Respiratory Anatomy Hub
System-wise anatomy of the human respiratory system, structured for fast revision.
Respiratory Anatomy Hub
Embryology
Developmental anatomy of the respiratory system.
Fundamentals
Overview and organization of the respiratory system.
Upper Airway
Nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx, and larynx.
External Nose – Bony & Cartilaginous Framework
An overview of the external nose, including its functions in respiration and olfaction, and its skeletal framework composed of nasal bones and various cartilages.
Nasal Cavity – Septum, Conchae & Walls
An overview of the nasal cavity, detailing its roof, floor, medial wall (nasal septum), and the lateral wall with its superior, middle, and inferior conchae.
Paranasal Sinuses – Drainage & Clinical
An overview of the four paranasal sinuses, their locations, drainage pathways into the nasal cavity, and their clinical significance in sinusitis.
Nasopharynx – Boundaries, Auditory Tube & Adenoids
An overview of the nasopharynx, the respiratory part of the pharynx, detailing its boundaries, the opening of the auditory tube, and the clinical role of the adenoids.
Oropharynx – Boundaries, Tonsils & Gag Reflex
An overview of the oropharynx, the digestive part of the pharynx, detailing its boundaries, palatine and lingual tonsils, and its role in the gag reflex.
Lower Airway
Trachea and bronchial tree.
Cervical Trachea – Relations & Tracheostomy
An overview of the cervical trachea, its C-shaped cartilages, key relations in the neck, and its clinical importance as the site for tracheostomy.
Trachea – Anatomy, Rings, Relations & Clinical
The trachea is a fibrocartilaginous tube extending from the larynx to the bronchi. Learn about its C-shaped rings, trachealis muscle, and clinical importance.
Bronchial Tree – Trachea to Bronchioles & Alveoli
Follow the branching airways of the lungs, from the trachea to the principal, lobar, and segmental bronchi, down to the terminal and respiratory bronchioles.
Lungs & Pleura
Lung anatomy, segments, and pleural cavities.
Lungs Anatomy – Lobes, Fissures, Hilum & Blood Supply
An overview of the lungs, the primary organs of respiration. Explore the lobes, fissures, hilum, and the dual (pulmonary and bronchial) blood supply.
Bronchopulmonary Segments – Surgical Lung Anatomy
Bronchopulmonary segments are the independent functional and surgical units of the lungs, each with its own segmental bronchus and pulmonary artery branch.
Pleura – Cavities, Recesses & Clinical Notes
The pleura are serous sacs surrounding the lungs. Learn about the visceral and parietal layers, the pleural cavity, and key recesses like the costodiaphragmatic.
Mechanics of Breathing
Respiration mechanics and thoracic wall muscles.
Mechanism of Respiration – Pump-Handle & Bucket-Handle
Learn how breathing works through the pump-handle and bucket-handle movements of the ribs and the contraction of the diaphragm, which alter thoracic diameters.
Diaphragm – Anatomy, Openings & Respiration
An overview of the diaphragm, the primary muscle of respiration. Learn about its origins, central tendon, major openings (aortic, esophageal, caval), and motor innervation.
Intrinsic Thoracic Wall Muscles – Intercostals & More
An overview of the intrinsic muscles of the thoracic wall, including the external, internal, and innermost intercostal muscles that facilitate respiration.
Anatomical Regions
Mediastinum, thoracic inlet, and intercostal spaces.
Mediastinum – Boundaries, Contents & Overview
The mediastinum is the central space in the thoracic cavity between the lungs, containing the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus. Learn its boundaries.
Mediastinum Divisions – Superior, Anterior, Middle, Posterior
The mediastinum is divided into superior and inferior parts by the sternal angle. The inferior mediastinum is further subdivided into anterior, middle, and posterior.
Thoracic Inlet – Superior Thoracic Aperture Anatomy
The superior thoracic aperture, or thoracic inlet, is the upper opening of the thoracic cavity, allowing passage of vital structures between the neck and thorax.
Intercostal Spaces – Muscles, VAN Bundle & Clinical
Explore the anatomy of the intercostal spaces between the ribs, detailing the three muscle layers and the neurovascular bundle (vein, artery, nerve).
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Lymphatic vessels, nodes, organs, and immune-related anatomy.