→ Alveoli

I. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
III. EPITHELIA OF THE CONDUCTING PORTION
 Composed of respiratory organs that provide exchange of O2
and CO2 to and from the blood A. RESPIRATORY EPITHELIUM
 Anatomical division: upper and lower respiratory tracts
 Mucosa that covers most of the nasal cavity and the
→ Upper respiratory tract (from nostrils to pharynx)
respiratory system’s conducting portion
 Humidification of air, olfaction and conduction of air to
LRT  Lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
 Nostrils to nasal cavity to paranasal sinuses to pharynx → Cilia is motile because it transports mucus
→ Lower respiratory tract (from larynx to lungs)
 Conduction of air to lungs, voice production, and gas
exchange
 Larynx to trachea to bronchi to lungs (bronchioles and
alveoli)
→ General changes from URT to LRT
 Decrease in thickness of the wall and diameter of lumen
 Increase in number of branches
 Disappearance of goblet cells and cilia
 Functional division: conducting portion and respiratory
portion

Figure 2. Respiratory Epithelium (C – Cilia, P – Pseudostratified Ciliated)

 Composed of five major cell types:

→ Ciliated columnar cells
 Most abundant, each with 250-300 cilia on its apical
surface
 Transport particles trapped in mucus out of air passages
→ Goblet cells
 Numerous and predominates in some areas
 Secretes mucus that traps impurities
→ Brush cells
 Chemosensory receptors
 Represent 3% of the cells in RE
 With small apical surface bearing sparse, blunt microvilli
→ Small granule cells (Kulchitsky cells)
 Possess numerous dense core granules 100-300 nm in
diameter
 Part of the diffuse neuroendocrine system (DNES)
 Represent 3% of the cells in RE (like brush cells)
 Monitor O2 and CO2 levels (hypoxia detection)
→ Basal cells
 Mitotically active stem and progenitor cells that give rise to
Figure 1. Anatomy of the Respiratory System
other epithelial cell types

II. FUNCTIONAL DIVISION OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

A. CONDUCTING PORTION
 Mainly responsible in conditioning (warming, humidifying,
cleaning) the inspired air before it enters the lungs
 A combination of cartilage, collagen and elastic fibers, and
smooth muscle that provides rigid structural support,
flexibility, and extensibility to ensure an uninterrupted air
supply
 Components:
→ Nasal Cavities
→ Pharynx
→ Larynx
→ Trachea
→ Bronchi
Figure 3. Cells that comprise the respiratory epithelium
→ Bronchioles
→ Terminal bronchioles
B. OLFACTORY EPITHELIUM
B. RESPIRATORY PORTION  A specialized region of the mucous membrane covering the
 Site of actual gas exchange superior conchae at the roof of the nasal cavity
 Components:  Location of olfactory chemoreceptors for the sense of smell
→ Respiratory bronchioles  Lining: pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium
→ Alveolar ducts → Cilia is nonmotile because its purpose is only for olfaction
 Has 3 major cell types:
 → Olfactory neurons  Produces a constant flow of fluid surrounding the olfactory
 Bipolar neurons present throughout this epithelium cilia and facilitates the access of new odoriferous
 Composed of axon, cell body, dendrite substances
 The receptors respond to odoriferous substances by
generating an action potential along the axons extending
from the basal ends of these neurons Reminder:
 They form the olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) and OE – Bowman’s gland (serous)
eventually synapse with neurons in the olfactory bulb of
the brain RE – seromucous glands
→ Supporting cells (Sustentacular cells)
 Columnar, with narrow bases and broad, cylindrical Serous glands are darker while Mucus glands are lighter in color
apexes containing the nuclei and extending microvilli into
the fluid layer → Fila olfactoria
 Maintains a microenvironment conducive to olfactory  Olfactory nerves
function and survival  Unmyelinated and occurs in bundles
→ Basal cells  Leaves the nasal cavity and enters the olfactory bulb at
 small, spherical or cone-shaped cells near the basal the base of the brain through the cribriform plate
lamina  Conveys special sensory information related to smell
 Stem cells for the other two types
 Replace the olfactory neurons every 2-3 months and
support cells less frequently

