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1. 1. The Pathway Of Air Flow: Nose To Alveoli; And Relate The Function Of Any Portion Of The Respiratory Tract To Its Gross And Microscopic Anatomy.
THE PATHWAY OF AIR FLOW
The airways or respiratory tract comprise the organs that allow the passage of air to the lungs. These organs include nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi. Nasal Cavity is the inner area of the nose. Its main function is to heat, moisten and filter the air when breathing. Also in the nasal cavity is the sense of smell, which allows us to distinguish the smells that surround us.
Pharynx is the connection between the nasal cavity and the oral cavity. It is located behind the mouth and conducts the air to the larynx. In the part that connects to the nose, it is called the nasopharynx; where it connects with the mouth, it is called oropharynx. From Pharynx, it goes to Larynx. It is located between the pharynx and the trachea. The main function of the larynx is to prevent the entry of food or liquids into the trachea. It is also important in the production of sounds: that is where the vocal cords are located (Martini, et.al. 2015). Windpipe is located in front of the esophagus and is a rigid cylinder that lets air pass from the larynx to the bronchi.
Bronchi trachea is divided into two tubes that each go to a lung: these are the bronchi, which, in turn, continue to divide like the branches of a tree inside the lungs, forming the bronchioles. Lungs are the two largest organs inside the rib cage, one on each side of the heart. They are different, the right lung separates in three lobes by two fissures and the left in two lobes. They have a spongy and elastic appearance, so they can vary their volume during the processes of inspiration and expiration.
The alveoli are the functional units of the respiratory system. They are small bubble-like bags that are found at the end of all the bifurcations of the bronchioles. These sacs have the thickness of just one cell, and are bordered by capillaries, allowing direct contact with the blood.
Reference
Martini, F., Nath, J. L., & Bartholomew, E. F. (2015). Fundamentals of anatomy & physiology. Pearson,.
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