Airway Adventure
Air travels from this structure, through the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles before reaching the alveoli.
What is the nose (or nasal cavity)?
These stiff hairs at the entrance of the nasal cavity trap large inhaled particles.
What are nasal hairs?
This passageway connects the nasal cavity and mouth to the larynx and esophagus and has three regions.
What is the pharynx?
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles expand the chest cavity during this process.
What is inspiration (inhalation)?
This chronic disease involves airway inflammation and excessive mucus from smoking or pollution.
What is chronic bronchitis?
This zone includes the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi and serves only to filter, warm, and transport air.
What is the conducting zone?
This sticky substance traps dust and pathogens throughout the airways.
What is mucus?
This “voice box” produces sound, controls airflow, and prevents food from entering the airway.
What is the larynx?
The natural recoil of the lungs allows this passive process to occur.
What is expiration (exhalation)?
This condition causes destruction of alveolar walls and loss of lung elasticity.
What is emphysema?
These tiny sacs are the final destination for air and are the site of gas exchange.
What are alveoli?
This system uses cilia to push mucus upward toward the throat to be swallowed or expelled.
What is the mucociliary escalator?
These structures inside the nasal cavity help filter, warm, and moisten air.
What are nasal conchae?
This fatty-protein substance reduces surface tension in the alveoli to prevent collapse.
What is surfactant?
A genetic disorder causing thick mucus buildup in the lungs and frequent infections.
What is cystic fibrosis?
The respiratory zone begins at this structure and includes alveolar ducts and alveoli.
What are respiratory bronchioles?
This flap of cartilage prevents food and liquids from entering the trachea during swallowing.
What is the epiglottis?
These are the four paranasal sinuses located in the frontal, maxillary, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
What are the frontal, maxillary, sphenoid, and ethmoid sinuses?
The brain region that controls the rhythm of breathing.
What is the medulla oblongata?
This cancer is strongly linked to smoking and destroys alveoli and airway tissue.
What is lung cancer?
The order of air passageways from the nose to alveoli.
What is nose → nasal cavity → pharynx → larynx → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli?
These immune cells in the alveoli engulf and destroy fine particles and pathogens.
What are alveolar macrophages?
This passageway has C-shaped cartilage rings and cilia to trap debris.
What is the trachea?
These sensors in the carotid and aortic bodies detect oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH levels.
What are peripheral chemoreceptors?
With aging, this happens to the lungs and chest wall, reducing efficiency.
What is loss of elasticity and stiffening of the thoracic wall?