Figure 6. Bowman’s gland and Fila olfactoria

IV. COMPONENTS OF CONDUCTING PORTION

A. NASAL CAVITIES
Figure 4. Diagrammatic view of the olfactory epithelium  Air-filled space that receives air from the nostrils or nares
 Function: warms, moistens, and cleans air prior to its entry
into the lungs
 Two components:
→ External dilated vestibule
→ Internal nasal cavity

Figure 5. Olfactory epithelium (LP-Lamina Propia, B- Basal cell nuclei, ON-

Nuclei of bipolar Olfactory neuron, S- Supporting cell nuclei, C- nonmotile Cilia, Figure 7. Nasal Cavity
M- Mucus layer)
External dilated vestibule
 Other cell types:  Contains vibrissae (hair) that filters out particulate
→ Bowman’s gland material from inspired air
 Large serous glands found in the lamina propria
  Lining: Nonkeratinized stratified squamous  Lined with a thinner respiratory epithelium having fewer
epithelium pseudostratified ciliated goblet cells
columnar epithelium (transition of epithelium as it  Lamina propria: contains only a few small glands and is
enters the nose) continuous with the underlying periosteum
 Contains sebaceous and eccrine glands  Communicate with the nasal cavities through small openings

Figure 10. X.s. of the face at the level of the nose (ACF - anterior cranial fossa
PS - paranasal sinus NC - Nasal Cavity NS - Nasal septum T - turbinate bone O -
Figure 8. External Dilated Vestibule orbital cavity)

Internal Nasal Cavity C. NASOPHARYNX

 Lies within the skull as 2 cavernous chambers separated by
 First part of the pharynx
nasal septum
 Continuous with the nasal cavity anteriorly and with the
 Concha or turbinate bones → 3 bony shelf-like projections
oropharynx (throat) posteriorly (at the level of the soft palate)
extending from each lateral wall
 Lining: pseudostratified ciliated columnar respiratory
→ Middle and inferior conchae
epithelium
 Covered by respiratory epithelium
 Mucosa: contains the medial pharyngeal tonsil and the
 For humidification of inspired air
openings of the two auditory tubes which connect to each
middle ear cavity
 Dominant feature of the mucosa is the presence of large
masses of lymphoid tissue
 RECALL PHARYNGEAL TONSIL SLIDE – because
Pharyngeal tonsil is found in the roof of the nasopharynx

Figure 9. Inferior Conchae (V – Blood Vessels, S – Serous Glands, M – Mucous

Glands, RE – Respiratory Epithelium)
 The lamina propria of the nasal cavity is vascularized and
allows the blood vessels to be engorged or swollen with
blood restricting airflow and causing air to be directed to
the other side of the nose while the swollen side is
humidified by water released from small seromucous
glands. (Basically to prevent dehydration of the swollen
side)
→ Superior conchae
 Covered by olfactory epithelium
 For sensation of smell Figure 11. Pharyngeal Tonsil
 BOWMAN’S GLAND
 See Figure 5 D. LARYNX
B. PARANASAL SINUS  “Voice box”
 Bilateral cavities in the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and  Short (4 cm × 4 cm) passage for air between the pharynx and
sphenoid bones of the skull the trachea
 Responsible for sound production during phonation  Lining: pseudostratified columnar ciliated RE
 Wall is reinforced by:  Contains seromucous glands and areolar tissue with MALT
→ Hyaline cartilage (mucosa associated lymphoid tissue) often with lymph
 Paired: thyroid and cricoid cartilage nodules.
 Unpaired: inferior arytenoid cartilages True Vocal Cord
→ Smaller elastic cartilage  Lower fold
 Unpaired: epiglottis  Lining: nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium
 Paired: cuneiform, corniculate, and the superior arytenoid (protects the mucosa from abrasion and desiccation from
cartilages rapid air movement)
 They project more sharply into the lumen
 Contains vocal ligament & vocalis muscle (main structures
responsible for the production of sound kaya tinawag siyang
true vocal cord because these structures are absent in the
false vc.)
 Vocal ligament: dense regular bundle of elastic connective
tissue that supports the free edge of each vocal fold
→ mainly responsible for moving the true cord controlling the
pitch of the sound made

IMPORTANT: How is sound produced?

