Questions and Answers
What prevents food from entering the lungs during swallowing?
Which part of the pharynx is located above the oral cavity?
What structure is commonly known as the voice box?
What is the main function of the alveoli in the lungs?
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Which of the following is NOT a part of the respiratory tract?
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Why is the left lung smaller than the right lung?
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What is the main purpose of the cilia in the trachea?
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What fluid is secreted by the pleural membrane to aid in lung movement?
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What occurs during inhalation in the respiratory system?
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Which statement accurately describes the role of cilia in the respiratory system?
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How does air move through the respiratory system?
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What role do blood vessels play in the nasal cavity?
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What is the primary purpose of expiration in the respiratory process?
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What is the function of the septum in the nasal cavity?
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What happens to the diaphragm during exhalation?
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What is the significance of the mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity?
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Study Notes
Breathing Process
- Breathing consists of two stages: inspiration (inhaling) and expiration (exhaling).
- Oxygen is inhaled to supply body cells; carbon dioxide, a waste product, is exhaled.
Pressure Changes in Breathing
- Air flows from high to low-pressure areas in the respiratory system.
- Inhalation creates low pressure in the lungs due to diaphragm and rib cage contraction, expanding the chest cavity.
- Exhalation generates high pressure as the diaphragm relaxes and the rib cage compresses the lungs.
Structure of the Respiratory System
- Comprises tubular organs that facilitate the passage of gases.
- Air enters through the nostrils, which are divided by the septum.
Nasal Cavity Functions
- Nasal hair traps dust and foreign particles.
- The cavity warms and moistens air using blood vessels and mucus.
- Ciliated mucous membranes in the nasal cavity trap smaller particles, moving mucus upward for expulsion.
Pharynx
- Serves as a passageway for food and air; located near tonsils and adenoid.
- Comprises three parts:
- Nasopharynx (connected to nasal cavity)
- Oropharynx (connected to oral cavity)
- Hypopharynx or laryngopharynx (below oropharynx)
Larynx (Voice Box)
- Produces sound through vibrations of vocal cords.
- Known as the Adam's apple; functions to protect the airway during swallowing via the epiglottis.
Trachea
- A muscular tube below the larynx, reinforced by cartilage rings to prevent collapse.
- Lined with cilia and mucus to trap bacteria and dust, sweeping particles away from the lungs.
Bronchi and Alveoli
- Bronchi serve as two-way air passages leading to the lungs.
- Bronchioles are smaller branches leading to alveoli (air sacs).
- Alveoli have thin, moist walls surrounded by capillaries; gas exchange occurs here (oxygen enters blood, carbon dioxide is expelled).
Lungs
- Occupy the chest region; the left lung is smaller due to the heart's positioning.
- Left lung consists of two lobes, while the right lung has three lobes.
- Surrounded by a double pleural membrane that secretes mucus, allowing for smooth movement during respiration.
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Description
Explore the vital processes of breathing, including the stages of inhalation and exhalation. Learn about the pressure changes that facilitate breathing and the structure and functions of the respiratory system, including the nasal cavity and pharynx.