Introduction and Upper

Respiratory Tract
Prof. K. Sivapalan
 Function of Respiratory System
• Inspiration and expiration
• Air conditioning.
• Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with
atmosphere.
• Acid base balance.
• Filtration of blood.
• Protection from harmful substances.
• Speech.
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 Upper respiratory tract

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 Airways
• Air reaches lungs through
nose, pharynx, trachea,
bronchi which are kept
open by cartilage
[muscles can obstruct]
• Broncheols [d < 1.5 mm]
have no cartilage and
change diameter in
response to
transpulmonary pressure
and smooth muscle tone.
• Smooth muscle responds
to adrenergic, cholinergic
and many other agents.
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 Airway Resistance
• Air way resistance depends on total cross sectional area.
• Normal respiration- most resistance in trachea
• In diseases, resistance will depend on the area of
constriction.
• Irritation of respiratory epithelium by noxious gases,
dust, cigarette smoke and infections causes reflex
contraction [parasympathetic].
• Histamine and slow reactive substance of anaphylaxis are
released in the epithelium.
• Oedema of the epithelium reduces diameter

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 Function of the Nose- Airconditioning
• Air is warmed [surface-160 sq.cm]
• Humidified
• Filtered [partially]- hair, turbulent precipitation →
Mucus → cilia to pharynx and swallowed.
• [Particles > 6µ removed in nose, 1-5 µ settle in smaller
bronchioles due to gravity, smaller particles entre
alveoli where precipitate or expelled by expiration]
• Problem in tracheostomy- crusting and infection.
• Small particles deposited in alveoli are removed by
alveolar Macropharges or carried away by lymphatics.
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 Vocalization
• Vocal cords are open during breathing.
• On phonation, the vocal cords move
towards each other and vibrate as air
passes through.
• Frequency- tension and thickness.
• Articulation- lips, tongue and soft
palate.
• Resonators- mouth, nose and sinuses.

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 Protective Reflexes
• Cough reflex- irritation to mucosa from larynx
to alveoli or very light touch send afferent
impulse in Vagus to cough centre in medula.
• Sneeze reflex – by irritation to nasal
epithelium

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