Respiratory system: structure of organs. The pleura is ... Pleural cavity of the lungs

As you know, without air man can not do more than three minutes. On this, the oxygen reserves dissolved in the blood are depleted, and the fasting of the brain occurs, which manifests itself as a faint, and in severe cases - coma and even death. Of course, people trained in a certain way could extend the airless period to five, seven and even ten minutes, but this is hardly possible for an ordinary person. Exchange processes occurring in the body require constant supply of oxygen molecules, and the respiratory system does a good job.

Stages of breathing

Oxygen exchange between the body and the environment takes place in four stages:

1. Air will get from the external environment into the lungs and fills all available space.
2. There is a diffusion of gases, including oxygen, through the wall of the alveoli (structural unit of the lungs) into the blood.
3. Hemoglobin, which is contained in red blood cells, binds most of the oxygen and carries it through the body. A small part dissolves in the blood in an unchanged form.
4. Oxygen leaves the hemoglobin compounds and passes through the vessel wall into the cells of tissues and organs.

We note that in this process the respiratory system participates only at the initial stage, the rest depends on the nature of the blood flow, its properties and the level of tissue metabolism. In addition, the lungs participate in heat exchange, the removal of toxic substances, the formation of voice.

Anatomy

The entire respiratory system is divided into two sections, depending on the relative position of the organs.

The upper respiratory tract consists of the nasal and oral cavities, nasopharynx, oropharynx, throat and pharynx. And for the most part are cavities formed by the walls of the bones of the skull or the muscular-connective tissue framework.

The lower respiratory tract includes the larynx, trachea and bronchi. Alveoli are not included in this classification, as they are an integral part of the lung parenchyma and the terminal section of the bronchi simultaneously.

Briefly about each composite unit of the respiratory tract.

Nasal cavity

This bone-cartilaginous formation, which is located on the front of the skull. It consists of two non-communicating cavities (right and left) and a partition between them, which forms a tortuous move. Inside the nasal cavity is covered with a mucous membrane, which has a large number of blood vessels. This feature helps warm the passing air during the inspiration process. And the presence of small cilia allows you to filter out large dust particles, pollen and other dirt. In addition, it is the nasal cavity that helps a person to distinguish smells.

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, yawn and pharynx serve to pass warm air into the larynx. The structure of the organs of the upper respiratory tract is closely connected with the anatomy of the skull and almost completely repeats its musculoskeletal framework.

Larynx

The voice of a person forms directly in the larynx. It is there that the vocal cords are located, which vibrate during the passage of air through them. This is similar to strings, but due to the structural features (length, thickness), their capabilities are not limited to one tone. The sound of the voice is amplified by the proximity of the intracranial sinuses or cavities, which create a certain resonance. But the voice is not yet speech. Separate sounds are formed only when the combined work of all the composite elements of the upper respiratory tract and the nervous system is coordinated.

The trachea, or the windpipe, is a tube that consists of cartilage on one side and ligaments on the other. Its length is ten to fifteen centimeters. At the level of the fifth thoracic vertebra, it is divided into two main bronchi: the left and right. The structure of the lower respiratory tract is mainly represented by cartilages, which, when combined, form tubes that conduct air into the depth of the lung parenchyma.

Separation of the respiratory system

The pleura is the outer thin shell of the lung, represented by a serous connective tissue. Outwardly, you can take it for a brilliant protective coating, and it's not so far from the truth. It covers the internal organs from all sides, and also is located on the inner surface of the chest. Anatomically, two parts of the pleura are distinguished: one actually covers the lungs, and the second lays the chest cavity from the inside.

Visceral leaf

That part of the shell that is on top of the internal organs is called the visceral, or pulmonary pleura. It is tightly soldered to the parenchyma (the substance itself) of the lungs, and it can be separated only surgically. It is thanks to this close contact and the repetition of all the contours of the organ that it is possible to distinguish the furrows dividing the lung into lobes. These sites are called just the interlobar pleura. Passing through the entire surface of the lungs, the connective tissue surrounds the lung root to protect the vessels, nerves and the main bronchus that enter it, and then passes to the wall of the chest.

Parietal leaflet

Starting from the place of transition, the leaf of connective tissue is called "parietal, or parietal pleura." This is due to the fact that its attachment will now not be to the parenchyma of the lung, but to the ribs, intercostal muscles, their fascia and diaphragm. An important feature is that throughout the entire period the serosa remains intact despite differences in topographical names. Anatomes for their own convenience distinguish the rib, diaphragmatic and mediastinal divisions, and part of the pleura above the tip of the lung is called the dome.

Cavity

Between the two sheets of the pleura there is a small gap (not more than seven-tenths of a millimeter), this is the pleural cavity of the lungs. It is filled with a secret, which is produced directly by the serous membrane. Normally, a healthy person daily produces only a few milliliters of this substance. Pleural fluid is necessary to alleviate the frictional force that occurs between the sheets of connective tissue during breathing.

Pathological conditions

In general, pleural diseases are inflammatory. As a rule, it is rather a complication than an independent disease, as a rule, it is considered by doctors in conjunction with other clinical symptoms. Tuberculosis is the most common reason why the pleura inflames. This infectious disease is widespread among the population. In the classical version, primary infection occurs through the lungs. The structure of the respiratory organs causes the passage of inflammation and the pathogen from the parenchyma to the serous membrane.

In addition to tuberculosis, the culprits of inflammation of the pleura may be tumor, autoimmune processes, allergic reactions, pneumonia caused by streptococci, staphylococci and pyogenic flora, trauma.

Pleurisy by nature are dry (fibrinous) and effusive (exudative).

Dry inflammation

In this case, the vascular network inside the connective tissue leaves swells, and a small amount of liquid will sweat out of it. It folds into the pleural cavity and forms dense masses that are deposited on the surface of the lungs. In severe cases of these raids so much that around the lung formed a solid shell that prevents a person from breathing. Such a complication can not be corrected without surgical intervention.

Exemplary inflammation

If the pleural fluid is produced in a significant amount, then talk about exudative pleurisy. It, in turn, is divided into serous, hemorrhagic and purulent. It all depends on the nature of the fluid that is between the connective tissue sheets.

If the liquid is clear or slightly cloudy, yellow - this is a serous effusion. It contains a lot of protein and a small number of other cells. It can be in such a volume that it will fill the entire thoracic cavity, compressing the organs of the respiratory system and interfering with their work.

If the doctor saw during a diagnostic puncture that there is a red liquid in the chest, then this indicates that there is damage to the vessel. The reasons can be different: from the penetrating wound and closed fracture of the ribs with displacement of the fragments to melt the lung tissue of the tuberculous cavern.

The presence in the exudate of a large number of white blood cells makes it cloudy, with a yellowish-green hue. This is pus, which means that the patient has a bacterial infection with serious complications. Purulent pleurisy is otherwise called empyema. Sometimes, inflammatory fluid accumulations also complicate the cardiac muscle, causing pericarditis.

As we see, the respiratory system consists not only of the lungs. It includes the nose and mouth, pharynx and larynx with ligaments, trachea, bronchi, lungs and, of course, pleura. This is a whole complex of organs, which works harmoniously, delivering into the body oxygen and other gases of atmospheric air. In order to maintain this mechanism in order, it is necessary to regularly undergo fluorography, avoid acute respiratory infections and constantly improve their immunity. Then the negative impact of the environment will have less impact on the functions of the respiratory system.