Structures of the Respiratory System Flashcards
How many tracts is the respiratory system divided into?
two, one upper and one lower
What structures are in the upper respiratory tract?
the nasal cavity, olfactory receptors, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx, and trachea
What does the mucous membrane do?
creates sticky mucus that lines the membrane and traps pathogens, dust and pollen so they don’t enter the body
How many smell receptors do humans have?
12 million
What are olfactory receptors?
transmembrane proteins that detect odors and initiate the sense of smell
What are the paranasal sinuses?
air-filled cavities that surround the nasal cavity
What do the paranasal sinuses do?
they reduce the weight of the skull, produce mucus, and influence voice quality
What are the four paranasal sinuses called?
maxillary, ethmoid, sphenoid, and frontal
What is the pharynx?
a muscular tube in the middle of your neck that helps you breathe and digest food
What is the larynx?
a hollow tube in the middle of your neck, it helps you breathe and make sounds
Where is the larynx?
between the pharynx and the trachea
How do you speak using the voice box?
air exhaled from the lungs passes through the larynx and vibrates the vocal folds
What is the trachea?
a tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi of the lungs
What is the trachea’s primary function?
allow passage of inspired and expired air into and out of the lungs
What are the structures of the lower respiratory tract?
the lungs, bronchi and bronchioles, the alveoli, and diaphragm
What is the double-walled serous membrane that encloses each lung?
the pleura
What do the lungs do?
they expand and contract to supply oxygen to tissues all over the body and dispose of carbon dioxide
How many lobes are in each lung?
the right lung has 3, the left lung has 2
What are the bronchi and bronchioles?
a network of passages that supply the lungs with air
What is the sequence of bronchi in the lungs?
the primary bronchi, branching off into smaller bronchi in each lung, branching the smaller bronchi into bronchioles, and finally into terminal bronchioles that conduct air to the alveoli
Where are the alveoli located?
at the end of each bronchiole
What happens in the alveoli?
this is where the lungs and blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide when we breathe in and breathe out
What is the diaphragm?
a muscular sheet between the base of the lungs and th abdominal cavity that contracts to help make breathing possible
