Physiology 1021 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Thoracic Cavity, Respiratory Tract, Intrapleural Pressure

• School: Western University
• Department: Physiology
• Course: Physiology 1021
• Professor: John Ciriello

Document Summary

Functions of the respiratory system: provides oxygen to the blood, remove carbon dioxide from the blood, regulates blood ph, speech, microbial defense, traps and dissolves small blood clots. The essential function of the lungs is gas exchange. The lungs are suspended in the thoracic cavity and are surrounded by the chest wall. The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm, a powerful skeletal muscle. The space between the lung and the chest wall is called the intrapleural space. The right lung has 3 lobes while the left lung has 2 lobes to make room for the heart. Trachea made of cartilage and muscle, back is all muscle for swallowing. The trachea turns into the primary bronchi, which turns into secondary, then tertiary, then terminal. Terminal bronchi branch into bronchioles, which branch into alveoli. Gas exchange takes place at the blood-gas-barrier (bgb), which separates the blood in the pulmonary capillaries from the air in the alveoli.