Anatomy & Physiology of the Respiratory System. The respiratory system is situated in the thorax, and is responsible for gaseous exchange between the circulatory system and the outside world. Air is taken in via the upper airways (the nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx) through the lower airways (trachea, primary bronchi and bronchial tree)...
What are the 10 parts of the respiratory system?
Respiratory system. The respiratory system is made up of the organs included in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. These are the parts: Nose. Mouth. Throat (pharynx) Voice box (larynx) Windpipe (trachea) Large airways (bronchi) Small airways (bronchioles) Lungs. The upper respiratory tract is made up of the: Nose. Nasal cavity. Sinuses. Larynx. Trachea
What are the anatomical features of the respiratory system?
Features of the Human Respiratory System. The structure of the lungs is created in such a way that it helps the exchange of gasses. The other parts of the respiratory system include the nose, larynx, pharynx, trachea or the windpipe, bronchi, lungs, blood vessels, the airways for the passage of air, and the mus... Read More.
What are facts about the respiratory system?
Top 20 Fun Facts
- The left lung tends to be smaller than the right lung in people to accommodate for the heart, which is located on the left side of the body.
- Lungs can float on water. ...
- If the lungs were unfolded and expanded out to their fullest size, they’d be roughly the size of a tennis court.
What are the 2 main functions of respiratory system?
What are the two main purposes of the respiratory system? The main functions of the respiratory system are to obtain oxygen from the external environment and supply it to the cells and to remove from the body the carbon dioxide produced by cellular metabolism. What are the events of respiration? Pulmonary Ventilation.
What is anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system?
The respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe. It includes your airways, lungs and blood vessels. The muscles that power your lungs are also part of the respiratory system. These parts work together to move oxygen throughout the body and clean out waste gases like carbon dioxide.
What are the anatomy parts of the respiratory system?
These are the parts:Nose.Mouth.Throat (pharynx)Voice box (larynx)Windpipe (trachea)Large airways (bronchi)Small airways (bronchioles)Lungs.
What is the physiology of respiration?
In physiology, respiration is the movement of oxygen from the outside environment to the cells within tissues, and the removal of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction that's to the environment.
How do you study the anatomy of the respiratory system?
2:1310:29Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe left lung just has two lobes the upper lobe in the lower lobe. The right mainstem bronchus isMoreThe left lung just has two lobes the upper lobe in the lower lobe. The right mainstem bronchus is wider and more vertical than the left.
What is anatomy and physiology?
Anatomy refers to the internal and external structures of the body and their physical relationships, whereas physiology refers to the study of the functions of those structures. This chapter defines anatomy and physiology and explains why they are important to biomedical engineering.
What is the anatomy and physiology of the upper and lower respiratory tract?
The respiratory system is structurally divided into the upper and lower respiratory airways. The upper airways are made of the nose, nasal cavity, and pharynx while the lower airways are the larynx; trachea, bronchial tree and the lungs.
Why respiratory physiology is important?
Understanding respiratory physiology can aid the practitioner in diagnosing the cause of respiratory symptoms. The main goals of respiration are oxygen uptake and elimination of carbon dioxide. Secondary goals include acid-base buffering, hormonal regulation, and host defense.
What is the main function of the respiratory system?
The respiratory system's main job is to move fresh air into your body while removing waste gases. Once in the lungs, oxygen is moved into the bloodstream and carried through your body. At each cell in your body, oxygen is exchanged for a waste gas called carbon dioxide.
What are the 5 main functions of the respiratory system?
There are five functions of the respiratory system.Gas Exchange – oxygen and carbon dioxide.Breathing – movement of air.Sound Production.Olfactory Assistance – sense of smell.Protection – from dust and microbes entering body through mucus production, cilia, and coughing.
What are the 7 organs of respiratory system?
What makes up the respiratory system?Nose.Mouth.Throat (pharynx)Voice box (larynx)Windpipe (trachea)Airways (bronchi)Lungs.
How many organs are in the respiratory system?
The respiratory system consists of all the organs involved in breathing. These include the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs.
What are the 3 major parts of the respiratory system?
There are 3 major parts of the respiratory system: the airway, the lungs, and the muscles of respiration. The airway, which includes the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, carries air between the lungs and the body's exterior. The lungs Continue Scrolling To Read More Below...
What are the 7 functions of the respiratory system?
