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1. Discuss the morphology of the various cell types lining the respiratory tract in relation to their function.
Describe ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Why is it ciliated? What is the function of goblet cells? What are basal cells? What do they do? What is the function of neuroendocrine cells. Can you explain why parts of respiratory epithelial are lined by squamous cells? Describe Clara cells, type 1 and 2 pneumocytes.
2. Describe the function of the nasal cavity and cells, relating the structures and cells to the function.
The main function of the nose and its associated structures is to prepare the air for passage to the lungs by warming and humidifying it to prevent damage to the delicate alveoli and also includes receptors for sense of smell. What is role of mucus? What to vibrissae do? What is the function of swell bodies? Describe the olfactory epithelium. What do the supporting cells do? What is the function of non-motile ciliated cells? What do Bowman’s gland do?
3. What are the main functions of the larynx? Describe its structure and relate it to its function.
It has two main functions, acting as a valve to close the airway during swallowing to prevent food particles from entering the trachea, and producing sound by means of vocal cords.There is a lot of cartilage in the structure of larynx. Can you explain why?
Describe the function of the epiglottis. How do vocal cords produce sound?
4. What do you understand by bronchopulmonary segments?
The right bronchus is divided into three lobar bronchi, and the left bronchus divided into two. These divide into segmental bronchi which supply the bronchopulmonary segments. Each lung is divided into 10 bronchopulmonary segments. A bronchopulmonary segment is separated by connective tissue and has its own supply of blood vessels and lymphatics, making it a separate anatomical and functional unit that, if needed, can be removed by a thoracic surgeon without affecting the function of other segments.
5. Compare and contrast type 1 and type 2 pneumocytes and relate their structure to their function?
Type 1 pneumocytes are extremely thin squamous cells responsible
for gaseous exchange and occupy 95% of the total alveolar surface
area.
Type 2 pneumocytes are scattered among the type 1 cells. They have the potential to divide and differentiate into type 1 pneumocytes, which are unable to replicate. The other major function of type 2 pneumocytes is the production of pulmonary surfactant. This reduces the surface tension of, and reduces the inspiratory force needed to expand, the alveoli and possibility of collapse during expiration. The surfactant is composed of phospholipids and proteins.
6. What is the function of serous fluid in the pleura? How is serous fluid produced and how does it accumulate in disease?
Serous fluid is a lubricant that permits the smooth movement of the lung during respiration. Under normal conditions there is only a very small amount of pleural fluid present in the pleural cavity, but in certain pathological states excess fluid is produced. This excess fluid is called an effusion. Pleural fluid is formed by filtration of plasma through the capillary endothelium and its rate of production is determined by several factors, including hydrostatic pressure within the capillary lumen, colloid oncotic pressure (osmotic pressure caused by proteins in plasma), rate of lymphatic drainage, and permeability of capillaries. Imbalance in these factors may result in the accumulation of fluid. Under normal circumstances, the fluid contains a small number of mesothelial cells and lymphocytes.