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Respiratory System

Function
The respiratory
system is
responsible for
the exchange of
oxygen and
carbon dioxide
Anatomy
• Nasal Cavity
• Pharynx
• Epiglottis
• Larynx
• Trachea
• Bronchi
• Lungs
• Alveoli
Anatomy
See Page 570 of your text

Upper respiratory system Lungs

Nasal
Cavity
Anatomy
Alveoli
• The Alveoli are the
microscopic air sacs where
gas exchange occurs.
Physiology
Nasal cavity
• The nasal cavity is responsible
for warming, moistening and
filtering the air.
• Sticky mucus lines the inside
of the nasal cavity and helps
capture dust and other
materials.
• Hairs in your nose and tiny hair
like structures called cilia trap
dust and materials to the
throat where it can be
swallowed.
Pharynx, larynx, and trachea
Pharynx Larynx
• Tube like passage that • The larynx is the location of
carries food, liquid and air. the vocal chords. Air passes
• The end of the pharynx has over these folds of tissue
a flap of tissue called the creating vibrations.
epiglottis which directs food
to the esophagus and
prevents blockages of the
respiratory track.
Pharynx, larynx, and trachea
Trachea Bronchi
• The trachea is a rigid tube • The trachea branches into
that carries the air from the two directions towards each
larynx toward the lungs. lung. The branches are
• It is lined with mucus and called the bronchial tubes.
cilia to continue filtering the
air.
Alveoli
• The alveoli are the tiny air
sacs in the lungs.
• Alveoli are surrounded by
capillaries.
• This is where gas exchange
occurs…oxygen enters the
blood and Carbon Dioxide
leaves to be exhaled.
Assistance from muscles
• At the bottom of the lungs is a muscle called
the diaphragm which moves the lungs up and
down.
• The movement of the diaphragm pushes air in
and out of the alveoli in the lungs.

– See page 572 Figure 5


Image attribution
• Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is (was) here Drawn by
Theresa Knott
• Copied from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Throat_Diagram.png
created by en:User:Persian Poet Gal.
• (video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiT621PrrO0&safety_mode=true&per
sist_safety_mode=1

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