ANATOMY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Function Brings

oxygenated air in to the body for delivery to the blood cells.

Expels waste products that have been returned to the lungs by the blood

Upper and lower respiratory tract

The nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, and the trachea

The bronchial tree and lungs

Your Nose

Nasal septum A wall of cartilage that divides your nose

into sections .

Mucous membrane

Specialized form of epithelial tissue that lines the nose and respiratory system

Mucus

• Helps to moisten, warm, and filter the air that enters the nose.

Cilia The thin hairs located just inside the

nostrils filters incoming air.

Olfactory Receptors

•The receptors for the sense of smell.

Tonsils Form a proactive circle around the

entrance to the respiratory system. Type of lymphatic tissue that stops

invading organisms.

Sinus A air filled cavity within a bone that is

lined with mucous membrane Functions

1. To make the bones of the skull lighter 2. Help produce sound by giving resonance to the

voice3. To produce mucus that drains into the nasal cavity

Pharynx Commonly known as the throat. Three Divisions

1. Nasopharynx- posterior to the nasal cavity and continues downward to behind the mouth.

2. Oropharynx- the portion visible when looked in the mouth.

3. Larngopharynx- continues down to opening of the esophagus and trachea.

Epiglottis A lidlike structure located at the base of

the tongue. Swings down and closes off the

laryngopharynx so food doesn’t enter the trachea and the lungs.

Larynx The voice box A triangular chamber located between

the pharynx and the trachea. Contains the vocal cords

Thyroid cartilage The largest and prominent of the nine

cartilages protecting the larynx and is commonly known as the Adam’s apple.

Trachea Commonly known as the windpipe Extends from the neck into the chest. Directly in front of the esophagus and is

held open by a series of C-shaped cartilage rings.

The Bronchial Tree Divides into two branches called Bronchi Within the lung the bronchi divides and

subdivides into Bronchioles. Bronchioles

The smallest branches of the bronchi.

Alveoli Also know as air sacs Very small grapelike clusters found at the

end of each bronchiole. This is where the gas exchange occurs.

The Lungs Have divisions called lobes The right lung has Three lobes: superior,

middle, inferior. The left has Two lobes: superior, inferior.

Mediastinum Also known as the interpleural space. The space contains the thoracic vicera

including the heart, aorta, esophagus, trachea, bronchial tubes, and thymus gland.

Pleura A multilayered membrane that surrounds

each lung with its blood vessels and nerves.

Parietal pleura-the outer layer of the pleura.

Visceral pleura- in layer of the pleura. Pleural space [or pleural cavity]- the

airtight space between the folds of the pleural membranes.

Diaphragm The muscle that separates the thoracic

cavity from the abdomen. Phrenic nerve- the nerve that stimulates

the diaphragm and causes it to contract

Respiration

External Respiration Breathing- the act of bringing air into and

out of the lungs. Inhalation- the act of taking air into the

lungs. Exhalation- the act of breathing out.

Exchange of GasesAs air is taken into the alveoli it

immediately passes into the surrounding capillaries and is carried by the erythrocytes to all the body.

At the same time, the waste product carbon dioxide passes from the capillaries into the airspaces of the lungs to be exhaled.