Respiratory Unit Lesson 1: Respiratory Organs Flashcards
what organs(6) are the respiratory system composed of
nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, lungs and diaphragm
what is the respiratory tract
the flow of air from the nose to the lungs
what is the nose’s function
it acts as one of the two entry points at which air can enter the body
how is the nose divided
it is divided into two nasal cavities by an internal septum of bone and cartilage
how is air filtered as it passes through the nose
air is first partly filtered by coarse hairs within the nostrils and then later filtered by the mucus and cilia within the nasal cavities
what is the area called where the nasal cavities merge with the pharynx
the nasopharynx
what are the features of the nasopharynx
it has chemoreceptors, it is the end site of tear glands, and it communicates with air-filled cavities in the skull(sinuses)
what are sinuses
air spaces in the skull
what are the functions of sinuses
reduces skull weight, cleanses fluids that drain into nasal cavities, and allows voice resonation
separate the pharynx into several regions(n, o, l or h)
nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx(or hypopharynx)
what are 2 structures in the pharynx worth noting
the uvula and the tonsils
what is the uvula
an extension of the soft palate that projects into the oropharynx
what are tonsils and their function
lymphatic tissue that help protect against inhaled and ingested bacteria and viruses
what is the larynx
the cartilaginous region of the throat
function of the larynx
it acts as a bridge between the pharynx and the trachea
what is the glottis
the opening in the larynx to the trachea
what is the trachea
the cartilaginous structure that joins the larynx to the bronchial tree
what is the cilia in the trachea used for
it is used to sweep debris upwards toward the pharynx where it can then be swallowed to the stomach or spat out for elimination
describe the underlying structure of the lungs(more specifically where gas exchange occurs
an inverted tree with numerous branches. starting from the trachea, the channel branches into the left and right bronchi. they then branch off into numerous, smaller bronchioles and those terminate at tiny grape-like assemblages called alveoli
what are the lungs composed of
major lobes that can be divided into smaller lobules
how many lobes does the right lung have
3 lobes
how many lobes does the left lung have and why
it has 2 to accommodate the heart
what is pleura and where is it located
a thin pleural membrane that covers each lung
why is a surfactant produced in the pleura
it is used to prevent the membrane from sticking to the alveoli(if there were no surfactant, the membrane would prevent gas exchange)
