Parts of the respiratory system Flashcards
List all the 17 parts of the respiratory system.
Nasal passages Pharynx Oesophagus Trachea Pleural membranes Bronchus Bronchioles Alveoli Rib Intercostal muscles Diaphragm Rib Right lung Larynx Epiglottis Mouth Nose
How can air be inhaled?
Air can be inhaled through the mouth or the nose
What are the two nostrils separated by?
The septum
What is the septum made of?
cartilage and bone
How is breathing in through the nose beneficial? (3)
Breathing in through the nose is beneficial because the air is:
- Filtered or cleaned by hairs and mucus in the nostrils.
- Moistened.
- Warmed as it passes through the nasal passages.
Why do we breath in through our nose?
Moist, warm air passes more easily from the lungs into the bloodstream
What covers the trachea in the pharynx?
a flap of tissue called the epiglottis closes over the trachea when we swallow.
What does the epiglottis prevent?
This prevents food and drink from passing into the trachea
Define pharynx
It is the throat
Define larynx
It is the voice box
What is below the epiglottis?
The larynx
What is the larynx also called?
The voice box
What does the larynx contain?
It contains two vocal cords.
What do the two vocal cords in the larynx do?
These vibrate to produce sound when we force air across them. Out tongue and lips convert the sound to speech
What are the trachea’s subdivisions?
The bronchi and the higher bronchioles
What are the trachea and its subdivisions made of?
They are all made of muscle and elastic fibres along with incomplete (C-shaped) rings of cartilage.
What is cartilage and what does it do?
It is a strong, rigid material and it prevents the tubes from closing in when air is drawn in through them.
What do the walls of the lower, smaller bronchioles contain?
They do not contain cartilage.
They only have muscle and elastic fibres and are flexible.
These are the bronchioles that become narrow during an asthma attack.
What are all the tubes in the respiratory system lined with? What do they do?
mucus and cilia (tiny hairs).
They defend our lungs from infection
How do the mucus and cilia that line all the tubes in the respiratory system defend against infection? (2)
- The mucus is sticky and traps small particles such as dust, pollen grains, bacteria and viruses.
- The cilia beat and create an upward current. This moves the mucus upwards and past the epiglottis. It then passes down the oesophagus and into the stomach.
What are the lungs?
They are large, pink, spongy structures in which gas exchange takes place.
What is each lung enclosed by?
Each lung is enclosed by a pair of pleural membranes
What do the pleura line?
The outer pleura lines the chest wall and the diaphragm.
The inner pleura lines the lungs.
What is the pleura cavity?
It is the gap between the two pleura.
What does the pleura cavity contain?
It contains a liquid which lubricates the membranes and reduces friction during breathing.
What does each bronchus subdivide into?
about one million bronchioles
What do bronchioles end in?
They end in tiny, hollow, balloon-like air sacs called alveoli (singular alveolus)
What is the function of the alveoli?
for gas exchange
How are alveoli adapted for gas exchange? (4)
- The huge number of alveoli (+700 million) provide a huge surface area for gas exchange.
- They are thin walled (only one cell thick).
- They have moist surfaces.
4, They are enclosed in a network of blood capillaries.
