Respi Anatomy 1

It is the posterior muscular extension of the hard palate. Together they make up the palate of the oral cavity and the floor of the nasal cavity.

Superiorly- by the respiratory mucosa of the nasal cavity.

Inferiorly- the mucosa of the oral cavity.

Posteriorly- it does not have one, instead it hangs at an inferior angle towards the larynx, where it dangles the uvula in its midline.

Posterolaterally- it forms part of the superior portion of the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds.

Anteriorly- it is connected to the bony hard palate via an aponeurotic plate at the level of the vibrating line. This plate is a tendinous aponeurosis which extends from the tensor veli palatini muscle on either side.

It's helps with speech.

When swallowing, it raises to close the nasal passages (i.e. the nasopharynx) to prevent any food or liquid from entering the nasal cavity. NB. Therefore breathing is arrested during swallowing.

The uvula helps produce the gag reflex.

It is all muscle, it contains no bone.

It is made up of the following muscles: musculus uvalae, the tensor veli palatini, the levator veli palatini, the palatopharyngeus muscle, and the palatoglossal muscle.

It's oral mucosa lining is covered with mucous secreting salivary glands.

The Trigeminal Nerve supplies sensory innervation via:

1. The external nasal nerve (the terminal branch of the anterior ethmoidal nerve, which is a branch of the opthalmic nerve). This supplies the skin on the dorsum of the nose, nasal alae and nasal vestibule.

2. The infratrochlear branch of the nasociliary nerve, which is a branch of the opthalmic nerve.

3. The nasal branches of the infraorbital nerve (which is a branch of the maxillary nerve). This supplies the lateral aspects of the nose.

The dorsal nasal artery (a terminal branch of the ophthalmic), the external nasal artery (from the anterior ethmoidal artery), and the lateral nasal and septal branches of the facial artery and its superior labial branch.

These arteries will form anastomosis with each other.

Choanae.

1. Warms and humidifies the inspired air.

2. Removes and traps pathogens and particulate matter from The Inspired air.

3. Responsible for sense of smell.

4. Drains and clears the paranasal sinuses and lacrimal ducts.

1. Vestibule- the area surrounding the anterior external opening of the nasal cavity, also known as the nostril area/ nares.

2. Respiratory region - lined by ciliated pseudostratified epithelium, interspaced with mucus secreting goblet cells.

3. Olfactory region - located at the apex of the nasal cavity. It is lined with olfactory cells with olfactory receptors.

Conchae are projections from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. They're often called turbinates. There are three: an inferior, middle and superior.

They project into the nasal cavity and form 4 Pathways for air to flow, called meatuses:

1. Inferior meatus: lies between the inferior concha and floor of the nasal cavity.

2. Middle Meatus: lies between the inferior and Middle Concha.

3. Superior Meatus: lie between the middle and superior concha.

4. Spheno-ethmodial Recess: Lies superiorly and posteriorly to the superior concha.

It increases the surface area of the nasal cavity so more air comes in contact with the walls. This helps with cleaning the air.

This also helps slow down the inspired air by making it turbulent. This helps humidify the air by increasing the amount of time it spends in the cavity.

The Semilunar Hiatus, a crescent shaped groove on the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.

Is a bulge in the lateral wall formed by the Middle ethmoidal mortal sinus itself.

Infection can spread from the upper respiratory tract to the ear via the auditory tube. Infection of the auditory tube causes swelling of the mucous lining, and the tube becomes blocked. This results in diminished hearing.

It is a pathway between the nasal cavity and the incisive fossa of the oral cavity. It transmits the nasopalatine nerve and greater palatine artery.

The veins of the nose tend to follow the arteries. They drain into the Pterygoid Plexus, Facial vein or Cavernous Sinus.

NB. In some individuals, a few veins join with the sagittal sinus. This represents a potential pathway by which infection can spread from the nose into the cranial cavity.

Epitaxis.

These most often occur in the Kiesselblach area (the anterior third of nasal cavity).

Causes: Local causes (eg. Trauma), Systemic Causes (eg. Hypertension)

This is a hole located level of the superior meatus. It allows communication between the nasal cavity and the pterygopalatine fossa. The Sphenopalatine Artery, Nasopalatine and Superior nasal nerves pass through it.

The cribriform plate is a part of the ethmoid bone. It forms a portion of the roof of the nasal cavity. It contains very small perforations, allowing fibers of the olfactory nerve to enter and exit.

1. The olfactory bulb lies on the Cribriform plate and can be damaged irreversibly by a fracture. This can cause anosmia (loss of smell).

2. A fractured cribriform plate can penetrate the meningeal Linings of the brain, causing leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. Exposing the brain to the outside environment like this increases the risk of meningitis, Encephalitis, and brain abscesses.

It's spans between the root of the nose and the apex of the nose.

They drain the frontal sinuses into the nasal cavity at the semilunaris of the lateral wall.

The maxillary sinus opens into the nasal cavity underneath the openings of the frontal opening. Thus, fluid draining from the frontal sinus can infect the maxillary sinus.

The maxillary nerve supplying this sinus also supplies the maxillary teeth thus pain.

Anterior Ethmoidal Artery

Posterior Ethmoidal Artery

Greater Palatine Artery

Long Sphenopalatine Artery

Septimal Branch of Superior Labial Artery of the Facial Artery

Nasopalatine Nerve

It courses on the roof the maxillary sinus giving innervation to it. It then travels through the infraorbital foramen and divides into three nerves.

The airspace is anterioinferior to the Sphenoid Air Sinus.

Petrous temporal bone