Summary of the Respiratory System
Organ
Structure
Function
Air Conducting
Nasal Cavity
 Lined with mucus membranes
 Contains tiny hairs that act as a
filtering system
 Filters and warms and moistens air
 Transports air to pharynx
Oral Cavity
 normally moist, and is lined with a
mucous membrane
 Transports air to pharynx;
 warms and moistens air,
 helps produce sounds
Pharynx
 muscular tube
 section between the mouth/nasal
cavity and the larynx/esophagus
 Transports air to larynx
Epiglottis
 Flap like structure that covers the
opening of the trachea
 Covers the opening of the trachea
during swallowing
Larynx
 Made up mainly of cartigles.
 It includes the vocal cords which
are responsible for speech
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Trachea
 Series of cartilage rings that keep
the trachea open
 Warms and moistens air;
 transports air to lungs;
 filters incoming air
Bronchi
 Air ways that contain cartilage rings
for structure
 Warms and moistens air;
 transports air to lungs;
 filters incoming air
 Smaller airways with smooth
muscle walls
 Controls air flow in the lungs;
 transports air to alveoli
 Tiny sac and the end of bronchioles
measured between 0.1 and 0.2
micro meters
 Provides area for exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide
Bronchioles
Produces sounds;
transport air to tracheal;
helps filter incoming air;
warms and moistens incoming air
Gas exchange
Alveoli