What are seven functions of the respiratory system? Move Air: The respiratory system is responsible for moving air to and from exchange surfaces of lungs. ... Produce Sounds: ... Gas Exchange: ... Protect: ... Acid-Base Balance: ... Olfactory: ... Regulating Blood Volume and Blood Pressure:
What are the 5 main functions of the respiratory system?
The functions of the respiratory system include gas exchange, acid-base balance, phonation, pulmonary defense and metabolism, and the handling of bioactive materials.
What are the 4 types of respiration?
Key Takeaways: Types of Respiration External respiration is the breathing process. It involves inhalation and exhalation of gases. Internal respiration involves gas exchange between the blood and body cells. Cellular respiration involves the conversion of food to energy.
How does the respiratory system work?
The circulatory and respiratory systems work together to circulate blood and oxygen throughout the body. Air moves in and out of the lungs through the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. Blood moves in and out of the lungs through the pulmonary arteries and veins ...
Which system is responsible for involuntary breathing?
The muscular and nervous systems enable the involuntary breathing mechanism. The main muscles in inhalation and exhalation are the diaphragm and the intercostals (shown in blue), as well as other muscles. Exhalation is a passive action, as the lungs recoil and shrink when the muscles relax. Image from Human Anatomy Atlas.
What is the structure of the respiratory tree?
This structure is the respiratory tree; bronchi—air pathways in the lungs—branch into smaller and smaller bronchioles, each ending in millions of air sacs known as alveoli, where gas exchange occurs. Gas exchange is the conversion of oxygen (what you inhale) into carbon dioxide (what you exhale). Image from Human Anatomy Atlas.
Why do I have shortness of breath and coughing all year?
Asthma also occurs in the bronchi and can happen all year; it causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to coughing and shortness of breath. Be sure to subscribe to the Visible Body Blog for more anatomy awesomeness!
What are the most common respiratory diseases?
Respiratory System Pathologies. As we leave autumn behind and move into the winter months, respiratory infections will become more prevalent. Bronchitis, one of the most common respiratory infections, is inflammation of the bronchi. Asthma also occurs in the bronchi and can happen all year; it causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, ...
What is the skeletal system?
Respiratory System and the Skeleton. The skeletal system provides structure to soft tissue in the upper respiratory tract. The perpendicular plate of the ethmoid (the long section, shown in blue) separates the nasal cavity into sides. The perpendicular plate is one of the structures that help form the nasal septum. Image from Human Anatomy Atlas.
What is the role of blood in the body?
I know I've mentioned the role that blood plays in your body at some point. To recap, blood is the fuel that keeps you going! Oxygenated blood is brought to organs and tissues via the arteries, while veins bring deoxygenated blood back to the heart to be replenished.
What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the lungs?
The lungs are innervated exclusively by autonomic nerves, and there is no voluntary control of airway smooth muscle. Similarly, there is no sympathetic nervous control of airway smooth muscle; a sympathetic supply is present anatomically, but it appears to have no functional relevance for airway smooth muscle control. The only source of sympathetic bronchodilation is from circulating epinephrine (adrenaline) secreted by the adrenal gland, which acts on airway smooth muscle β 2 -receptors. In contrast, the parasympathetic supply to airway smooth muscle is extremely important. It also innervates mucous glands and blood vessels. The release of acetylcholine from these parasympathetic cholinergic fibres stimulates smooth muscle contraction, leading to bronchoconstriction, or bronchospasm. There is a continuous basal tone within the system, which produces a small amount of basal bronchoconstriction. This can be eliminated by circulating adrenaline, and is the reason that airway calibre increases for a short time after exercise in healthy people.
Why are upper airway muscles important?
The simple answer is that, without them, upper airway resistance would be intolerable. During normal resting breathing, the vocal folds abduct during inhalation in order to widen the laryngeal glottic opening, permitting unobstructed air flow through the larynx ( Brancatisano et al, 1984 ). This occurs via reflex activation of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle. Without this activity, the vocal folds would collapse across that laryngeal opening, causing an increase in resistance to upper airway flow and leading to increased breathing effort and dyspnoea. The strength of contraction of the PCA muscles has been shown to be proportional to factors that are associated with increased levels of respiratory drive, as well as the negativity of intrathoracic pressure ( Suzuki & Kirchner, 1969 ). During vigorous breathing the action of the PCA is supplemented by contraction of the cricothyroid (CT), which acts to tension the vocal folds, increasing the anteroposterior dimension of the larynx ( Hoh, 2005 ). Active closure of the vocal folds (adduction) is performed by the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle (LCA), thyroarytenoid (TA) and interarytenoid (IA), but only the PCA is involved in resting breathing. However, during tidal breathing most of the closure is brought about by relaxation of the PCA rather than by activation of the adductor muscles ( Murakami & Kirchner, 1972 ). Transient, reflex modulation of the area of the laryngeal portion of the airway plays an important role in controlling breathing frequency, duty cycle and end-expiratory lung volume, as narrowing of the airway provides an important braking effect during expiration. Active adduction is associated with activities such as vocalization, coughing and straining.
