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Includes :
the lung
a system of tube

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 Divided into 2 principal regions :
 conducting portion :
 nasal cavity,
 nasopharynx,
 larynx,
 trachea,
 bronchi,
 bronchioles & terminal bronchioles
 respiratory portion :
 respiratory bronchioles,
 alveolar ducts,
 alveoli (alveoli : the greater part of the lung)

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Respiratory Zone

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The main divisions of the respiratory
tract. The natural proportions of these
structures have been altered for
clarity; the respiratory bronchiole, for
example, is in reality a short
transitional structure.

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RESPIRATORY EPITHELIUM
 Ciliated
Pseudostratified
Columnar Epithelium
 5 types of cell :
1. ciliated columnar
epithelium
2. mucous goblet cells
3. brush cells
Photomicrograph illustrating the main
4. basal cells components of the respiratory epithelium.
Pararosaniline—toluidine blue (PT) stain. High
5. small granule cells magnification.

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NASAL CAVITY

 Consists of : - vestibule (external)

- nasal fossae (internal)
VESTIBULE
 Is the most anterior and dilated portion of
nasal cavity
 Numerous sebaceous & sweat glands, vibrisae
 Within the vestibule  keratinized (-) 
respiratory epithelium before entering the
nasal fossae
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NASAL FOSSAE
 Conchae :
- superior : specialized
olfactory epithelium
- middle respiratory
- inferior epithelium
 The olfactory epithelium 
olfactory chemoreceptor
located
 Ciliated Pseudostratified
Columnar Epithelium
 3 types of cells :
1. supporting cells Olfactory mucosa showing the
2. basal cells 3 cell types (supporting,
3. olfactory cells olfactory, and basal) and a
Bowman’s gland.

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PARANASAL SINUSES
 Closed cavities in the : frontal, maxillary,
ethmoid, sphenoid bones
 Lined with a thinner respiratory epithelium, few
goblet cells
 Communicate with nasal cavity through small
openings
 Mucous product  drain in to the nasal
passages by ciliated epithelial cells

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NASOPHARYNX
 Firstpart of the pharynx
 Lined with respiratory
epithelium

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LARYNX

 Connects the pharynx to the trachea

 The larger cartilge : hyaline cartilage
 The smaller cartilage : elastic cartilage
 Cartilage participate in producing sounds for
phonation
 Below the epiglottis : - false vocal sound
- true vocal sound

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 TRACHEA

 Mucosa :
- Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium
with goblet cells
- Lamina propria
 Sub mucosa : loose connective tissue
 Hyaline cartilage : 16-20 C-shaped rings
 Smooth muscle fibers
 Adventisia (fibrosa)

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Section of trachea showing the
respiratory epithelium with goblet
cells and columnar ciliated cells. Also
shown are serous glands in the
lamina propria and hyaline cartilage.
The mucous fluid produced by the
goblet cells and by the glands forms
a layer that permits the ciliary
movement to propel foreign particles
out of the respiratory system. PT
stain. Medium magnification.

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 Light photomicrograph of the trachea in a monkey (´270).
There are numerous cilia (Ci) as well as goblet cells (GC) in
the epithelium. Also observe the mucous glands (MG) in the
subepithelial connective tissue and the hyaline C-ring (HC)
in the adventitia. L, lumen; PC, perichondrium.

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 BRONCHIAL TREE

TRACHEA

BRONKUS PRIMER BRONKUS PRIMER

ka : 3 CAB. BRONKUS ki : 2 CAB. BRONKUS

BRONKIOLUS

BRONCHIOLUS TERMINALIS

BRONCHIOLUS RESPIRATORIUS

DUCTUS ALVEOLARIS

ALVEOLUS ALVEOLUS
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BRONCHUS
 Ф ± 5 mm
 Mucosa : similar to the mucosa of the trachea
(Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium)
 The bronchial cartilage are more irregular shape
 Larger bronchi : cartilage rings completely
encircle the lumen
 Smaller bronchi : cartilage rings are replaced with
isolated plates or islands of hyaline cartilage
 Lamina propria : smooth muscle layer, rich in
elastic fiber, abundance of mucous & serous gland
 ducts  bronchial lumen
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  PSEUDOSTRATIFIED
COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 CARTILAGE
 MUSCULARIS
 ADIPOSE TISSUE

BRONCHUS

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BRONCHUS

Hyaline cartilage

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BRONCHUS

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BRONCHIOLES
 Ф ≤ 5 mm
 Mucosa : - cartilage & glands (-)
- scattered goblet cells

