Respiratory system

Development of respiratory system

• Develops from a median diverticulum of the

foregut.
• Lining epithelium is endodermal origin.
• Connective tissue, cartilage and muscle organs
of respiratory system - derived from
splanchnopleuric mesoderm.
Endoderm and
Splanchnic
mesoderm
 Somatic layer Somatopleuric
with ectoderm to form the wall of
Lateral thorax and
mesoderm abdomen, parietal

Splanchnic layer Splanchnopleuric

with endoderm To form smooth
muscle, CT, BV and
visceral intraembyronic
cavity

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 Opening of
pharyngeal
pouches

Respiratory
diverticulum
• Diverticulum destines to form the respiratory
system, first seen as a midline groove
(tracheobronchial groove) in the floor of the
developing pharynx just caudal to the
hypobranchial eminence.
• Groove is flanked by the sixth pharyngeal
arches.
Lung buds
• Soon after its appearance, the distal part of the
groove is separated from the esophagus but
the cranial part continues to communicate
with the pharynx.
• Free caudal end of the diverticulum becomes
bifid each subdivision being called a lung bud.
• Part of the diverticulum cranial to the bifurcation
forms the larynx and trachea, while the lung buds
form the bronchi and lung parenchyma.
Lung bud
Larynx
• Internal lining of the larynx originates from the
endoderm but the cartilages and muscles
originates from mesenchyme of the 4th and 6th
pharyngeal arches.
• Rapid proliferation of the mesenchyme, the
laryngeal orifice form a sagittal slit to a T-shaped
opening.
• Two arches transforms into thyroid, cricoid and
arytenoid cartilages.
 Larynx
• When the cartilages are formed, laryngeal
epithelium also proliferates rapidly resulting in
temporary occlusion of the lumen.
• Subsequently, vacuolization and recanalization
produce a pair of lateral recess- laryngeal
ventricles.
• These recesses are bounded by folds of tissue
that differentiate into false and true vocal folds.
 Larynx
• Musculature of larynx is derived from the
mesenchyme of the 4th and 6th pharyngeal
arches, all laryngeal muscles are innervated by
branches of X cranial nerve (vagus nerve).
• The superior laryngeal nerve innervates
derivatives of 4th pharyngeal arch, and the
recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates derivatives
of the 6th pharyngeal arch.
 Trachea, Bronchi and Lungs:
• During its separation from the foregut, the lung
bud forms the trachea and two lateral
outpocketings, the bronchial buds.
• At the beginning of the fifth week, each of these
buds enlarges to form right and left main bronchi.
• The right then forms 3 secondary bronchi and the
left 2.
• Rt forming 3 lobes and lt forming 2 lobes
• Subsequent growth in caudal and lateral
direction, the lung buds expand into the body
cavity.
• The space for the lungs the pericardioperitoneal
canals are narrow, lie on each side of the foregut
and are gradually filled by expanding lung buds.
• Further development, secondary bronchi divide
repeatedly in a dichotomous fashion, forming 10
tertiary (segmental ) bronchi in the right lung and
8 in the left, creating the bronchopulmonary
segments of the adult lung.
• By the end of the sixth month, approximately 17
generation of subdivision have formed.
• Before the bronchial tree reaches its final shape,
however an additional 6 division form during
postnatal life.
• During last 2 months of prenatal life and for
several years thereafter, the number of terminal
sacs increases steadily.
• In addition, cells lining the sacs, known as type I
alveolar epithelial cells, become thinner, so that
surrounding capillaries protrude into the alveolar
sacs.
• Intimate contact between epithelial and
endothelial cells makes up the blood-air barrier.
• Mature alveoli are not present before birth.
• In addition to endothelial cells and flat alveolar
epithelial cells, another cell type develops at the
end of the sixth month.
• Cells, type II alveolar epithelial cells, produce
surfactant a phospholipid-rich fluid capable of
lowering surface tension at the air-alveolar
interface.
• Surfactant is particularly important for survival
of the premature infant.
• When surfactant is insufficient, the air-water
surface membrane tension becomes high,
bringing great risk that alveoli will collapse
during expiration.
• “Respiratory Distress Syndrome” develops,
also know as Hyaline Membrane Disease.
 Maturation of Lungs
• Up to 7th month prenatal month, the bronchioles
divide continuously into more and smaller
canals(canalicular phase) and the vascular supply
increases steadly.
• Terminal bronchioles divides to form respiratory
bronchioles and each of these divides into 3 to 6
alveolar ducts,
• Ducts end in terminal sacs(primitive alveoli) that
are surrounded by flat alveolar cells in close
contact with the neighboring capillaries
• By the end of 7th month sufficient numbers of
mature alveolar sacs and capillaries are
present to guarantee adequate gas exchange
and premature infant is able to survive.