How do lungs supply blood?
The lungs have two blood supplies. The first arises from the right ventricle and carries deoxygenated blood via the pulmonary artery to the pulmonary capillaries, and thence the pulmonary vein back to the left atrium . The vessels follow the airways in connective tissue sheaths. Unlike the systemic circulation, pulmonary arterioles have very little smooth muscle. The capillaries traverse a number of alveoli before combining to form venules and veins. The latter do not follow the same branching route as the arteries, but instead run along septa that separate segments of the lungs.
Where does air travel through the lungs?
Air enters via the nose and mouth; then it travels into the pharynx, through the glottis and down the trachea. Next, the air travels into the right and left bronchi, and then through the branching structure of the remaining airways to the alveoli. The alveoli are collections of air sacs, similar to a bunch of grapes, which are surrounded by a dense network of capillaries (think of a bunch of grapes inside a net shopping bag; Fig. 1.1 ). The regions of the lung without alveoli (including the airways) are known as the conducting zone (branches 1–16), whilst the regions with alveoli are known as the respiratory zone (17–23), i.e., the zone where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged ( Fig. 1.2 ). From branch 17 onwards (respiratory bronchioles), the airways begin to display alveolar buds in their walls, and by branch 20 onwards virtually the entire airway is made up of alveoli (alveolar ducts). An important feature of the conducting airways is that the larger airways, such as the trachea, are reinforced with cartilage rings that help prevent collapse, whereas the walls of smaller airways contain no supporting skeleton. The small airways possess rings of smooth muscle that, when contracted, narrow the airways (bronchoconstriction). From branch 3 onwards, the airways are surrounded by lung parenchyma, and the elastic forces that operate to recoil the lung parenchyma help to tug the airways open during exhalation (airway tethering), with their radial traction (see section ‘Mechanics of breathing: Airway resistance ’).
Which muscle is involved in breathing?
This includes not only the respiratory pump muscles, but also the muscles in the upper airway that abduct the airway, and the trunk musculature, which is involved in maintenance of posture and stabilization of the pelvis and spine.
How big are the lungs?
The branching structure of the lungs is an impressive work of evolution that has resulted in adult human lungs having a combined surface area of about 60 m 2 (646 square feet), which is about the same as a singles badminton court and about 40 times the area of the skin (see Fig. 1.23 ). Why the need for such a huge area? Like so much of evolution, the respiratory system is a slave to the laws of physics. As will be described in detail in the next section, the exchange of oxygen (O 2) and carbon dioxide (CO 2) between the 300 million alveoli and the capillaries surrounding them occurs via passive diffusion. For this process to keep pace with the metabolic needs of the average person, especially during exercise, a vast surface area (number of alveoli and capillaries) is required for diffusion.
Where does the second circulation in the lungs come from?
The second circulation in the lungs arises from the aorta as the bronchial arteries, which meet the metabolic requirements of the conducting airways by perfusing the walls of the airways as far as the respiratory bronchioles (after which O 2 requirements are met by alveolar gas exchange). Around one-quarter to one-third of the venous effluent from the bronchial circulation drains into the bronchial veins and thence to the right atrium. The remainder drains directly into the pulmonary veins via bronchopulmonary–arterial anastomoses, contributing to shunting of deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary veins. This shunt is the reason that the alveolar to arterial pressure difference for oxygen exists (see section ‘Gas exchange, Diffusion ’ below).
What is the respiratory membrane?
The respiratory membrane includes millions of alveoli with a surface area as large as a tennis court. This large respiratory surface area, combined with other factors, makes for efficient gas exchange to meet our metabolic needs.
Why is water important to the lungs?
