The Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the function of the trachea?
It serves as a passage for air to move from the larynx to the bronchi and into the lungs.
What is the epiglottis, and why is it important?
It is a flap of cartilage that closes over the trachea during swallowing to prevent food and liquid from entering the lungs.
What are the lobes of the lung, and how many are there in each lung?
: The right lung has three lobes (superior, middle, and inferior), and the left lung has two lobes (superior and inferior).
Describe emphysema.
A chronic respiratory disease where alveoli are damaged, reducing gas exchange efficiency and causing breathlessness.
What are bronchioles?
Small airways that branch off from the bronchi and lead to the alveoli in the lungs.
: What is the function of the alveoli?
Tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs between the lungs and blood.
What is the cardiac notch?
An indentation in the left lung where the heart is positioned.
What role does the diaphragm play in breathing?
It contracts and flattens to increase chest cavity volume, allowing air to enter the lungs.
What is the lachrymal duct?
A duct that drains tears from the eyes into the nasal cavity.
What are the conchae in the nasal cavity?
Bony structures that increase surface area and help warm and humidify incoming air.
What is the pharynx?
A muscular tube that serves as a pathway for air to the larynx and food to the esophagus.
What is the purpose of the eustachian tube?
It connects the middle ear to the pharynx, helping equalize ear pressure.
What is the pulmonary vein?
A vein that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
What is the pulmonary artery?
An artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs.
What are the false and true vocal cords?
True vocal cords produce sound, while false vocal cords protect the vocal folds and don’t contribute to sound production.