structure of the respiratory system

Question 1

What does the nose do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 1

-air enters through the mouth and nose
-lining of nasal cavity lined with mucous membrane
- as air passes through hairs and mucous in the nose prevent and trap debris from reaching the lungs.

Question 2

what does the pharynx do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 2

-region from nasal cavity to top of trachea
- air travels through it before being diverted into trachea by epiglottis.

Question 3

what is the structure of the epiglottis? what does it do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 3

-flap of elastic cartilage
- during inhalation it covers the oesophagus, guiding air into the trachea
-when swallowing it covers the larynx, preventing food from entering it.

Question 4

what does the larynx do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 4

• it is cartilage
• contains vocal cords, which are mucous membranes that vibrate as air passes over them.

Question 5

what does the trachea do in the Respiratory system? what is its structure?

Answer 5

• c shaped cartlage rings, holding the structure open, ensuring air cn pass through.
• carries air into and out of lungs
• base splits into 2 branches, one taking air into each lung.
  -epithelial lining produces mucous able to trap debris and dust.
  Cilia also lines trachea, able to move in wave like motions taking debris and mucus up to pharynx to be swallowed.

Question 6

what do the bronchi do in the Respiratory system? what is its structure?

Answer 6

• split into 2 primary bronchi
• further split into secondary bronchi
• split into tertiary bronchi
• c shaped cartilage rings- as bronchi get smaller, cartilage is more spread out with smooth muscle and elastin

Question 7

what do the bronchioles do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 7

• tertiary divide into bronchioles
• made up of smooth muscle and elastin, allow them to control the flow of air in the lungs- expanding when the body needs more O2

Question 8

what do the lungs do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 8

• membrane called pleura covers the surface of lungs
  -also lines inside of chest
• between the 2 layers of membranes is a thin layer of pleural fluid- holds lungs against inside of chest wall, allowing them to slide along the wall when breathing.

Question 9

What do the alveoli do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 9

• tiny air sacs
• each alveolus is one cell thick, surrounded by capillaries
• where gas move between blood and capillaries and air inside alveolus
• allows a net flow of O2 to pass from airways into the blood and CO2 to pass from the blood into airways

Question 10

what does the diaphragm do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 10

• muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen
• contracts and flatterns, increasing the volume of the chest cavity and lungs during breathing.

Question 11

what does the intercostal muscles do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 11

-muscles between the ribs
- they move ribcage up and outwards to increase volume of chest cavity and lungs during breathing.

Question 12

what do the ribs do in the Respiratory system?

Answer 12

-form a framework for the chest.