What is upper respiratory tract anatomy?
Overview. The major passages and structures of the upper respiratory tract include the nose or nostrils, nasal cavity, mouth, throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx). The respiratory system is lined with a mucous membrane that secretes mucus. The mucus traps smaller particles like pollen or smoke.
What is the difference between the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract?
The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, pharynx, and larynx. The lower respiratory tract consists of the trachea, bronchial tree, and lungs. These tracts open to the outside and are lined with mucous membranes. In some regions, the membrane has hairs that help filter the air.
What is the anatomy of the lower respiratory system?
The major passages and structures of the lower respiratory tract include the windpipe (trachea) and within the lungs, the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. Deep in the lungs, each bronchus divides into secondary and tertiary bronchi, which continue to branch to smaller airways called the bronchioles.
What is the function of the upper and lower respiratory tract?
The upper respiratory mainly has an air-conducting function, while the lower respiratory tract serves both the conducting and respiratory functions. Besides its main function to conduct the air to the lower respiratory tract, the upper respiratory also performs several other functions.
What is the main function of the lower respiratory tract?
The lower respiratory system, or lower respiratory tract, consists of the trachea, the bronchi and bronchioles, and the alveoli, which make up the lungs. These structures pull in air from the upper respiratory system, absorb the oxygen, and release carbon dioxide in exchange.
What are the upper and lower airways?
The upper respiratory tract (upper airway) consists of the nose, mouth, sinuses, pharynx (upper section of the throat), and larynx (voice box). The lower respiratory tract consists of the trachea (windpipe), bronchial tubes, and lungs.
What are 4 functions of the upper respiratory tract?
The upper airway not only provides a passage for air to be breathed in and out of the lungs, but it also heats, humidifies and filters the air and is involved in cough, swallowing and speech.
Where does the upper respiratory tract end?
The trachea bifurcates and therefore terminates, superior to the heart at the level of the sternal angle. The bronchi, the main bifurcation of the trachea, are similar in structure but have complete circular cartilage rings. Segmental bronchi supply individual bronchopulmonary segments of the lungs.
What is the function of the lower respiratory tract?
What is the role of diaphragm?
It is a large, dome-shaped muscle that contracts rhythmically and continually, and most of the time, involuntarily. Upon inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and flattens and the chest cavity enlarges. This contraction creates a vacuum, which pulls air into the lungs.
What are the alveoli?
Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles (tiny branches of air tubes in the lungs). The alveoli are where the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and breathing out.
What is epiglottis function?
The epiglottis is usually upright at rest allowing air to pass into the larynx and lungs. When a person swallows the epiglottis folds backward to cover the entrance of the larynx so food and liquid do not enter the windpipe and lungs.