Introduction to Airway: Review on

Respiratory Anatomy & Physiology Lower Airways/ Lower respiratory tract

● Trachea
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM ● Primary bronchi
● Primary function of the respiratory ● Bronchioles
system ● Alveolar ducts
Absorption of O2 and excretion of CO2 ● Alveolar sacs
● External respiration ● Alveoli
Gas exchange between the gas of the
atmosphere and blood
● Internal respiration
Gas exchange between tissue cells and
systemic capillary blood.
The system brings gas into close proximity
with the flowing blood in the pulmonary
circulatory system occurs via simple
diffusion.

•The respiratory system includes:

-Upper airways, chest wall, respiratory muscles,
lower airways, pulmonary blood vessels,
support nerves, and lymphatics
Nose
● The main functions of the nose are the
humidification, heating, and filtering of
inspired air.
● The nose is so efficient as a filter that most
particles larger than 5 μm in diameter do
not gain entry to the lower airways.

Upper Airways/ Upper respiratory tract

● Nose
● Oral Cavity
● Pharynx
● Larynx (marks the transition between the
upper and lower airways) Pharynx
 VOCAL CORDS

The “Wonder Pharynx”

Larynx

Clinical Focus

Larynx
● Voicebox
● Filters and humidifies.
● Epiglottis flaps (moves up and down)
during swallowing to prevent food or liquid
from entering the lungs.
2 Sphincter or Larynx
● -Sphincter at the inlet
● -Rrima Glottidis

Trachea
 b. Bronchoconstriction – visceral smooth
contraction

Conducting Airways
The mainstem bronchi divide to form lobar Alveoli (air sacs)
bronchi, which undergo several divisions to
form segmental and sub segmental bronchi.

Collateral Air Channels

Alveolar Membrane

With each subdivision of the airways, there is

progressively:
1. Less cartilage in the walls (smaller airways)
2. More visceral muscle and elastic
connective tissues in the walls
a. Bronchodilation – visceral smooth muscle
relaxes
Type 1 alveolar cells
-Simple squamous cells where gas exchange
occurs
Type 2 alveolar cells (septal cells)
-Free surface; secretes pulmonary surfactant
Type 3 alveolar macrophages
- Engulfs debris

Lung Divisions
⚫ Three lobes in the right; two in the left.
⚫ Root consists of the primary bronchus &
pulmonary artery & veins, bound together
by connective tissue
⚫ Hilum is the vertical slit on the medial
surface, through which the root structures
enter the lung
⚫ Covering of the lung is called the visceral
pleura

Overview of the Respiratory Physiology

⚫ Pulmonary Ventilation (External
Respiration)
⚫ Diffusion across alveolar capillary
membrane
⚫ Distribution of gases in the blood
⚫ Diffusion across the capillaries
⚫ Cellular respiration (Internal Respiration)