Our lungs are lined with a thin layer of water. The water creates surface tension, which makes it difficult for the lungs to expand and allow for gas exchange. Pulmonary surfactant is made by our lungs and decreases the surface tension so we can breathe.
What is the space between the outside of the lung and the inside of the chest wall?
The lungs remain expanded when we breathe due to a vacuum effect within the pleural cavity.
Where do oxygen and carbon dioxide get into and out of the blood?
This lesson explores the process by which oxygen and carbon dioxide get into and out of the blood located in the lungs and in our metabolizing tissues. The partial pressure gradient for each gas determines both the direction and rate of diffusion across the respiratory membrane.
What are the respiratory pump muscles?
The respiratory pump muscles are a complex arrangement that form a semi-rigid bellows around the lungs. Essentially, all muscles that attach to the rib cage have the potential to generate a breathing action, but the principal muscles are shown in Figure 1.4. Muscles that expand the thoracic cavity are inspiratory muscles and induce inhalation, whereas those that compress the thoracic cavity are expiratory and induce exhalation. These muscles possess exactly the same basic structure as all other skeletal muscles, and they work in concert to expand or compress the thoracic cavity. The structure of the rib cage is described in the section ‘Gross structure of the respiratory system’ (below).
Why are upper airway muscles important?
The simple answer is that, without them, upper airway resistance would be intolerable. During normal resting breathing, the vocal folds abduct during inhalation in order to widen the laryngeal glottic opening, permitting unobstructed air flow through the larynx (Brancatisano et al, 1984). This occurs via reflex activation of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle. Without this activity, the vocal folds would collapse across that laryngeal opening, causing an increase in resistance to upper airway flow and leading to increased breathing effort and dyspnoea. The strength of contraction of the PCA muscles has been shown to be proportional to factors that are associated with increased levels of respiratory drive, as well as the negativity of intrathoracic pressure ( Suzuki & Kirchner, 1969 ). During vigorous breathing the action of the PCA is supplemented by contraction of the cricothyroid (CT), which acts to tension the vocal folds, increasing the anteroposterior dimension of the larynx ( Hoh, 2005 ). Active closure of the vocal folds (adduction) is performed by the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle (LCA), thyroarytenoid (TA) and interarytenoid (IA), but only the PCA is involved in resting breathing. However, during tidal breathing most of the closure is brought about by relaxation of the PCA rather than by activation of the adductor muscles ( Murakami & Kirchner, 1972 ). Transient, reflex modulation of the area of the laryngeal portion of the airway plays an important role in controlling breathing frequency, duty cycle and end-expiratory lung volume, as narrowing of the airway provides an important braking effect during expiration. Active adduction is associated with activities such as vocalization, coughing and straining.
Where does air travel through the lungs?
Air enters via the nose and mouth; then it travels into the pharynx, through the glottis and down the trachea. Next, the air travels into the right and left bronchi, and then through the branching structure of the remaining airways to the alveoli. The alveoli are collections of air sacs, similar to a bunch of grapes, which are surrounded by a dense network of capillaries (think of a bunch of grapes inside a net shopping bag; Fig. 1.1). The regions of the lung without alveoli (including the airways) are known as the conducting zone (branches 1–16), whilst the regions with alveoli are known as the respiratory zone (17–23), i.e., the zone where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged ( Fig. 1.2 ). From branch 17 onwards (respiratory bronchioles), the airways begin to display alveolar buds in their walls, and by branch 20 onwards virtually the entire airway is made up of alveoli (alveolar ducts). An important feature of the conducting airways is that the larger airways, such as the trachea, are reinforced with cartilage rings that help prevent collapse, whereas the walls of smaller airways contain no supporting skeleton. The small airways possess rings of smooth muscle that, when contracted, narrow the airways (bronchoconstriction). From branch 3 onwards, the airways are surrounded by lung parenchyma, and the elastic forces that operate to recoil the lung parenchyma help to tug the airways open during exhalation (airway tethering), with their radial traction (see section ‘Mechanics of breathing: Airway resistance ’).
How many times do airways branch?
The airways branch a total of 23 times, creating a tree-like structure that ends in the alveoli, where the exchange of oxygen (O 2) and carbon dioxide (CO 2) takes place (Fig. 1.2). The branches follow an irregular, dichotomous pattern in which each airway gives rise to two ‘daughter’ airways. The structure is irregular because the daughter branches may not be of equal size. The number of airways ( N) in each generation ( Z) is given by the equation N = Z2.