1. Adduction of the laryngeal muscles

2. Narrowing of the rima glottidis (opening between
two true vocal cords)
3. Air is expelled from the lungs
4. Vibration of the adducted vocal cords
Figure 12. Components of the Larynx
5. Sound is produced

NTK:

 Speech is produced when the sounds in the larynx are

modified by the movements of the pharynx, tongue, and
lips.
 Men’s voice has a deeper range compared with women’s
because they have larger larynx and longer vocal cords
 Factors that can alter the qualities of the sound includes
the change in tension on the vocal cords, width of the
rima glottides and the volume of air expelled

Figure 13. Larynx (LV - laryngeal vestibule, G - seromucous glands, VF -

vestibular folds (false vocal cords), V – ventricle, VC - vocal cord (true vocal
cord), VM - vocalis muscle)

 Laryngeal vestibule (LV) surrounded by seromucous glands

(G) Figure 14. Movement of laryngeal muscles during phonation (TVC – True Vocal
 The lateral walls of this region bulge as a pair of vestibular Cord)
folds (VF) or the false vocal cord Epiglottis
 Below each large vestibular fold is a narrow space or  Flattened structure projecting from the upper rim of the larynx
ventricle (V)  Prevents swallowed food or fluid from entering the respiratory
 Below which is another pair of lateral folds, the vocal cords passage by covering the laryngeal aditus/opening
(VC) or the true vocal cord → During respiration: it assumes a vertical position (open)
 Each VC contains a large striated vocalis muscle (VM) to permit passage of air
 All the structures and spaces above the folds add resonance → During swallowing: it assumes a horizontal position
to the sounds, assisting phonation. (closed) to prevent food or fluids from entering the larynx
False Vocal Cord  It has 2 surfaces:
 Upper fold
 → Upper or lingual surface: nonkeratized stratified o Upper trachea: mainly goblet and basal cells
squamous epithelium → Lamina propria
→ Laryngeal surface: the epithelium undergoes a transition  Loose, highly vascular connective tissue
to ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium  Contains seromucous glands
 Its lamina propria contains mixed mucous and serous glands  Forms a bank of fibroelastic tissue at the deep aspect
in a dense irregular connective tissue
 An elastic cartilage provides support to the epiglottis

Figure 17. Tunica mucosa

Tunica submucosa
 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage
→ Maintains wall integrity and keeps tracheal lumen open
→ Covered by perichondrium
→ Incomplete
 Open ends at the cartilaginous rings on the posterior
Figure 15. Epiglottis (NKSS – Non-Keratinized Stratified Squamous; PCCE – surface against esophagus (esophagus found at the
Pseudostratified Ciliated Columnar) posterior of the trachea)
 Trachealis muscles connects the two ends
E. TRACHEA  Forms a layer that permits the ciliary movement to propel
 Aka windpipe foreign particles continuously out of trachea
 10-12 cm in adults
 Function: transports air in and particles out

Figure 16. Trachea

Figure 18. Tunica submucosa
Tunica Mucosa (inner layer) Tunica adventitia
 Two components:  Outermost fibroelastic connective tissue surrounding the
→ Respiratory epithelium trachea
 Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium (PCCE)  Anchors trachea to different adjacent structures
 Cells:
o Mucous/goblet, serous, short/basal, brush, immature,
small granule cells
o Lower trachea: mainly ciliated columnar cells
Figure 19. Tunica adventitia