RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Organs of Respiratory system

• Respiratory system • The ductless glands
 nasal cavity,  thymus,
 pharynx,  thyroid and
 trachea,  parathyroid
 bronchi and
 lungs.
 The thorax and pleural
sacs
 NASAL CAVITY (CAVUM NASI)
Ox:
• First section of the respiratory tract
• Short tubular passage - wide in front, narrow
behind
• Enclosed by the facial bones
• Separated from the mouth by the palate
• Cranial Opening- Cranial nares or nostrils
• Caudal Opening - Caudal nares/Chonae – into
pharynx
 Nostrils (Nares)
• Two-left and right
• Situated at either end of the
muzzle
• Oval in outline - placed
obliquely - closer together
below than above.
• Bounded by two alae or wing
(medial and lateral) and
cranial part of the
cartilaginous septum.
• The alae meet above and
below forming commissures.
• Superior and inferior
• The superior commissure
is narrow and the inferior
one is wide and rounded.
• The lateral alae are
concave and medial one
is convex above and
concave below.
• The prominence of the
medial alae is caused by
the lamina of the alar
cartilage.
• The alar cartilage forms
the dorsal wall by its
lamina and the lateral
wall by its cornua and a
transverse bar looks like
an anchor.
• The medial wall is
formed by the nasal
septum.
 Ox

Horse

1- Nasal septum
A- Dorso-lateral Cartilage
B- Ventero-lateral Cartilage
C- Lateral accessory Cartilage
D- Medial accessory Cartilage
E- Alar cartilage
• The skin on the dorsal
and lateral wall is covered
by hairs
• The skin between and
around the lining of the
nostrils is devoid of hairs
and is smooth, bare and
moist.
• There is no clear line of
demarcation between the
skin and nasal mucosa.
 Nasal cavity
• Short tubular passage
• Wide cranially and narrows behind.
• Divided into two halves by an osseo-cartilaginous
septum nasi.
• Not completely divided by the septum nasi
• Caudal third of septum nasi is separated from the
floor of the nasal cavity by an interval that increases
from before backward.
 Septum nasi

