OVERVIEW OF THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Dr. Baktygul
 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
O2
• The respiratory system is a
series of organs responsible
CO2 for taking in oxygen and
expelling carbon dioxide.
 FUNCTION AND ORGANS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Nasal Cavity - moistening and filtering of air

• Pharynx - part of throat behind the mouth and
nasal cavity and above the esophagus and the
larynx
• Larynx - splits from the pharynx and leads into
the trachea
• Vocal Cords - generate sound by vibrating
• Epiglottis - helps close the air conducting
passage way during swallowing
 FUNCTION AND ORGANS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Trachea - supported by C-shaped hyaline cartilage

rings
• Respiratory epithelium
• Primary (Main) Bronchi - branches into the left and
right lungs and is supported by hyaline cartilage
• Respiratory epithelium
• Lungs
• Bronchioles
• Simple ciliated columnar (or cuboidal) epithelium with Club
cells
• Terminal Bronchioles
• Simple ciliated columnar (or cuboidal) epithelium with Club
cells
THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT (VENTRAL VIEW)
The major passages and structures of the upper respiratory tract include the nose
or nostrils, nasal cavity, mouth, throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx)
 NASAL CAVITY

• The nasal cavity is anatomically

one of the upper airways, which
distributes air to the lungs. It can
be divided into the vestibulum
nasi – vestibule of the nasal
cavity, cavitas nasi propria – the
nasal cavity itself and the
nasopharynx.
 HISTOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE NASAL CAVITY

• The nasal mucosa filters, warms, and humidifies the inhaled air and is also
responsible for the perception of odors.
• CLINICAL CORRELATIONS
• 1. The nasal mucosa is protected from dehydration by alternating blood flow to the venous sinuses of
the lamina propria overlying the conchae of the right and left nasal cavities. The erectile tissue–like
region (swell bodies) of one side expands when its venous sinuses become engorged with blood,
reducing the flow of air through that side. Seepage of plasma from the sinuses and seromucous
secretions from the glands thus rehydrate the mucosa approximately every half hour.
• 2. Chemical irritants and particulate matter are removed from the nasal cavity by the sneeze reflex.
The sudden explosive expulsion of air usually clears the nasal passage of the irritant
 THE VESTIBULUM NASI

The anterior portion of the nasal

cavity, in the vicinity of the nares, is
dilated and is known as the vestibule.
This region is lined with thin skin
and has vibrissae—short, stiff hairs
that prevent larger dust particles
from entering the nasal cavity.
• Except for the vestibule and the
olfactory region, the nasal cavity is
lined by pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium, frequently called
the respiratory epithelium
CLINICAL CORRELATIONS
• Nasal bleeding usually occurs from
Kiesselbach area, the anteroinferior
region of the nasal septum, which is
the site of anastomosis of the arterial
supply of the nasal mucosa. The
bleeding may be arrested by applying
pressure on the region or by packing
the nasal cavity with cotton
OLFACTORY REGION OF THE NASAL CAVITY

• The olfactory region comprises the

olfactory epithelium and the
underlying lamina propria that
houses Bowman glands and a rich
vascular plexus.
 OLFACTORY CELLS
• Olfactory cells are bipolar neurons
whose peripheral (distal) aspect is
modified to form the olfactory
vesicle and olfactory cilia, whereas
its central aspect forms an axon
that joins other axons to synapse in
the olfactory bulb
 BOWMAN GLANDS

• Bowman glands (olfactory glands),

which produce a serous secretory
product, are also present and are
indicative of the olfactory mucosa. These
glands release IgA, lactoferrin, lysozyme,
and odorant binding protein, a molecule
that prevents the odorant from leaving
the region of the olfactory epithelium,
thus enhancing the individual’s ability to
detect odors
• Sustentacular (supportive) cells distributed throughout the epithelium are
interspersed with olfactory nerve cells and basal cells proximal to the
cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. The cell shapes are hard to
distinguish; so the position and shape of the nuclei are used to distinguish
the cell types.
• The nuclei of the basal cells are spherical and proximal to the cribriform
plate of the ethmoid bone.
• The nuclei of sustentacular cells are more elongated and distal to the
cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.
• The nuclei of the olfactory nerve cells are seen between those of the basal
and sustentacular cells.
 NASOPHARYNX
• The pharynx begins at the choana and extends to the opening of the larynx.
This continuous cavity is three regions: (1) the superior naso-pharynx, (2) the
middle oral pharynx, and (3) the inferior laryngeal pharynx.
• The nasopharynx is lined by a respiratory epithelium, whereas the oral and
laryngeal pharynges are lined by a stratified squamous epithelium. The lamina
propria is composed of a loose to dense, irregular type of vascularized
connective tissue housing seromucous glands and lymphoid elements. Itis
fused with the epimysium of the skeletal muscle components of the pharynx.
The lamina propria of the posterior aspect of the houses the pharyngeal tonsil
 THE LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT,

