Extends from the larynx to the primary bronchi, composed of smooth muscle and C-shaped rings of cartilage, lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium
Bifurcates at the level of vertebrae T4-5 into the right and left main bronchi, the site of bifurcation is called the carina
Acts as the "caretaker" of the alveolar compartment, responds to damage of the type I cell by dividing and acting as a progenitor cell for both type I and type II cells, synthesises, stores and releases pulmonary surfactant
The volume of gas in the lungs at a given time during the respiratory cycle, measures the amount of air for one function (such as inhalation or exhalation)
Lung volumes measurement is an integral part of pulmonary function test, used to measure tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, and expiratory reserve volume
1. The abrupt increase in ventilation at the start of exercise is due to neural changes that send excitatory impulses to the inspiratory area in the medulla oblongata
2. The more gradual increase in ventilation during moderate exercise is due to chemical and physical changes in the bloodstream