Anatomy and Cell Biology 3309 Chapter Notes - Chapter 19: Trachea, Mucus, Whiskers

• School: Western University
• Department: Anatomy and Cell Biology
• Course: Anatomy and Cell Biology 3309
• Professor: Michelle Hamilton

Document Summary

A series of epithelially lined passage ways lead to the paired lungs where smaller tubes open into epithelial lined airspaces that are surrounded by extensive networks of capillaries. The functions of the respiratory system are: air conduction, air filtration, gas exchange (respiration). The respiratory system consists of the paired lungs and a series of air passages that lead to and from the lungs. Within the lung, the air passages branch into increasingly smaller tubes until the very smallest air spaces, called alveoli, are reached. Three principal functions are performed by this sys tem: air conduction, air filtration, and gas exchange (respiration). In addition, air passing through the larynx is used to produce speech, and air passing over the olfactory mucosa in the nasal cavities carries stimuli for the sense of smell. The respiratory system also participates to a lesser degree in endocrine functions (hormone production and secretion), as well as regulation of immune responses to inhaled antigens.