The respiratory unit pairs naturally with cardiovascular for nursing prerequisites — together they tell the story of gas transport from atmosphere to mitochondrion. Sheep lung dissection is the central specimen task; spirometry is the performance task.
Airways + lung anatomy + pleurae (Pages 2–3)
Same items, paired with function (Page 4)
Airway histology, alveolar wall (Page 5)
Sheep lung + spirometry observation (Page 6)
Standard six-item check (Page 7)
3 stations (Page 8)
| Canonical answer | Accepted synonyms | Spelling rule / common confusion |
|---|---|---|
| Upper respiratory tract | ||
| Nasal cavity | (none) | Distinguish from pharynx → not yet (cavity is the airspace within the nose) |
| Nasal conchae (turbinates) | Turbinates | Specify superior, middle, or inferior if pinned individually |
| Nasopharynx | (none) | Posterior to nasal cavity, above soft palate |
| Oropharynx | (none) | Posterior to oral cavity, between soft palate and epiglottis |
| Laryngopharynx | Hypopharynx | Inferior pharynx, opens to esophagus and larynx |
| Larynx | Voice box | Cartilaginous structure between pharynx and trachea; contains vocal folds |
| Epiglottis | (none) | Leaf-shaped elastic cartilage; covers laryngeal opening during swallow |
| Thyroid cartilage | Adam’s apple (informal) | Largest laryngeal cartilage; anterior prominence |
| Cricoid cartilage | (none) | Inferior laryngeal cartilage; complete ring (only one in airway) |
| Vocal folds (true vocal cords) | True vocal cords | Distinguish from vestibular (false) folds → not yet |
| Lower respiratory tract | ||
| Trachea | Windpipe | C-shaped cartilage rings (open posteriorly toward esophagus) |
| Carina | (none) | Bifurcation point of trachea; ridge between right and left primary bronchi |
| Primary (main) bronchus | Main-stem bronchus | Side required if pin is on one (right is shorter, wider, more vertical) |
| Secondary (lobar) bronchus | Lobar bronchus | One per lung lobe (3 right, 2 left) |
| Tertiary (segmental) bronchus | Segmental bronchus | Supplies one bronchopulmonary segment |
| Bronchiole | (none) | No cartilage; smooth muscle in wall |
| Terminal bronchiole | (none) | Final purely conducting airway |
| Respiratory bronchiole | (none) | First airway with alveoli in walls; transitional zone |
| Alveolar duct | (none) | Linear chains of alveoli |
| Alveolus | Alveoli (plural) | Site of gas exchange; terminal sac |
| Canonical answer | Accepted synonyms | Spelling rule / common confusion |
|---|---|---|
| Lung lobes (right has 3, left has 2) | ||
| Right superior (upper) lobe | RUL | — |
| Right middle lobe | RML | RIGHT lung only; left has no middle lobe |
| Right inferior (lower) lobe | RLL | — |
| Left superior (upper) lobe | LUL | Includes lingula (homolog of RML) |
| Left inferior (lower) lobe | LLL | — |
| Cardiac notch | (none) | Indentation on left lung accommodating heart; LEFT only |
| Lingula | (none) | Tongue-shaped projection of LUL inferior to cardiac notch |
| Hilum (lung) | (none) | Site of bronchus + vessel + nerve entry on medial lung surface |
| Apex (lung) | Cupula | Superior tip of lung extending above clavicle |
| Base (lung) | Diaphragmatic surface | Inferior surface resting on diaphragm |
| Horizontal fissure (right) | Minor fissure | Right lung only; separates RUL from RML |
| Oblique fissure | Major fissure | Both lungs; separates upper from lower (and on right, separates RML from RLL) |
| Pleurae | ||
| Visceral pleura | Pulmonary pleura | Adheres directly to lung surface |
| Parietal pleura | (none) | Lines thoracic cavity wall |
| Pleural cavity (potential space) | Pleural space | Between visceral and parietal pleurae; contains thin pleural fluid |
| Pleural fluid | (none) | Lubricant; reduces friction between pleural layers during breathing |
| Respiratory muscles | ||
| Diaphragm | (none) | Primary inspiratory muscle; dome-shaped, separates thorax from abdomen |
| External intercostal muscles | External intercostals | Inspiratory; fibers run anteroinferiorly |
| Internal intercostal muscles | Internal intercostals | Expiratory (forced); fibers run posteroinferiorly |
| Structure | Acceptable function statement | What does NOT pass |
|---|---|---|
| Nasal conchae | Increase surface area to warm, humidify, and filter incoming air | "Nose bones" alone |
| Pharynx | Common passage for air and food; contains tonsils for immune sampling | "Throat" alone |
| Epiglottis | Closes laryngeal opening during swallowing to prevent aspiration of food into airway | "Stops choking" alone (must indicate swallow mechanism) |
| Vocal folds | Vibrate during expiration to produce sound; vibration frequency controlled by tension | "Talk" alone (must indicate vibration mechanism) |
| Trachea | Conducts air between larynx and primary bronchi; cartilage rings prevent collapse during pressure changes; cilia move mucus toward pharynx | "Carries air" alone |
| Bronchi | Conduct air to lung lobes; cartilage decreases as airways branch toward bronchioles; smooth muscle increases | "Branches" alone |
