle.
 the projection of the inferior margins of the lungs and c
ostodiaphragmatic lines of reflexion of the pleurae
Midclavicular midaxillary line posterior median
line line

Inferior margin of Contact with Contact with on the level of T10

lungs 6th rib 8th rib spinal process

 
Inferior margin of Co Contact with Contact with on the level of T12
stodiaphragmatic line 8th rib 10th rib spinal process
s of reflexion of pleur
ae
 Section 8 The Mediastinum

The mediastinum is generall

y defined as the interval betwe
en the right and left pleural sa
cs. It extends from the sternum
in front to vertebral column be
hind, and from the thoracic inl
et above to the diaphragm belo
w.
 It is divided into superior and i
nferior mediastina by the plane of
the sternal angle.

The inferior mediastinum is s

ubdivided into an anterior, middl
e and posterior mediastinum by t
he anterior and posterior pericar
dium.
Left side of the mediastinum right side of the mediastinum
 Review
1.Concept:
the bronchial tree; the root of the lung;
the hilum of the lung; the mediastinum
the costodiaphragmatic recess;
2.What is the composition of the respiratory syste
m?
3.Please write down the names of four pairs of the
paranasal sinuses and the opening place, the opening
place of the nasolacrimal duct.
4.What are the names of the laryngeal cartilages?
5.What is the function of the cricothyroid?
 6.How many parts is the laryngeal cavity divided
into? What are they?
7.Please write down the difference of the left and
right principal bronchus.
8.Please write down the external features of the l
ung. How many lobes do the left and the right lungs
each have?
9.How many portions is the parietal pleura divide
d into? What are they?
10.Please write down the projection of the superi
or and inferior margins of the lungs and costodiaph
ragmatic lines of reflexion of the pleurae.