Upper Respiratory Tract

(Upper Respiratory System)

Function:
-Exchanges gases
(oxygen & CO2)
-Protects body from
airborne irritants

Major Organs:
-Nasal cavities
-Larynx
-Pharynx
-Trachea
-Lungs

•The nose is divided by the nasal septum into 2 nostrils.

•The nasal cavity is posterior to the nose and is lined with mucosa lining, which warms the incoming air and traps foreign objects.

•Ciliated cells in the nasal mucosa propel
trapped debris towards the throat for
digestion.

•Three ridges called conchae are found
within the nasal cavity.

•These conchae increase the mucosal
surface area and air turbulence,
allowing more particulates to contact
the nasal cavity walls instead of
entering the lungs.

•Between the nasal cavity and the
mouth is the hard and softpalate. The
hard palate is made of bone, while the
soft palate is made of muscle.

•The nasal cavity ends with the uvula,
which prevents food from entering
other parts of the nasal cavity when
swallowed.

•The nasal cavity is
surrounded by
paranasal sinuses,
which have several
functions:
•Lighten the skull

•Resonate speech

•Produce mucus

•Inflammation of these
sinus spaces is known as
rhinitis. It can be caused
by allergens or
respiratory viruses.

•Pharynx= the “throat”
•Shared by both respiratory and digestive systems

Divided into:
1. Nasopharynx- nasal

portion of pharynx

2. Oropharynx- oral

(mouth) portion of
pharynx

3. Laryngopharynx-

opening of larynx and
esophagus. Contains
epiglottis.

•The pharynx is lined
with clusters of
lymphatic tissue
known as tonsils:
•Pharyngeal tonsil
(a.k.a. adenoid)

•2 palatine tonsils

•2 lingual tonsils

•Tonsils trap and
remove foreign
pathogens entering
the throat.

•The nasal cavity warms air and
traps foreignparticles in its
mucosal lining. At the palate, the
nasal cavity meets the pharynx,
or throat. The pharynx is divided
into 3 sections and lined by
tonsils.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the nasal cavity?

• To cool, dry, and purify the air we breathe.
• To aid in digestion of food.
• To warm, moisten, and filter the air we breathe.
• To regulate blood flow in the body.

Multiple Select

What is the purpose of conchae?

• To aid in digestion
• To increase the surface area of the nasal mucosa for humidifying, filtering

• To regulate blood pressure
• To improve vision
• to warm the air we breathe.

Multiple Select

What are the functions of the paranasal sinuses?

• Lighten the skull

• resonate sound

• Regulate body temperature
• Stabilize the spine
• produce mucus

Match

Match the following

• Nasopharynx

• Oropharynx

• Laryngopharynx

• tonsils

• uvula

nasal portion of pharynx

oral (mouth) portion of
pharynx

opening of larynx and
esophagus.

trap and
remove foreign
pathogens

which prevents food from entering
nasal

• nasal portion of pharynx

• oral (mouth) portion of
  pharynx

• opening of larynx and
  esophagus.

• trap and
  remove foreign
  pathogens

• which prevents food from entering
  nasal

•Larynx= the “voice box”

•Short section of cartilage that connects the pharynx
to the trachea.

•The larynx has 3 functions:

•Provide an open airway (cartilage)

•Divert air and food into the proper
pathways (epiglottis)

•Produce sound (vocal cords)

•Hyaline cartilage in the
larynx and trachea keeps
the soft tissue of the
upper respiratory tract
from collapsing during
breathing.

•The larynx is composed
of 9 pieces of cartilage.
The two largest are:
•Thyroid cartilage- makes up
the Adam’s apple

•Cricoid cartilage- attaches
larynx to trachea

•The epiglottis is a flap of elastic cartilage
that protects the superior opening of the
larynx.

•During breathing, the epiglottis allows air
to pass into the lower respiratory tract.

•While eating, the epiglottis tips to cover the
larynx directing food through the
esophagus rather than into the lungs.

•The larynx also contains elastic folds of tissue
called the vocal cords or vocal folds.

•Beyond the vocal cords are vestibular folds.
Both help to close the larynx to prevent food
from entering the respiratory system.

•Vocal cords change the sound of your voice in
several ways:
•Volume- pushing more air through the vocal cords

•Pitch- changing the tension and thickness of the vocal
cords (this naturally changes as children grow)

•Articulation- the use of tongue, lips, mouth, and teeth
to produce various sounds

•Trachea= “wind pipe”

•The trachea is a rigid tube about 5
inches long surrounded by
horseshoe-shaped cartilaginous
rings that open posteriorly.

•These rings prevent the trachea
from collapsing, while the tissue
between them maintains the
flexibility of the neck.

•The posterior of the
trachea is connected
to the esophagus
where the rings are
open.

•Mucous membranes
here also collect
dust and foreign
particles, which are
moved up to the
pharynx and
swallowed.

•The larynx and trachea are
lined with cartilage to provide
open pathways for air. The
epiglottis blocks food from
entering the lungs and the
vocal cords produce sound in
the larynx.

Labelling

Label the structure of the larynx

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

hyoid bone

thyroid cartilage

epiglottis

thyroid gland

trachea

Open Ended

The respiratory system and the digestive system work closely due to sharing structures. Identify the structure that these two systems share and explain its function.

Open Ended

Explain ONE way that vocal cords can change the sound of your voice.