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