TERMINAL BRONCHIOLES
RESPIRATORY BRONCHIOLES

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BRONCHIOLES

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BRONCHIOLES

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 TERMINAL
BRONCHIOLES

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TERMINAL BRONCHIOLES

 Ciliated Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium 

Ciliated Simple Columnar Epithelium  Ciliated
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
 Clara cells :
- (-) cilia
- (+) secretory granules in their apex
- secrete protein  protect the bronchiolar lining
against oxidative pollutants and inflamation
- lamina propria : smooth muscle, elastic fiber

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Clara cells in the epithelium
of a terminal bronchiole.
These cells show secretory
granules and a bulging
apical cytoplasm.
PT stain. High magnification.

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RESPIRATORY BRONCHIOLES

 Transition between conducting and respiratory

 Mucosa : identical to the terminal bronchioles,
except their walls are interrupted by numerous
sacklike alveoli  proceeding distally  alveoli »
 Ciliated Cuboidal Epithelium & Clara cells
 Smooth muscle and elastic fiber

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Section of a terminal bronchiole with a small portion of a
respiratory bronchiole continuous with an alveolar duct and
many alveoli. PT stain. Low magnification.

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ALVEOLI

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ALVEOLAR DUCTS
 Proceeding distally  the number of alveolar
openings »  alveolar ducts
 Alveolar duct & alveoli lined with squamous cells
 Lamina propria : smooth muscle  disappears at
the distal ends of alveolar ducts
 Alveolar ducts  atria that communicate with
alveolar sacs
 Elastic fiber :
 enable the alveoli to expand
 contract passively with expiration
 Reticular fibers :
 prevent overdistention
 prevent damage to the delicate capillaries and
thin alveolar septa
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ALVEOLAR DUCTS

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Transition of a terminal bronchiole into an alveolar
duct (arrow). Note the Clara cells (arrowheads). PT
stain. Medium magnification.

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 ALVEOLUS
 Sacklike evaginations of the respiratory bronchioles,
alveolar ducts, alveolar sacks
 Resemble small pockets that are open on one side
similar to the honeycombs of a beehive
 Exchange of O2 and CO2 between air & blood
 Each wall lies between 2 alveoli  interalveolar
septum
 An interalveolar septum consists of 2 thin squamous
epithelial layers :
 type I cells = squamous alveolar cells
 type II cells = surfactant cells

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ALVEOLUS

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ALVEOLUS

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 ALVEOLUS

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ALVEOLUS 49
TYPE I CELLS

 Line the alveolar surface

 Cells are so thin (25nm)
 Desmosomal & occluding junctions  prevent
leackage of tissue fluid into alveolar air space
 To provide a barrier minimal thickness that is
readily permeable to gases

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TYPE II CELLS

 Interspersed among the type I cells

 Desmosomal and occluding junctions
 Divided by mitosis replace type I & II population
 Exhibit a characteristic vesicular or foamy
cytoplasm, by presence of lamellar bodies
 Lamellar bodies  pulmonary surfactant  alveolar
surface tension ↓
 Without surfactant  alveoli collaps (expiration)
 Surfactant appears in the last week of gestation

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Secretion of surfactant by a type II cell. Surfactant is a protein-lipid complex synthesized in
the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex and stored in the lamellar bodies. It is
continuously secreted by means of exocytosis (arrows) and forms an overlying
monomolecular film of lipid covering an underlying aqueous hypophase. Occluding junctions
around the margins of the epithelial cells prevent leakage of tissue fluid into the alveolar
lumen.

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LUNG MACROPHAGE

 = alveolar macrophage = dust cells

 Found in the anterior of the interalveolar septum,
often seen on the surface of the alveolus
 The alveolar macrophage never passed through
the epithelial lining that scavenge the outer
surface of the epithelium  carried to the pharynx
 swallowed

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LUNG MACROPHAGE

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ALVEOLAR PORES

 To connect neighboring alveoli

 Equalize air pressure in the alveoli
 Promote the collateral circulation of air when a
bronchiole is obstructed

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BLOOD AND LYMPH CIRCULATION
Blood and lymph
circulation in a pulmonary
lobule. Both vessels and
bronchi are enlarged out of
proportion in this drawing.
In the interlobular septum,
only one vein (on the left)
and one lymphatic vessel
(on the right) are shown,
although both actually
coexist in both regions. At
the lower left, an
enlargement of the pleura
shows its mesothelial
lining. (Modified and
reproduced, with
permission, from Ham AW:
Histology, 6th ed.
Lippincott, 1969.)

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