| Terminal bronchiole | Final purely conducting airway before respiratory zone; smooth muscle controls diameter (bronchoconstriction / dilation) | "Small airway" alone |
| Alveolus | Site of gas exchange between air and blood; thin (1-cell) wall + surfactant minimize diffusion distance | "Air sac" alone (must indicate gas exchange) |
| Visceral pleura | Covers lung surface; permits frictionless lung expansion against thoracic wall | "Lining" alone |
| Pleural fluid | Reduces friction between pleurae during breathing; surface tension keeps lung pulled to thoracic wall (pleural seal) | "Lubricant" alone (must indicate seal mechanism) |
| Diaphragm | Primary inspiratory muscle; contracts and flattens, increasing thoracic cavity volume and decreasing intrapulmonary pressure → air flows in | "Breathing muscle" alone (must indicate volume/pressure mechanism) |
| External intercostals | Elevate ribs during inspiration, increasing thoracic volume in anteroposterior dimension | "Help breathe" alone |
| Slide | Canonical identification | Two features required |
|---|---|---|
| Trachea (cross-section) | Trachea | Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium · Goblet cells in epithelium · C-shaped hyaline cartilage ring · Trachealis (smooth) muscle bridging open posterior aspect of cartilage |
| Bronchus (cross-section) | Bronchus | Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium · Cartilage plates (irregular, not ring) · Smooth muscle layer · Bronchial glands (mucous + serous) in submucosa |
| Bronchiole (cross-section) | Bronchiole | NO cartilage (key vs bronchus) · Simple columnar or cuboidal epithelium · Prominent smooth muscle ring · Smaller diameter than bronchus |
| Alveolus / lung parenchyma | Lung parenchyma (alveoli) | Thin-walled alveolar sacs · Type I pneumocytes (squamous, gas exchange) · Type II pneumocytes (cuboidal, surfactant — appear as round cells in alveolar wall) · Capillaries in alveolar septa · Possibly alveolar macrophages (dust cells) in airspaces |
The respiratory unit’s R4 is graded across two tasks — sheep lung dissection (specimen) and spirometry (performance on student partner). Each is binary; both must pass for R4 overall pass.
Forced spirometry can cause lightheadedness. Verbal consent sought before the maneuver; partner seated; technique stopped immediately if partner reports discomfort. The TA does not pressure a partner who declines; the student finds another partner or defers that data point to the next session.
Spirometry data is the first quantitative bench data many students generate themselves. The notebook entry should include numerical measurements, the predicted range from the standard formulas (Knudson, Hankinson, or whatever your program uses), and a one-sentence interpretation. This is a small template that pays large dividends in later units that do quantitative measurement (urinalysis, blood pressure, ECG).
The respiratory unit contributes 3 stations to the term-end capstone. Each is 90 seconds; passes at 3 of 4; excellence at 4 of 4.
ID structure on torso or sheep lung specimen. Function (per R2). Clinical: one common pathology associated with the structure (asthma, COPD, pneumonia, pneumothorax). Integration: relate to cardiovascular system (gas exchange across respiratory membrane).
ID airway level (trachea, bronchus, bronchiole, alveolus). Function. Clinical: one disease state visible on histology (e.g. mucus plugging in chronic bronchitis, alveolar fluid in pneumonia). Integration: relate to clinical assessment (auscultation findings).
Performance station. ID measurement (TV, IRV, ERV, VC, FEV1). Function: explain what the value reflects physiologically. Clinical: state whether value is in expected range given partner data, and one diagnosis suggested by an abnormal pattern (obstructive vs restrictive). Integration: relate to gas exchange efficiency.
| Outcome per station | Counted as |
|---|---|
| 4 / 4 | Excellence (counts toward A bundle) |
| 3 / 4 | Pass (counts toward B and C bundles) |
| ≤ 2 / 4 | Not yet (counts toward D bundle if attempted; no F-bundle credit) |
| No attempt | Not counted toward any bundle |
Student: ______________________________________ Section: _______________ Date: _______________ TA: _______________
| # | Item | ID (R1) | Function (R2) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upper airway structure | P / NY | P / NY / — | |
| 2 | Larynx component | P / NY | P / NY / — | |
| 3 | Trachea / bronchus | P / NY | P / NY / — | |
| 4 | Lung lobe identification | P / NY | P / NY / — | |
| 5 | Pleura layer | P / NY | P / NY / — | |
| 6 | Respiratory muscle | P / NY | P / NY / — |
| # | Slide | ID | ≥2 features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Trachea or bronchus | P / NY | P / NY |
| 8 | Bronchiole or alveolus | P / NY | P / NY |
| Item | Criterion | Met |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Sheep lung dissection 4 of 4 | P / NY |
| D2 | Spirometry on partner 4 of 4 | P / NY |
| R4 | Overall (both tasks pass) | P / NY |
☐ No ☐ Yes — for item: __________ Tokens remaining: ☐ 3 ☐ 2 ☐ 1 ☐ 0