Medical
Medical Surgical Nursing 2
Date: November 6, 2012
Name: Judine Douglas
ID#: 3111-0427
Respiratory System
The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood.
What makes up the Respiratory System?
The human respiratory system consists of the nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, smaller conducting passageways (bronchi and bronchioles), and lungs.
The Nose or Nasal Cavity
As air passes through the nasal cavities it is warmed and humidified, so that air that reaches the lungs is warmed and moist. The Nasal airways are lined with cilia and kept moist by mucous secretions. The moisture in the nose helps to heat the air, increasing the amount of water vapour the air entering the lungs contains. This helps to keep the air entering the nose from drying out the lungs and other parts of our respiratory system. When air enters the respiratory system through the mouth, much less filtering is done. It is generally better to take in air through the nose.
The Pharynx
The pharynx is also called the throat. Below the epiglottis is the larynx or voice box. This contains 2 vocal cords, which vibrate when air passes by them. With our tongue and lips we convert these vibrations into speech. The area at the top of the trachea, which contains the larynx, is called the glottis.
The Trachea
The trachea or windpipe is made of muscle and elastic fibres with rings of cartilage. The cartilage prevents the tubes of the trachea from collapsing. The trachea is divided or branched into bronchi and then into smaller bronchioles. The bronchioles branch off into alveoli.
These tubes are lined with mucous-secreting cells and tiny hairs called cilia. The mucous traps bacteria, dust and
Date: November 6, 2012
Name: Judine Douglas
ID#: 3111-0427
Respiratory System
The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood.
What makes up the Respiratory System?
The human respiratory system consists of the nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, smaller conducting passageways (bronchi and bronchioles), and lungs.
The Nose or Nasal Cavity
As air passes through the nasal cavities it is warmed and humidified, so that air that reaches the lungs is warmed and moist. The Nasal airways are lined with cilia and kept moist by mucous secretions. The moisture in the nose helps to heat the air, increasing the amount of water vapour the air entering the lungs contains. This helps to keep the air entering the nose from drying out the lungs and other parts of our respiratory system. When air enters the respiratory system through the mouth, much less filtering is done. It is generally better to take in air through the nose.
The Pharynx
The pharynx is also called the throat. Below the epiglottis is the larynx or voice box. This contains 2 vocal cords, which vibrate when air passes by them. With our tongue and lips we convert these vibrations into speech. The area at the top of the trachea, which contains the larynx, is called the glottis.
The Trachea
The trachea or windpipe is made of muscle and elastic fibres with rings of cartilage. The cartilage prevents the tubes of the trachea from collapsing. The trachea is divided or branched into bronchi and then into smaller bronchioles. The bronchioles branch off into alveoli.
These tubes are lined with mucous-secreting cells and tiny hairs called cilia. The mucous traps bacteria, dust and