Cartilaginous part Osseous part

- formed by the nasal/septal - by the perpendicular plate of
cartilage the ethmoid and vomer
 Cartilaginous Part
• The surfaces of the
cartilage form the
internal walls of the
nasal cavity.
• The dorsal border is
attached along the
frontal and nasal
sutures and extends
beyond the apices of
the nasal bones about
two inches.
 Osseous part
• The cavity is mostly
occupied by the nasal
and ethmo-turbinates.
• It is divided into three
passages or meatuses
called as dorsal, middle
and ventral nasal
meatus.
• The dorsal nasal meatus is a narrow passage
between the roof of the nasal cavity and the
dorsal turbinate bone.
• Its caudal end is closed by the junction of the
inner plate of the frontal bone with the
cribriform plate and lateral mass of the
ethmoid.
• It transmits air to the
olfactory region.
• The middle nasal meatus is between the
dorsal and ventral turbinate bones.
• It is a very narrow passage and divides
caudally into two branches by the intervention
of the ethmoturbinates.
• The ventral nasal meatus is situated between
the ventral turbinate and the floor of the nasal
cavity.
• It is much larger than the other two and is the
direct passage between nostrils and pharynx.
• The opening of the vomero-nasal organ and
incisive duct is situated in the floor of the
cranial end of this meatus.
• The common nasal meatus is situated
between the nasal septum and the turbinates
and is continuous laterally with the other
meatuses.
• It is narrow dorsally but wider ventrally.
 Caudal nares or Chonae
• Elliptical openings by which the nasal cavity
and the pharynx communicate
• Situated in the same plane on the floor of the
nasal cavity at its caudal extremity
• separated by the vomer
 Nasal cavity
• The nasal cavity is lined by mucous membrane,
which is highly vascular.
• In front, it is continuous with the skin lining the
nostrils and behind with the mucous membrane
of the pharynx.
• The lower ¾ is pink in colour and forms the
respiratory portion.
• The upper 1/4th is paler part forms the olfactory
portion, which is responsible for smell.
 Vomero-nasal organ (organ of
Jacobson)
• Cartilaginous tube situated on the floor of the
nasal cavity on either side of the ventral
border of the septum nasi in its cranial third.
• Open into oral cavity on either side of the
papilla incisiva along with those of the ductus
incisivus.
• The caudal end is blind
Ductus incisivus (naso-palatine duct)
• Is a small mucous tube, which extends from
the nasal cavity to the papilla incisive.
• The nasal opening of this duct opens on the
medial surface of the alar fold of the ventral
nasal meatus.
Sheep and Goat:
• Generally resembles ox with little modifications
• The nostrils are nearly horizontal slits.
• The ductus incisivus is short.
Horse:
• The nasal cavity is
longer and cylindrical.
• The nostrils are very
dilatable
• Are divided by the alar
fold into a small blind
diverticulum on the
upper part -the false
nostril and a large lower
part- true nostril.
Horse:
• The naso-lacrimal
orifice is visible on the
floor of the true nostril
about 2" behind the
inferior commissure.
• The ductus incisivus is
blind at its oral end.
Pig:
• The nostrils are situated in the flat cranial
surface of the snout
• Rostrum or snout, is a short cylindrical
projection with which the upper lip is fused
and is circumscribed by a prominent circular
margin.
• In the snout, a bone, os rostri between the
nostrils is seen as an adaptation to the habit
of burrowing or rooting.
• The nostrils cannot be dilated much because
they are embedded within the skeleton of the
face.
Pig:
• The nasal cavity is long and narrow.
• The nasal cavity extends from the snout to the
level of the eye.
• The skin covering the snout is pigmented and
divided by shallow grooves.
• Nasal markings are specific for individual
animals and helpful in identification.
• The incisive duct and vomero-nasal organ are
as in ox.
Dog:
• The nostrils are comma-
shaped.
• The nasal cavity varies
greatly in different
breeds.
• It is almost completely
occupied by the
turbinate bones.
Rabbit:
• The nostrils are in the form of elongated slits
between the nasal flap and the upper jaw.
• The nasal bones are well built and the nasal
cavities are extended.
Fowl:
• The nostrils are two
narrow oval openings
placed at the base of the
upper beak and are
cartilaginous.
• The cavity opens into the
mouth and pharynx by a
long narrow median-slit.
• Dorsal border of the
nostril is bounded by a
small piece of horny skin-
the operculum.
Pharynx
 LARYNX
Ox:
• It is a short musculo-
cartilaginous tube,
which connects the
pharynx with the
trachea.
• It is a valvular
apparatus, which
regulates the amount of
air and is the organ of
voice.
• It is situated partly between the two vertical
rami of mandible and medial pterygoid
muscles and partly between the two parotid
salivary glands.
• It is related
– dorsally to pharynx and oesophagus;
– Ventrally to sternothyrohyoideus and
omohyoideus muscles,fascia and skin;
– Laterally, to parotid and submaxillary salivary
glands
– Medially, pterygoid muscle, digastricus and
stylohyoideus muscles.
• It is attached to
– the body and thyroid cornua of the hyoid bone
cranially and
– to trachea caudally
• The cavity communicates above with the
pharynx and behind with the trachea.
• The larynx is made up of a framework of
cartilages connected by ligaments and moved
by muscles and is lined internally by mucous
membrane.
• The cartilages are
– cricoid,
– thyroid,
– arytenoid and
– epiglottis.
• Of these, the arytenoids
are paired, and the
others unpaired.

