Respiratory System

Question 1

Upper respiratory system

Answer 1

• nose, nasal cavity, mouth, pharynx, and larynx

Question 2

Lower respiratory system

Answer 2

• trachea, lungs, and bronchial tree

Question 3

Airway

Answer 3

• nose, nasal cavity, mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchi, and bronchial network
• lined with cilia, that trap microbes and sweep them towards mouth

Question 4

Lungs

Answer 4

• structures that house bronchi and bronchial network that extend into the lungs and terminate in millions of alveoli (air sacs)
• alveoli are only one cell think, which allow for exchange of gases with blood capillaries
• right lung 3 lobes
• left lung 2 lobes
• surrounded by pleural membrane that reduces friction when breathing

Question 5

Respiratory muscles

Answer 5

• diaphragm is a dome shaped muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal muscles
• intercostal muscled are located between the ribs

Question 6

Functions of respiratory system

Answer 6

• main: supply the body with oxygen and rid the body of CO2. This occurs in millions of tiny alveoli.
• filters air: air is warmed, moistened, and filtered as it passes through the nasal passages before lungs
• speech: as air passes through throat it moves through larynx (voice box) vibrates - produces sound and then the trachea (windpipe)
• vital for cough production: get rid of foreign particles
• sense of smell: chemoreceptors located in nasal cavity respond to airborne chemicals
• helps body maintain acid/base homeostasis (hyperventilating = acidosis and slow breathing = alkalosis)

Question 7

Breathing process: inspiration

Answer 7

• inspiration: diaphragm contracts and moves down, increasing size of chest cavity.
• Intercostal muscles contact and the ribs expense = increasing size of chest cavity. As volume increases, the pressure inside the chest cavity decreases.
• Since air outside is under a greater amount of pressure, air rushes into the lungs

Question 8

Breathing process: expiration

Answer 8

• diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, size of chest cavity decrease, forcing air out of lungs
• controlled by medulla oblongata which monitors the level of CO2 in the blood and signals the breathing rate to increase if these levels are too high