How much does the lungs weigh?
The weight of both adult lungs is between 0.7 and 1.0 kg (1.5 and 2.2 pounds) when weighed at autopsy; however, in life they probably weigh twice this amount because the blood vessels within the lungs (pulmonary circulation) will be filled with about 0.9 litres of blood (weighing about 0.95 kg [2.1 pounds]). In other words, the adult human has about 2 kg (4.4 pounds) of lung tissue hanging inside the rib cage.
Where does the second circulation in the lungs come from?
The second circulation in the lungs arises from the aorta as the bronchial arteries, which meet the metabolic requirements of the conducting airways by perfusing the walls of the airways as far as the respiratory bronchioles (after which O 2 requirements are met by alveolar gas exchange). Around one-quarter to one-third of the venous effluent from the bronchial circulation drains into the bronchial veins and thence to the right atrium. The remainder drains directly into the pulmonary veins via bronchopulmonary–arterial anastomoses, contributing to shunting of deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary veins. This shunt is the reason that the alveolar to arterial pressure difference for oxygen exists (see section ‘Gas exchange, Diffusion ’ below).
Which branch of the nervous system innervates the blood vessels in the lungs?
The blood vessels of the lungs are innervated by both branches of the autonomic nervous system. In contrast to the airway smooth muscle, the most important functional connection is the sympathetic branch, which induces vasoconstriction. However, this activation appears to be associated with a limited range of situations, e.g., ‘fight or flight’ and heavy exercise.
What are the functions of the respiratory system?
The major organs of the respiratory system function primarily to provide oxygen to body tissues for cellular respiration, remove the waste product carbon dioxide, and help to maintain acid-base balance. Portions of the respiratory system are also used for non-vital functions, such as sensing odors, speech production, and for straining, such as during childbirth or coughing ( Figure 22.2 ).
How does the parasympathetic system control the airway?
Dilation and constriction of the airway are achieved through nervous control by the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The parasympathetic system causes bronchoconstriction, whereas the sympathetic nervous system stimulates bronchodilation. Reflexes such as coughing, and the ability of the lungs to regulate oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, also result from this autonomic nervous system control. Sensory nerve fibers arise from the vagus nerve, and from the second to fifth thoracic ganglia. The pulmonary plexus is a region on the lung root formed by the entrance of the nerves at the hilum. The nerves then follow the bronchi in the lungs and branch to innervate muscle fibers, glands, and blood vessels.
How is oxygen transported?
Even though oxygen is transported via the blood, you may recall that oxygen is not very soluble in liquids. A small amount of oxygen does dissolve in the blood and is transported in the bloodstream, but it is only about 1.5% of the total amount. The majority of oxygen molecules are carried from the lungs to the body’s tissues by a specialized transport system, which relies on the erythrocyte—the red blood cell. Erythrocytes contain a metalloprotein, hemoglobin, which serves to bind oxygen molecules to the erythrocyte ( Figure 22.25 ). Heme is the portion of hemoglobin that contains iron, and it is heme that binds oxygen. One hemoglobin molecule contains iron-containing Heme molecules, and because of this, each hemoglobin molecule is capable of carrying up to four molecules of oxygen. As oxygen diffuses across the respiratory membrane from the alveolus to the capillary, it also diffuses into the red blood cell and is bound by hemoglobin. The following reversible chemical reaction describes the production of the final product, oxyhemoglobin (Hb–O 2 ), which is formed when oxygen binds to hemoglobin. Oxyhemoglobin is a bright red-colored molecule that contributes to the bright red color of oxygenated blood.
How does alveolar air differ from atmospheric air?
The amount of water vapor present in alveolar air is greater than that in atmospheric air ( Table 22.3 ). Recall that the respiratory system works to humidify incoming air, thereby causing the air present in the alveoli to have a greater amount of water vapor than atmospheric air. In addition, alveolar air contains a greater amount of carbon dioxide and less oxygen than atmospheric air. This is no surprise, as gas exchange removes oxygen from and adds carbon dioxide to alveolar air. Both deep and forced breathing cause the alveolar air composition to be changed more rapidly than during quiet breathing. As a result, the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide change, affecting the diffusion process that moves these materials across the membrane. This will cause oxygen to enter and carbon dioxide to leave the blood more quickly.
