Respiratory System

Of what importance is the fact that the cartilage rings are incomplete posteriorly?

Allows esophagus walls to budge anteriorly when a large food bolus is being swallowed

Name the respiratory zone structures

Alveoli

What occurs when the trachealis muscles contract? and in what activities might this be helpful?

Contraction of the trachealis muscle reduces the diameter of the trachea, causing the air to rush superiorly and with greater force. Helps to clear mucus from the airway when coughing.

What type of cartilage forms the epiglottis?

Elastic

Period of breathing when air leaves the lungs

Expiration

Exchange of gases between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood

External respiration

What type of cartilage forms the other eight laryngeal cartilages?

Hyaline

Period of breathing when air enters the lungs

Inspiration

Two examples of muscles that depress the rib cage

Internal intercostals and latissmus dorsi

Exchange of gases between the systemic capillary blood and body cells

Internal respiration

Name the conducting zone structures

Nose, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and smaller branches

What important role is played by the cartilage rings that reinforce the trachea?

Prevents the airway from collapsing during pressure changes that occur during breathing

Difference between elastic cartilage and hyaline cartilage

The epiglottis has to be flexible to be able to flap over the glottis during swallowing. The more rigid hyaline cartilages support the walls of the larynx.

Two examples of muscles that cause abdominal pressure to rise

Transverse abdominas / External and internal obliques

Alternate flushing of air into and out of the lungs

Ventilation (breathing)

Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)

Volume breathed in by a maximum inspiration at the end of a normal inspiration

Tidal Volume (TV)

Volume of air breathed in and out in a single breath

Residual Volume (RV)

Volume of air remaining in the lungs altho eh end of a maximum expiration

Vagus Nerve

carries impulses from stretch receptors to the respiratory center to inhibit inspiration

Chemoreceptors

located in aorta and carotids arteries, and they monitor the blood's pH Low pH (caused by high CO2) in the blood stimulates the respiratory center to increase the rate and depth of breathing

Three functions of larynx

provides a patent airway, serves as a switching mechanism to route food into the posterior esophagus, acts in voice production (contains vocal folds)

Phrenic Nerve

sends impulses to the diaphragm to stimulate contraction

Common function of conducting zone structures

to conduct air to the respiratory zone