In: Anatomy and Physiology
describe the respiratory tree including regions of the conducting and respiratory regions
The respiratory tree is responsible for passage of air into and
out of the lungs and consists of the conducting zone and the
respiratory zone.
CONDUCTING ZONE: contains trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and
terminal bronchioles.
Trachea : trachea or windpipe is a made up of cartilage and extends
from the larynx to the bronchi. It helps conduct the air from
larynx to the bronchi.
Bronchus : the trachea divides at the carina into right and left
bronchus. They help in conduction of air from trachea into the
lungs. They further divide into lovar and segmental bronchi.
Bronchioles : The segmental bronchi further divide into
subsegmental bronchi which further divides into bronchioles. They
are made up of ciliated cuboidal epithelium and a layer of smooth
muscle and supply a pulmonary lobule.
Terminal bronchioles : bronchioles further divides into terminal
brochioles which wnds into respiratory bronchioles.
RESPIRATORY ZONE : contains respiratory bronchioles, alveolar
ducts, alveolat sacs.
Respiratory bronchioles : respiratory bronchioles marks the
begining of respiratory zone. They conduct the air into alveolar
duct.
Alveolar duct : distal parts of respiratory bronchioles ends into
tiny alveolar ducts. Alveolar ducts pass the air from respiratory
bronchioles to the alveolar sac.
Alveolar sacs : alveolar sacs contain pulmonary alveoli which are
the site of gas exchange.