structures and functions

Question 1

ribs

Answer 1

set of bones that protect (create a cage around) the heart and lungs

Question 2

intercostal muscles

Answer 2

muscles located between the ribs
contract (shorten) to pull the ribcage up and open during inhalation
relax to allow the ribcage to close again during exhalation

Question 3

alveoli

Answer 3

microscopic air sacs that inflate when we inhale
like a cluster of grapes at the ends of the bronchioles
175 million of them per lung
site of gas exchange
wrapped in blood capillaries
surrounded by tissue enriched in elastin fibers
have cells that produce surfactant

Question 4

why are there so many alveoli??

Answer 4

there is more space for gas exchange since they have a large surface area

Question 5

why are alveoli wrapped in blood capillaries?

Answer 5

they let O2 and CO2 diffuse between the respiratory system and the circulatory system

Question 6

why is surfactant in the alveoli important?

Answer 6

prevents friction and alveoli don’t stick together

Question 7

larynx

Answer 7

top of trachea, below glottis
the voice box (houses vocal chords)
made of thick, tough cartilage
tissue stretched across the opening vibrates with exhalation to create sound
muscles alongside control tension of the chords
pitch is controlled by tension in the vocal chords
volume is controlled by pressure of the lungs blowing across vocal chords

Question 8

what infection or inflammation of the vocal chords

Answer 8

laryngitis

Question 9

trachea

Answer 9

the windpipe
rigid air tube due to C shaped rings of cartilage (helps maintain an open airway)
C’s are open to the back (esophagus can expand and the trachea can support effective movement of air and food)
lined with cilia that sweeps mucus and trapped mucus upwards to the throat (sweeps mucus to the esophagus)

Question 10

substances in cigarette smoke paralyze the cilia, why is this problematic?

Answer 10

it can lead to the build up of mucus and bad debris in the system

Question 11

thoracic cavity

Answer 11

cavity where the heart and lungs are found

Question 12

why are the heart and lungs located so close to each other

Answer 12

the heart and lungs have blood vessels that connect the two and allows exchange of oxygen and CO2 to get to the blood (c.s doesn’t work so hard)

Question 13

diaphragm

Answer 13

thick, dome shaped muscles that controls breathing
contracts and moves downward to increase the volume in the ribcage during inhalation
relaxes and moves upward to decrease the volume in the ribcage during exhalation

Question 14

capillaries

Answer 14

small diameter blood vessels
one cell layer thick; can get into the tightest of places
thinness allows for exchange of gas, nutrients, and waste between blood and tissues
red blood cells move through single file bc so small
surround the alveoli so O2 goes in and CO2 goes out

Question 15

pleurae

Answer 15

membranes that surround the lungs
secrete a fluid to reduce friction around the lungs
pleurae space: space between the two membranes

Question 16

bronchi

Answer 16

the trachea divides into 2 tubes at the center of the chest
one of these go into each lung
have cartilage rings
lined with cilia to remove mucus
branch in tree-like fashion into smaller tubes
are surrounded by involuntary smooth muscles that contracts and dilates (regulates air flow, when they contract they narrow and slow the flow down- helps with coughing)

Question 17

inflammation of bronchi from virus/bacterial infections is…

Answer 17

bronchitis

Question 18

bronchioles

Answer 18

thin tubes that are subdivisions of the bronchi
thinner walls, less cartilage (not as rigid in structure)

Question 19

pharynx

Answer 19

the throat
common space where nasal cavity, mouth, esophagus, and trachea all meet
passage for food and air

Question 20

nasal cavity

Answer 20

lined with mucus membranes that humidify the air and mucus catches dirt, dust, germs
have cilia that beat in one direction moving particles to the back of the throat for swallowing
contain many capillaries that warm air for better gas exchange

Question 21

what condition is caused by damaged capillaries in the nasal cavity?

Answer 21

nose bleed!

Question 22

glottis

Answer 22

opening of the trachea; slit between the vocal chords

Question 23

epiglottis

Answer 23

“epi” means over
covers the glottis
covers trachea when swallowing so food doesn’t enter

Question 24

nostrils

Answer 24

take in air
have hairs that filters dust, germs, and allergens

Question 25

what happens when the particles in the nostrils move the hair? why is this helpful?

Answer 25

sneeze
gets rid of dangerous particles that shouldn’t go in the lungs

Question 26

soft palate

Answer 26

soft part in the back of the mouth
pushes back to close off nasal passages when swallowing
closes off the esophagus while breathing

Question 27

sinus

Answer 27

cavities or hole in the skull(8)
they are lined with mucus membranes and have cilia
prone to infection

Question 28

why are sinuses prone to infection?

Answer 28

when the get inflamed the mucus gets trapped and bacteria can grow

Question 29

hard palate

Answer 29

bony plate at the roof of the mouth
keeps food out of the nasal cavity

Question 30

what condition occurs when the hard palates don’t fuse properly in early development? what would this affect?

Answer 30

clef palate
eating, speech, breathing