Cartilages of larynx – Ox
1. Cricoid 2. Thyroid 3. Arytenoid
4. Epiglotis 5. Tracheal rings
 Cricoid Cartilage
• It is a ring shaped cartilage

• Consists of
– a dorsal part- the lamina2
– ventral and lateral parts -the arches1.
 Cricoid Cartilage
• Lamina is broad and thick and
is marked by a large median ridge.
• On either side of this ridge
are two pair of facets (3&4);
– cranial ones articulates with
the arytenoids3 and
– the caudal ones articulates with the caudal
cornua of thyroid cartilage4.
• Both are syndesmoses.
• The arches are curved
and each presents a
groove on the lateral
surface for the crico-
thyroideus muscle.
• The cranial border gives
attachment to thyroid
cartilage by the
cricothyroid membrane
• The caudal border gives
attachment to first ring of
trachea by the crico-
tracheal membrane.
• The internal surface is
lined by mucous
membrane.
Thyroid cartilage of DA- Lateral
view
Thyroid cartilage of DA- Ventral
view
 Thyroid Cartilage
• It is a shield-shaped cartilage.
• It consists of
– a central part, the body and
– two lateral parts- the laminae.
• The body is attached to
the base of the epiglottis
by the thyro-epiglottic ligament.
• It shows a prominence ventrally, the laryngeal
prominence.
• The laminae form the
sides of larynx and unite
completely on the
ventral aspect to form a
long plate, which is
notched in front, and
behind.
• It presents two cornua
on either side:
• cranial and caudal
cornua.
• Cranial cornua articulates
with the thyroid cornua
of the hyoid bone by
syndesmoses and
• Caudal cornua with the
facet on the caudal part
of the lamina of the
cricoid cartilage again by
syndesmoses.
• The cranial cornua
presents below its upper
border a thyroid notch or
foramen for the passage
of the cranial laryngeal
nerve.
• Absent in pigs
 Arytenoid Cartilages
• Paired and each is
situated dorsally, in
front of the cricoid,
partly medial and dorsal
to the lamina of the
thyroid cartilage.
• It is pyramidal in form
and presents
– three surfaces (medial,
dorsal and lateral)
– three borders (cranial,
caudal and lateral),
– a base and
– an apex.
• The base faces backward and articulates with
cricoid.
• The apex is in front and curves upwards and
backwards.
• The cranial and caudal borders converge ventrally
to form the vocal process.
• The process is so named because it furnishes
attachment to vocal ligament.
• The medial angle of the base is attached to its
fellow by a transverse arytenoid ligament.
 Epiglottis
• It is short, leaf-like plate of cartilage placed
above the body of the thyroid.
• It presents
– two surfaces,
– two borders,
– a base and
– an apex.
• The surfaces are oral and pharyngeal surface.
• The borders are thin, irregular and somewhat
everted.
• The base is caudal, attached to the thyroid
cartilage.
• The apex is cranial and the tip is free rounded
and curves towards the root of the tongue.
• The surfaces are lined by mucous membrane.
 Type of laryngeal cartilages
• The cricoid and thyroid cartilages and the
greater part of the arytenoid cartilages are
hyaline in nature.
• The vocal processes of the arytenoid and the
epiglottis are made of elastic cartilage.
• They show no tendency towards ossification
at any age.
 Laryngeal muscles
• Extrinsic muscles: To move the whole larynx
– Sterno-thyro-hyoideus
– Thyro-hyoideus
– Hyo-epiglotticus
• Intrinsic muscles: To move the different
cartilages of larynx
1. Crico-thyroideus
2. Crico-arytenoideus dorsalis – abduct the vocal fold
3. Crico-arytenoideus lateralis – adducts the vocal fold
4. Thyro-arytenoideus - Vocalis
5. Inter-arytenoideus
 Laryngeal joints/articulations
1. Thyro-hyoidean articulation – between
anterior cornua of thyroid cartilage and
thyroid cornua of hyoid bone
2. Crico-thyroid articualtion – between posterior
facet on the cricoid cartilage and posterior
cornua of thyroid cartilage
3. Crico-arytenoid articulation – between
anterior facet on cricoid cartilage and base of
arytenoid
– Most important, decides the size of glottis
 Mucous membrane
• Laryngeal mucosa
• Mucosal folds
