Structure of the human breathing system

Created by

mayesha

Cards (22)

where are the lungs located?
they are enclosed in an airtight compartment, the thorax
what surrounds each lung?
surrounding each lung and lining the thorax are pleural membranes
between the membranes is the pleural cavity containing a few cm $^3$ pleural fluid
the fluid is a lubricant, preventing friction between the lungs and inner wall of the thorax when they move during ventilation
what is the pleural fluid?
this fluid is a lubricant, preventing friction between the lungs and inner wall of the thorax when they move during ventilation
where is the pleural fluid located?
in the pleural cavity
whats at the base of the thorax?
a dome-shaped sheet of muscle, the diaphragm, separating the thorax from the abdomen
what surrounds the thorax?
the ribs
what are between the ribs?
the intercostal muscles
what is the trachea?
a flexible airway, bringing air to the lungs
what are the bronchi?
the branches of the trachea
what are bronchioles?
a branching network of tubes, which arise from the bronchi
what are alveoli?
air sacs at the ends of the bronchioles
whats at the end of the bronchioles?
alveoli
hows is the cartilage in the trachea structured like?
the cartilage rings around the trachea are not complete and don’t meet at the back
why do the cartilage rings around the trachea not meet at the back?
this allows the oesophagus, behind it, to bulge as a bolus of food is swallowed, without meeting a hard structure, which would prevent the food from moving past
what is this a diagram of?
the human respiratory system
what is the larynx?
the larynx is the voice box, located in the throat, that houses the vocal cords
what do alveoli consist of?
they consist of a thin epithelial cell layer and elastic fibres
what is the structure of bronchi?
they are small tubes supported by incomplete rings of cartilage
what do bronchioles consist of?
smooth muscle to restrict airflow to the lungs but don’t have cartilage
they are lined with a thin layer of ciliated epithelial cells
what do external intercostal muscles do?
they are involved in forced and quiet inhalation
what do internal intercostal muscles do?
they are involved in forced exhalation
what is the trachea?
the primary airway which carries air from the nasal cavity down into the chest - its a tube supported by incomplete rings of cartilage