Development of

respiratory system
Respiratory block-Anatomy-Lecture 5

Editing file
 Color guide :
Only in boys slides in Green

Objectives Only in girls slides in Purple

important in Red
Doctor note in Blue
Extra information in Grey

➔ Identify the development of the laryngotracheal

(respiratory) diverticulum.
➔ Identify the development of the larynx.
➔ Identify the development of the trachea.
➔ Identify the development of the bronchi & Lungs.
➔ Describe the periods of the maturation of the lung.
➔ Identify the most congenital anomaly
3
Respiratory system

Upper respiratory Lower respiratory

tract tract

Nasal cavity &

Nose paranasal Laryngopharynx Larynx Trachea Bronchi Lungs
sinuses
 Development of the respiratory tract
4
The endoderm &
Begins during the 4th week of Development of longitudinal Proximal & distal parts of the
surrounding splanchnic
development tracheoesophageal septum respiratory diverticulum
mesoderm

▹ Begins as a median ▹ Divides the diverticulum ▹ The endoderm lining the

▹ The proximal part of the
outgrowth (laryngotracheal into: laryngotracheal
respiratory diverticulum
groove) from the caudal part ▸ Dorsal portion*: diverticulum (respiratory
remains tubular and forms
of the ventral wall of the primordium (in the diverticulum) gives rise to
larynx & trachea.
primitive pharynx (foregut). earliest stage of the:
▹ The distal end of the
▹ The groove invaginates (fold development) of the ▸ Epithelium & glands
diverticulum dilates to form
within itself) and forms oropharynx & of the respiratory
lung bud, which divides to
laryngotracheal esophagus. tract.
give rise to 2 lung buds
(respiratory) diverticulum. ▸ Ventral portion*: ▹ The surrounding splanchnic
(primary bronchial buds).
primordium (=give mesoderm gives rise to the:
rise) of larynx, ▸ Connective tissue,
trachea, bronchi & cartilage & smooth
lungs. muscles of the
respiratory tract.
* Remember that the larynx,
trachea, bronchi & lungs lie
anteriorly while the oropharynx &
esophagus lie posteriorly. Hence,
the ventral and dorsal portions.
 Development of the larynx
Epiglottis
5 Development of the larynx Recanalization of larynx
- It develops from the caudal
The opening of the laryngotracheal diverticulum - The laryngeal epithelium
part of the hypopharyngeal
into the primitive foregut becomes the laryngeal proliferates rapidly resulting in
eminence, a swelling formed
orifice (opening). temporary occlusion (‫ )اﻧﺴﺪاد‬of the
by the proliferation of
laryngeal lumen.
- The epithelium & glands are derived from mesoderm in the floor of the
endoderm. pharynx. - Recanalization of larynx normally
occurs by the 10th week.
- Laryngeal muscles & the cartilages of the larynx
(except epiglottis) develop from the mesoderm of 4th - Laryngeal ventricles, vocal folds and
& 6th pairs of pharyngeal arches. vestibular folds are formed during
All laryngeal muscles supplied by (Vagus nerve) recanalization.
• The superior laryngeal > 4th Ph. arch derivatives.
• The recurrent laryngeal > 6th Ph. arch derivative

Growth of the larynx and epiglottis is rapid during the first three years after birth. By this time the epiglottis has reached its
adult form.
 Development of the trachea
6

➔ The endodermal lining of the

laryngotracheal tube (distal to the
larynx) differentiates into the
epithelium and glands of the
trachea and pulmonary epithelium.

➔ The cartilages, connective tissue,

and muscles of the trachea are
derived from the mesoderm.
 Development of the Bronchi & Lungs
7
▹ The 2 primary bronchial buds grow laterally
into the pericardio-peritoneal canals (part of
intra-embryonic celome), which is the
primordia of pleural cavities.

▹ Bronchial buds divide and re-divide to give

the bronchial tree.

▹ The right main bronchus is slightly larger

(wider) than the left one and is oriented
more vertically.
▹ This embryonic relationship persists in the
adult.
▹ The main bronchi subdivide into secondary
& tertiary (segmental) bronchi which give
rise to further branches.
 Development of the Bronchi & Lungs
8
▹ The segmental bronchi, 10 in the right lung and 8 or 9 in the left
lung, begin to form by the 7th week.
▹ The surrounding mesenchyme also divides.
▹ Each segmental bronchus with its surrounding mass of
mesenchyme is the primordium of a bronchopulmonary segment.

