What is the essential function of the

respiratory system?

The essential functionof the respiratory system 

is to add oxygen to the blood and remove

carbon dioxide from the blood. 

Trace the passage of air through the

respiratory system, outside in. 

mouth or nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx,

trachea, bronchi, lungs, alveoli 

What are the parts of the

upper respiratory system? 

nose, nasal cavity, paranasal

sinuses, and pharynx 

Name the parts of the

lower respiratory system. 

larynx, trachea, bronchi,

bronchioles, alveoli 

In what part of the repiratory

system does gas exchange occur? 

Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli. 

How is it possible to breath air at freezing

temperatures, without damaging the moist

tissues of the lungs? 

By the time air reaches the alveoli, the

humidity and temperature are within

acceptable limits. 

Before gases even enter the alveoli, what

role has the respiratory system played in

body defense? 

By the time air reaches the alveoli,

most foreign particles and pathogens

have been removed. 

What structure divides the nasal

cavity into right and left chambers? 

The nasal septum divides the nasal

cavity into right and left chambers. 

What is the functional significance

of the nasal conchae? 

The nasal conchae increase

surface area. 

Where are the nasal conchae located? 

Nasal conche are located on the

lateral walls of the nasal cavity. 

Name the mucous membrane-lined,

air-filled cavities in the frontal, maxillary,

sphenoid, and ethmoid bones. 

paranasal sinuses 

What is the functional significance

of the paranasal sinuses? 

The paranasal sinuses lighten the skull

and act as resonance chambers for speech. 

What kind of epithelium

lines the nasal cavity? 

pseudostratified epithelim

containing goblet cells 

Where are olfactory receptor cells located? 

A specialized epithelium in a small area at

the roof of each nasal cavity contains

olfactory receptor cells. 

The two openings from the nasal

cavity into the pharynx are the ___. 

internal nares 

Name the three regions of the pharynx. 

nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx 

The ___ is the region of the pharynx

from the internal nares to the soft palate. 

nasopharynx 

The ___ is the region from the soft

palate to the hyoid bone. 

oropharynx 

The ___ is the region of the pharynx from the

hyoid bone to where the air passage and the

food passage become separate. 

laryngopharynx 

In which part of the pharynx are

the adenoids located? 

The adenoids are located on the

posterial wall of the nasopharynx. 

Why is it important that the epithelium of

the oropharynx is stratifed squamous? 

The oropharynx is passage for both food and air;

stratified squamous epithelium offers more

protection from abrasion. 

The ___ connect the nasopharynx

with the middle ear cavity. 

auditory tubes 

What lines the lumen of the larynx? 

Mucous membrane lines the lumen

of the larynx. 

Name that part of the larynx:

flap-like, projects superiorly. 

epiglottis 

Name that part of the larynx:

largest of the nine cartilages. 

thyroid cartilage 

What are the two kinds of cartilage

that make up the larynx,

and which parts are made from

which cartilage? 

The epiglottis is elastic cartilage;

everything else is hyaline cartilage. 

What holds the cartilages of the larynx together

and connect the larynx to the hyoid bone

and the trachea? 

ligaments 

What is the difference between the

vestibular and vocal folds in the larynx? 

The vestibular folds are superior to the vocal folds.

The vestibular folds protect the more delicate

vocal folds. 

Of what substance is the ligament

of the vocal cords made? 

The ligament of the vocal cords

is a highly elastic connective tissue. 

The ___ is the opening between

the vocal folds. 

The glottis is the opening between

the vocal folds. 

Describe how sound is produced in the larynx. 

Air passing through the glottis vibrates

the vocal folds and produces sound waves.

The pitch of the sound produced depends

upon the diameter, length, and tension of

the vocal folds. 

What controls tension in the vocal folds? 

The tension in the vocal folds is controlled

by  the contraction of voluntary muscles that

change the position of the arytenoid cartilages

relative to that of the thyroid cartilage. 

   When the distance between the artenoid

and thyroid cartilages increases, the

pitch of the voice ___. 

The pitch of the voice increases when the

distance between the arytenoid and thyroid

cartilages increases. 

What makes our voices louder? 

Loudness depends on the force with which

air rushes across the vocal cords. 

Do we use extrinsic or intrinsic muscles to

raise the larynx when swallowing? 

Extrinsic muscles pull on the larynx from outside;

for example, in raising the larynx for swallowing. 

What do the two sets of intrinsic

laryengeal skeletal muscles do? 

One set of intrinsic muscles regulates tension

on the vocal folds. The other set opens and

closes the glottis.