– Ary-epiglottic folds – forms lateral boundaries of
the auditus laryngis
– Glosso-epiglottic fold
– False vocal cord or Ventricular fold
– True vocal fold
 CAVITY OF LARYNX
• Much smaller than external appearance.
• The cavity consists of three parts
– Anterior Vestibule
– Middle Rima glottidis and
– Caudal compartment
Median section of equine larynx:
1. Epiglottis; 2. corniculate process of arytenoid cartilage;
3. vestibular fold; 4. vocal fold; 5. laryngeal ventricle;
6. lamina of cricoid cartilage
• The auditus laryngis or pharyngeal aperture
– It is bounded in front by the epiglottis above and
behind by arytenoid cartilages and laterally by the
aryepiglottic folds, which stretch between the
edges of the epiglottis and arytenoid cartilages.
• Vocal fold - narrow folds of mucous
membrane projecting from the lateral walls of
larynx
1.Vestibule
• Anterior portion of larynx extends from auditus
laryngius to anterior border of vocal folds.
• Ventricular folds or false vocal cords – faint
elevation of m.m on the lateral walls of vestibule.
It carries the ventricular ligament in it.
– Well developed in horse and dog
• Laryngeal saccule or lateral ventricle - a very
faint depression between the ventricular and
vocal folds on each side
– Well developed in horse and dog
Median section of equine larynx:
1. Epiglottis; 2. corniculate process of arytenoid cartilage;
3. vestibular fold; 4. vocal fold; 5. laryngeal ventricle;
6. lamina of cricoid cartilage
2. The middle narrow part of the cavity is
termed the glottis or rima glottis.
• It is bounded on either side by the vocal folds
and the medial faces of the arytenoid
cartilages.
• The vocal folds or true vocal cords are the
fold of mucous membrane projecting from the
lateral wall of the cavity of the larynx and
• responsible for the production of voice.
• The vocal folds covering the vocal ligaments.
• It also carries thyroarytenoideus or Vocalis
muscle
• Rima glottis is made up of parts
• Upper wider part between the arytenoid
cartilages is termed as pars intercartilaginea.
• Lower narrow part between the vocal cords is
termed the pars intermembranaecea
• In ordinary breathing, the rima is lanceolate in
form; when dilated, it is diamond shaped.
 3. Caudal compartment
• Portion of larynx behind the vocal fold and is
directly continuous with the trachea.
• It is enclosed by the cricoid cartilage and the
cricothyroid membrane.
• It is oval in form.
Horse:
• Cricoid - clearly ring shaped.
• Thyroid cartilage is incomplete ventrally, as the
lamina fails to meet below to form the body.
• Epiglottis is long and pointed, and is leaf-like.
• Two cuneiform processes extend from the base
of the epiglottis upwards and backwards.
• The different joints of the larynx are diarthrodial.
• The vocal cords are large and glottis is very
narrow.
• The lateral ventricles are much deeper and each
leads into a mucous sac–the laryngeal saccule.
Pig:
• The larynx is remarkable for its great length
and mobility.
• Cricoid is thick and compressed laterally. Its
lamina is long and narrow.
• Thyroid cartilage is very long and the laminae
are united ventrally to form a median ridge.
• The cranial cornua are absent whereas the
caudal one is broad and articulate with cricoid
cartilage.
Dog:
• It is very short.
• The epiglottis is quadrilateral.
• The separate cuneiform cartilages are large.
• The laryngeal saccule is extensive and lies
between true and false vocal cords.
Fowl:
• The larynx consists of cranial and caudal parts.
• The cranial part of larynx made up of cricoid & epiglottis.
• The caudal part is at the point of bifurcation of trachea into two
primary bronchi and dilated to form a cartilaginous compartment
called syrinx.
• It is responsible for the production of voice.
• Internal tympani form membrane.
• External tympani form membranes
• Pessulus – triangular piece of cartilage
• Tympani form membranes-homologues
- vocal cords of mammals.
• Cranial larynx
• Framework is made up of cricoid and two
arytenoids that unite in front.
• It has no vocal cords -not an organ of voice.