Anatomy of the Respiratory System: A Complete Guide for BHMS Students

Divisions of the Respiratory System:

1. Upper Respiratory Tract (URT) → Nose, Sinuses, Pharynx, Larynx.
2. Lower Respiratory Tract (LRT) → Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli.

Mnemonic: "N.S.P.L. - T.B.B.A." (Nose, Sinuses, Pharynx, Larynx - Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli)


1. UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT (URT)

A. NOSE

Functions:
    F – Filtration (Traps Dust & Microbes).
    O – Olfaction (Smell via Olfactory Nerve).
    W – Warming & Humidification of Air.

Mnemonic: "F.O.W. = Filtration, Olfaction, Warming"


B. PARANASAL SINUSES

4 Sinuses:
    Maxillary.
    Frontal.
    Ethmoidal.
    Sphenoidal.

Functions:
    L – Lightens Skull Weight.
    R – Resonance to Voice.
    T – Temperature Regulation.

- Mnemonic: "M.F.E.S. = Maxillary, Frontal, Ethmoidal, Sphenoidal"
- Mnemonic: "L.R.T. = Lightens Skull, Resonance, Temperature"


C. PHARYNX

3 Parts:
    Nasopharynx (Air Passage, Contains Adenoids).
    Oropharynx (Food & Air Passage, Contains Tonsils).
    Laryngopharynx (Connects to Larynx & Esophagus).

Functions:
    Prevents Aspiration.
    Passage for Air & Food.

Mnemonic: "N.O.L. = Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx"


D. LARYNX (VOICE BOX)

3 Main Cartilages:
    Thyroid (Largest, Adam’s Apple).
    Cricoid (Complete Ring, Below Thyroid).
    Arytenoid (Controls Vocal Cords).

Functions:
    Voice Production.
    Prevents Aspiration (Epiglottis Closes Airway During Swallowing).

Mnemonic: "T.C.A. = Thyroid, Cricoid, Arytenoid"


2. LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT (LRT)

A. TRACHEA (Windpipe)

Features:
    C-Shaped Cartilage Rings (Prevent Collapse).
    Divides into Right & Left Main Bronchi.

Mnemonic: "T.R.A.C.H. = Trachea Rings Are Cartilage Holders"


B. BRONCHI & BRONCHIOLES

- Right Main Bronchus: Shorter, Wider, More Vertical (Aspiration Risk).
- Left Main Bronchus: Longer, Narrower, More Horizontal.

- Bronchi → Secondary Bronchi → Tertiary Bronchi → Bronchioles.
- Bronchioles Lack Cartilage & Lead to Alveoli.

Mnemonic: "R.S.T.B. = Right, Secondary, Tertiary, Bronchioles"


C. RESPIRATORY ZONES

Divided into:
    Conducting Zone: Trachea → Bronchi → Terminal Bronchioles (Air Passage).
    Transitional Zone: Respiratory Bronchioles & Alveolar Ducts (Some Gas Exchange).
    Respiratory Zone: Alveolar Sacs & Alveoli (Main Gas Exchange).

Mnemonic: "C.T.R. = Conducting, Transitional, Respiratory"


D. ALVEOLI (GAS EXCHANGE UNITS)

Structure:
    Tiny Air Sacs Surrounded by Capillaries.
    Thin-Walled for Gas Exchange.

Types of Alveolar Cells:
    Type I Pneumocytes → Gas Exchange (Thin, Flat Cells).
    Type II Pneumocytes → Surfactant Production (Prevents Collapse).

Mnemonic: "1-G, 2-S = Type 1 for Gas Exchange, Type 2 for Surfactant"


BLOOD SUPPLY & INNERVATION OF LUNGS

Blood Supply:
    Pulmonary Artery (Carries Deoxygenated Blood from Heart).
    Pulmonary Veins (Carry Oxygenated Blood to Heart).

Nerve Supply:
    Sympathetic Nerves → Bronchodilation (Expand Airways).
    Parasympathetic Nerves (Vagus) → Bronchoconstriction (Narrow Airways).

Mnemonic: "P.A.V. = Pulmonary Artery, Pulmonary Veins"
Mnemonic: "S.B. - P.B. = Sympathetic Bronchodilates, Parasympathetic Bronchoconstricts"


HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES

For Acute Cough & Bronchitis:
- Antimonium Tart, Bryonia, Hepar Sulph, Spongia.

For Asthma:
- Blatta Orientalis, Ipecac, Arsenicum Album.

For Chronic Lung Diseases (COPD, Bronchiectasis):
- Carbo Veg, Senega, Kali Bich.

- Mnemonic: "A.B.H.S. = Antimonium, Bryonia, Hepar, Spongia for Cough"


FINAL REVISION WITH MNEMONICS

  • Respiratory Tract = "N.S.P.L. - T.B.B.A." (Nose, Sinuses, Pharynx, Larynx - Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, Alveoli)
  • Nose Functions = "F.O.W." (Filtration, Olfaction, Warming)
  • Sinuses = "M.F.E.S." (Maxillary, Frontal, Ethmoidal, Sphenoidal)
  • Pharynx = "N.O.L." (Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx)
  • Larynx Cartilages = "T.C.A." (Thyroid, Cricoid, Arytenoid)
  • Trachea = "T.R.A.C.H." (Trachea Rings Are Cartilage Holders)
  • Bronchi = "R.S.T.B." (Right, Secondary, Tertiary, Bronchioles)
  • Respiratory Zones = "C.T.R." (Conducting, Transitional, Respiratory)
  • Alveoli = "1-G, 2-S" (Type 1 for Gas Exchange, Type 2 for Surfactant)
  • Blood Supply = "P.A.V." (Pulmonary Artery, Pulmonary Veins)
  • Nerve Supply = "S.B. - P.B." (Sympathetic Bronchodilates, Parasympathetic Bronchoconstricts)
  • Homeopathy = "A.B.H.S." (Antimonium, Bryonia, Hepar, Spongia for Cough)



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