Development of the pleura

▹ As the lungs develop they acquire a layer of visceral pleura from
the splanchnic mesenchyme.
▹ The thoracic body wall becomes lined by a layer of parietal pleura
derived from the somatic mesoderm.
 Maturation of the Lungs
9 Maturation of lung is divided into 4 periods:

▹ Pseudoglandular (6 - 16 weeks) .
▹ Canalicular (16 - 26 weeks).
▹ Terminal sac (26 weeks - birth).
▹ Alveolar (late fetal period - childhood) (32w to 8y)

These periods overlap each other because the cranial segments of the lungs mature faster
than the caudal ones.
 Pseudoglandular Canalicular Period(16-26 weeks)
Period (5-16 weeks)
10 ❖
❖
Lung tissue becomes highly vascular.
Lumina of bronchi and terminal bronchioles become
❏ Developing lungs somewhat
larger.
resembles an exocrine gland during
❖ By 24 weeks each terminal bronchiole has given rise
this period.
to two or more respiratory bronchioles.
❏ By 16 weeks all major elements of
❖ The respiratory bronchioles divide into 3 to 6
the lung have formed except those
tubular passages called alveolar ducts.
involved with gas exchange
❖ Some thin-walled terminal sacs (primordial alveoli)
(alveoli).
develop at the end of respiratory bronchioles.
❏ Respiration is NOT possible.
❖ Respiration is possible at the end of this period.
❏ Fetuses born during this period are
❖ Fetus born at the end of this period may survive if
unable to survive.
given intensive care (but usually die because of the
immaturity of respiratory as well as other systems).
 Terminal Sac Period (26 weeks - birth)
11
▹ Many more terminal sacs develop.
▹ Their epithelium becomes very thin.
▹ Capillaries begin to bulge into developing ▹ By 26 weeks, the terminal sacs are lined by:
alveoli. squamous type I pneumocytes and &
▹ The epithelial cells of the alveoli and the rounded secretory type II pneumocytes, that
endothelial cells of the capillaries come in secrete a mixture of phospholipids called
intimate contact and establish the blood-air surfactant.
barrier. ▹ Surfactant production begins by 20 weeks
▹ Adequate gas exchange can occur which and increases during the terminal stages of
allows the prematurely born fetus to pregnancy.
survive. ▹ Sufficient terminal sacs, pulmonary
vasculature & surfactant are present to
permit survival of a prematurely born
infants.
▹ Fetuses born prematurely at 24-26 weeks
may suffer from respiratory distress due to
surfactant deficiency but may survive if
given intensive care.
 Alveolar Period (32 weeks – 8 years)
12 ▹ At the beginning of the alveolar period, each respiratory bronchiole terminates in a
cluster of thin-walled terminal saccules separated from one another by loose connective
tissue.
▹ These terminal saccules represent future alveolar sacs.
▹ Characteristic mature alveoli do not form until after birth, so; 95% of alveoli develop
postnatally.
▹ About 50 million alveoli, one sixth of the adult number are present in the lungs of a full-term
newborn infant.
▹ From 3-8 year or so, the number of alveoli continues to increase, forming additional primordial
alveoli. By about the eighth year, the adult complement of 300 million alveoli is present.
 Developmental anomalies: Tracheo-esophageal Fistula
13 ▹ An abnormal passage between the
trachea and esophagus.
▹ Results from incomplete division of the
cranial part of the foregut into
respiratory and esophageal parts by
the tracheo-esophageal septum.
▹ Occurs once in 3000 to 4500 live births.
▹ Most affected infants are males.
▹ In more than 85% of cases, the fistula
is associated with esophageal atresia
(esophagus ends in a blind-ended
pouch rather than connecting
normally to the stomach).
 MCQs
Question 1: The vestibular folds develop during which phase? Question 5: By 17 weeks all major elements of the lung have formed except:

14 A. recanalization of the larynx

B. proliferation of the mesoderm in the floor of the pharynx
A. alveoli
B. bronchioles
C. development of the trachea C. trachea
D. differentiation of the endodermal lining of the laryngotracheal tube D. esophagus
Question 2: Which one of the following is derived from the endoderm? Question 6: The parietal pleura is derived from:
A. connective tissue of the trachea A. thoracic body wall
B. glands of the trachea B. somatic mesoderm
C. cartilage of the trachea C. visceral pleura
D. laryngeal muscles D. splanchnic mesenchyme
Question 3: Which portion of the respiratory diverticulum the larynx Question 7: .......... segments of the lungs mature faster than the ……… ones.
arises from? A. cranial, caudal
A. cranial B. caudal, cranial
B. caudal C. dorsal, ventral
C. ventral D. ventral, dorsal
D. dorsal Question 8: Surfactant production begins by:
Question 4: At which week does the development of the respiratory tract A. 22 weeks
begins ? B. 20 weeks
A. 10th C. 18 weeks
th
B. 4 D. 21 weeks
th
C. 5
D. 7th Answers: Q1.A - Q2.B -Q3.C -Q4.B- Q5.A- Q6.B-Q7.A- Q8.B
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