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Questions and Answers
What are the three regions of the pharynx?
What are the three regions of the pharynx?
Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, and Laryngopharynx
What is the role of the epiglottis in the laryngopharynx?
What is the role of the epiglottis in the laryngopharynx?
To close off the laryngopharynx to prevent food from entering the trachea and lungs
What is the primary function of the trachea?
What is the primary function of the trachea?
To transport air to and from the lungs
What happens to the vocal cords during speech?
What happens to the vocal cords during speech?
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What is the oropharynx responsible for?
What is the oropharynx responsible for?
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What is formed when the trachea divides?
What is formed when the trachea divides?
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What is the function of the laryngopharynx?
What is the function of the laryngopharynx?
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What is the larynx also known as?
What is the larynx also known as?
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What is the role of the bronchioles in the lung?
What is the role of the bronchioles in the lung?
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What is the nasopharynx used for?
What is the nasopharynx used for?
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Study Notes
The Alveoli
- Alveoli are small, grapelike clusters found at the end of each bronchiole, also known as air sacs
- They are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Each lung contains millions of alveoli
Lungs
- The lungs are the essential organs of respiration, located in the thoracic cavity
- The right lung has three lobes: superior, middle, and inferior
- The left lung has two lobes: superior and inferior, and is slightly smaller than the right lung due to the space taken up by the heart
The Pleura
- The pleura is a thin, moist, and slippery membrane that covers the outer surface of the lungs
Respiration
- Respiration is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that is essential to life
- A single respiration consists of one inhalation and one exhalation
- Inhalation occurs when the diaphragm contracts and pulls downward, causing the thoracic cavity to expand and drawing air into the lungs
- Exhalation occurs when the diaphragm relaxes, moving upward and causing the thoracic cavity to become narrower, forcing air out of the lungs
- Respiratory rate is the number of breaths taken in one minute, with a normal rate in healthy adults being roughly 12 to 20 breaths per minute
Functions of the Respiratory System
- Deliver air to the lungs
- Bring oxygen from the inhaled air into the blood for delivery to the body cells
- Expel the waste products returned to the lungs by the blood through exhalation
- Produce the airflow through the larynx that makes speech possible
Structures of the Respiratory System
- Upper respiratory tract: nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx
- Lower respiratory tract: trachea, lungs, bronchi, and bronchioles
Nose and Nasal Cavity
- The nasal cavity is the main route of air entry
- The nostrils are the external openings of the nose
- The nasal septum is a wall of cartilage that divides the nose into two equal sections
- Cilia filter incoming air to remove debris
- Olfactory receptors are nerve endings that act as the receptors for the sense of smell
- Mucous membranes line the nose and produce mucus to moisten, warm, and filter the air as it enters
Paranasal Sinuses
- Air-filled cavities lined with mucous membrane, located in the bones of the skull
- There are four nasal sinuses: maxillary, frontal, sphenoidal, and ethmoidal
- Functions of the sinuses include making the bones of the skull lighter, producing sound, and producing mucus to provide lubrication for the tissues of the nasal cavity
Pharynx
- The pharynx receives air after it passes through the nose or mouth, as well as food
- It is divided into three regions: nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
- The nasopharynx is used only by the respiratory system for the transport of air and opens into the oropharynx
- The oropharynx is shared by the respiratory and digestive systems and transports air, food, and fluids downward to the laryngopharynx
- The laryngopharynx is shared by both the respiratory and digestive systems and continues downward to the openings of the esophagus and trachea
Larynx
- The larynx is a triangular chamber located between the pharynx and the trachea
- It contains the vocal cords
- During breathing, the cords are separated to let air pass
- During speech, they close together, causing the cords to vibrate against each other and produce sound as air is expelled from the lungs
Trachea, Bronchi, and Bronchioles
- The trachea is the tube located directly in front of the esophagus that extends from the neck to the chest
- The trachea divides into two primary bronchi, which then divide and subdivide into smaller bronchioles within the lung
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Description
Learn about the structure and function of alveoli, the tiny air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged, and the lungs, the essential organs of respiration.
