Transcript The Respiratory System Functions & Anatomy

The Respiratory System
Functions & Anatomy
Equine Science
Ms. Weller
What is the Respiratory
System?
 Organs that deliver oxygen to the
circulatory system for transport to the
cells in the animal’s body
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Functions
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Provides oxygen to tissues and cells
Removes carbon dioxide from the body
Controls body temperature
Eliminates water (as vapor)
Aids in voice production
Anatomy
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Nostrils
Nasal Cavity
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
 Bronchi
(Bronchial
Tubes)
 Lungs
 Bronchioles
 Alveoli
Nostrils
 External openings of the respiratory tract
 Lead into nasal cavity
 Shape and size varies amongst species
Nasal Cavity
 Air is warmed and moistened
 Dust particles filtered out
 Site of smelling (olfactory receptors
located in turbinate bones)
 Separated from the mouth by a hard and
soft palate
Pharynx
 Passages of nostrils and mouth join here
(air and food cross paths)
 Epiglottis: keeps food from going to the
lungs (valve-like)
 Short, funnel-shaped tube
 Filled with mucus membrane and ciliated
cells to remove more impurities
Larynx
 Vocal chords
 Vibrate when air passes over
 Produces the neighing, whinnying or
nickering sound
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Composed of cartilage structures
Located in the middle of the neck
Controls breathing
Prevents inhalation of foreign objects into
the lungs
Trachea
 Windpipe (single tube)
 Wall lined with series of c-shaped rings of
cartilage (rigid)
 Help to maintain the shape of the passage
during breathing
 Enters chest cavity
 Contributes to the cleansing function of
the respiratory system
Bronchi
 The branches the trachea divides into to
connect to the lungs
 Contribute to the cleansing function of
the respiratory system
 Branch into bronchioles inside the lungs
Lungs
 Elastic, spongy material
 Cone shaped
 May be incompletely divided into several
lobes
 Located in thoracic cavity
 Greatly expand when filled with air
Bronchioles
 Smaller branches of the bronchi
 The first few contribute to the cleansing
function of the respiratory system
 Terminate in the alveoli
Alveoli
 Tiny air sacs that are the end of
bronchioles
 Have very thin walls
 Surrounded by tiny blood capillaries
 Exchange of gases occurs here through
diffusion
Diaphragm
 Body partition of muscle and connective
tissue
 Separates the thoracic cavity from the
abdominal cavity
Terms
 Respiration: the act of breathing
 Inspiration: inhalation brought about by
a contraction of the diaphragm and an
outward rotation of the ribs
 Expiration: expulsion of air effected by
a relaxation of muscles and a contraction
of rib and abdominal muscles
Stats
 Average lung capacity = 1.5 cubic feet of
air
 Normal breathing rate (at rest) = 8-16
times per minute
 Inhales approximately 250 cubic inches
of air at each respiration