• and the lower respiratory

tract, consisting of the
larynx, trachea, bronchi
and the lungs.
 THE LARYNX

• The larynx, or voice box, is responsible for

phonation and for preventing the entry of food and
fluids into the respiratory system
 THE LARYNX

• The wall of the larynx is reinforced

by several hyaline cartilages (the
unpaired thyroid and cricoid
cartilages, and the inferior aspect of
the paired arytenoids) and elastic These cartilages are connected to each
cartilages (the unpaired epiglottis, other by ligaments, and their movements
the paired corniculate and with respect to one another are controlled
cuneiform cartilages, and the by intrinsic and extrinsic skeletal
muscles.
superior aspect of the arytenoids).
• The larynx is lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar
epithelium, except on the superior surfaces of the epiglottis and
vocal folds, which are covered by stratified squamous
nonkeratinized epithelium.
 THE TRACHEA

• The trachea is a tube that connects the larynx

to the lungs allowing the passage of air. It is a
fibromuscular tube supported by 15 to 20 "C"-
shaped hyaline cartilages.
 RESPIRATORY EPITHELIUM OF TRACHEA
• the trachea is lined with a pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia
and goblet cells.
• Cilia - extend 5 to 7 µm from the surface of the columnar epithelial cells.
The dark line at their base is from their basal bodies.
• Goblet Cells - secrete mucus. They are difficult to identify in this
specimen, but a thick layer of mucus (20 to 30 µm) is seen on the surface of
the epithelium.
• Basement Membrane - separates the epithelium from the underlying
connective tissue. It is seen as a thick, eosinophilic band beneath the
epithelium - dense irregular connective t
• Lamina propria - dense irregular connective tissue supports the epithelium.
• Sero – mucous glands - add moisture to air and aid in trapping
contaminants. The cilia propel mucus towards the esophagus where it is
swallowed.
• Tracheal cartilage - cross-section of a single, "C"-shaped hyaline cartilage
that is open in its posterior aspect.
• Trachealis muscle – smooth muscle that spans the ends of tracheal cartilages.
They control the diameter of the trachea.
• Adventitia - loose connective tissue.
 BRONCHIAL TREE
• The bronchial tree begins at the bifurcation of the trachea, as
the right and left primary bronchi, which arborize (form
branches that gradually decrease in size). The bronchial tree is
composed of airways located outside of the lungs (the primary
bronchi, extrapulmonary bronchi) and airways located inside of
the lungs: the intrapulmonary bronchi (lobar [secondary] and
segmental [tertiary] bronchi), bronchioles, terminal bronchioles,
and respiratory bronchioles
 BRONCHIAL TREE

The bronchial tree

divides 15 to 20 times
before
reaching the level of
terminal bronchioles.
 THE LUNGS

• The adult lungs are sponge-like

organs. The main function of the
lungs is to provide oxygen and
remove carbon dioxide from
blood.
• The lung consists of airways and structures for gas exchange.
• The trachea divides into a primary bronchus for each lung. The smaller
intrapulmonary airways are devoid of cartilage and glands in their
walls.
• Primary (Muscular) Bronchioles (not present in this specimen)
• Epithelium changes from pseudostratified columnar to simple,
ciliated columnar epithelium as they decrease in diameter.
• Club Cells - dome-shaped secretory cells with short microvilli.
(Do not have cilia.)
• Smooth Muscle - variable amounts present.
 BLOOD–GAS BARRIER
• The blood–gas barrier is that
region of the interalveolar
septum that is traversed by
O2 and CO2; these gases go
from the lumen of the blood
vessel to the lumen of the
alveolus and vice versa
 EXCHANGE OF GASES BETWEEN THE TISSUES AND LUNGS

• In the lungs, O2 is exchanged for CO2 carried by blood;

• in the tissues of the body, CO2 is exchanged for O2 carried by
blood
THE END