What are the lobes of the right lung?
Fissures separate these lobes from each other. The right lung consists of three lobes: the superior, middle, and inferior lobes. The left lung consists of two lobes: the superior and inferior lobes. A bronchopulmonary segment is a division of a lobe, and each lobe houses multiple bronchopulmonary segments. Each segment receives air from its own tertiary bronchus and is supplied with blood by its own artery.
What are the lungs?
The lungs are pyramid-shaped, paired organs that are connected to the trachea by the right and left bronchi; on the inferior surface, the lungs are bordered by the thoracic diaphragm. The thoracic diaphragm is the flat, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs and thoracic cavity. The lungs are enclosed by the pleurae, which are attached to the mediastinum. The right lung is shorter and wider than the left lung, and the left lung occupies a smaller volume than the right. The cardiac notch is an indentation on the surface of the left lung, and it allows space for the heart ( Figure 22.13 ). The apex of the lung is the superior region, whereas the base is the opposite region near the thoracic diaphragm. The costal surface of the lung borders the ribs. The mediastinal surface faces the midline.
How does pressure affect inhalation?
In a gas, pressure is a force created by the movement of gas molecules that are confined. For example, a certain number of gas molecules in a two-liter container has more room than the same number of gas molecules in a one-liter container ( Figure 22.15 ). In this case, the force exerted by the movement of the gas molecules against the walls of the two-liter container is lower than the force exerted by the gas molecules in the one-liter container. Therefore, the pressure is lower in the two-liter container and higher in the one-liter container. At a constant temperature, changing the volume occupied by the gas changes the pressure, as does changing the number of gas molecules. Boyle’s law describes the relationship between volume and pressure in a gas at a constant temperature. Boyle discovered that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume: If volume increases, pressure decreases. Likewise, if volume decreases, pressure increases. Pressure and volume are inversely related (P = k/V). Therefore, the pressure in the one-liter container (one-half the volume of the two-liter container) would be twice the pressure in the two-liter container. Boyle’s law is expressed by the following formula:
What is the respiratory system?
Your respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe. This system helps your body absorb oxygen from the air so your organs can work. It also cleans waste gases, such as carbon dioxide, from your blood. Common problems include allergies, diseases or infections.
What are the two parts of the respiratory system that help regulate the temperature and humidity of the air you inhale?
Your airways are a complicated system that includes your: Mouth and nose: Openings that pull air from outside your body into your respiratory system. Sinuses: Hollow areas between the bones in your head that help regulate the temperature and humidity of the air you inhale.
What are the bones and muscles that surround the respiratory system?
Some of the bones and muscles in the respiratory system include your: Diaphragm: Muscle that helps your lungs pull in air and push it out. Ribs: Bones that surround and protect your lungs and heart. When you breathe out, your blood carries carbon dioxide and other waste out of the body.
Why is it important to clear mucus out of the lungs?
Being able to clear mucus out of the lungs and airways is important for respiratory health.
What is a spirometer?
A spirometer is a device that can tell how much air you inhale and exhale. See your doctor for regular checkups to help prevent serious respiratory conditions and lung disease. Early diagnosis of these issues can help prevent them from becoming severe.
What are the lobes of the lungs?
Lung lobes: Sections of the lungs — three lobes in the right lung and two in the left lung. Pleura: Thin sacs that surround each lung lobe and separate your lungs from the chest wall. Some of the other components of your respiratory system include:
How to check if your respiratory system is working?
To see if your respiratory system is working as it should, your healthcare provider may use imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI. These tests allow your provider to see swelling or blockages in your lungs and other parts of your respiratory system.
Functions of The Respiratory System
Anatomy of The Respiratory System
- The organs of the respiratory system include the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and their smaller branches, and the lungs, which contain the alveoli.
Physiology of The Respiratory System
- The major function of the respiratory system is to supply the body with oxygen and to dispose of carbon dioxide. To do this, at least four distinct events, collectively called respiration, must occur.
Practice Quiz: Respiratory System Anatomy and Physiology
- Here’s a 10-item quiz about the study guide. Please visit our nursing test bank page for more NCLEX practice questions. 1. Which of the following descriptions regarding the larynx is CORRECT? A. The most inferior cartilage in the larynx is the epiglottis. B. Unlike the other cartilages of the larynx, the epiglottis consists of hyaline cartilage. C. The larynx contains four u…