Structure and function of lungs

1. Structure and function of lungs Francesca Waiter Matthew Lenox Stephen Chatha

2. Basic lung Structure • The lungs are a mammal's organs of gaseous exchange • Air enters the nose or mouth through a system of tubes of decreasing diameter • Trachea • Bronchi • Bronchioles The trachea and bronchi are supported and held open by rings of cartilage • The pharynx is the connection of the nasal passage and oral passage, it acts as a valve which separates the oxygen to the trachea and the food to the oesophagus saving us from breathing in food. • The Larynx (voice box) is an organ in the neck. Because of where it is situated, the larynx has 3 important functions control of the airflow during breathing • protection of the airway • production of sound for speech.

4. Alveoli • The alveoli are tiny balloon like structures at the end bronchiole branches. Carbon Dioxide Oxygen

5. Gas Exchange • Adapted for Gas Exchange: • Large surface area • Moist, Thin walls (1 cell thick) • Lots of blood capillaries • Diffusion • Oxygen diffuses from the air in the alveoli into the blood. • Carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the air in the alveoli.

6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/gaseous-exchange-in-the-lungs/10647.htmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/gaseous-exchange-in-the-lungs/10647.html

7. Asthma • Asthma is a condition that affects the airways - the small tubes (Bronchioles) that carry air in and out of the lungs. • When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airway, the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell