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Respiratory System

Page history last edited by Daniel Rothlis 14 years, 10 months ago

Respiratory System

 

Structures:

 Trachea: The trachea is a tube like structure used as an airway to supply the lungs with oxygen.  Although considered part of the lower respiratory tract, the trachea connects the upper respiratory tract (nasal passages, larynx, and pharynx)with the lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi, and lungs).

 

Epiglottis: The epiglottis is a flap of elastic cartilage tissue.  Its function in the respiratory system prevents food from entering the trachea and moving into the esophagus.  Normally, it is pointed upward during breathing with its underside connected to the pharynx.  However, when the cat is swallowing, the hyoid bone is drawn upward and the epiglottis folds down into a horizontal position.  

 

Esophagus: The esophagus, although typically considered a digestive structure, also has air pass through on its way to the lungs.  The esophagus is continuous with the laryngeal part of the pharynx and is composed of three layers: mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis externa.  

 

Bronchi: The trachea will divide into two smaller tubes, the left and right bronchi.  These bronchi will then divide into even smaller areas-bronchioles.  These continue until air reaches dead end sacs called alveoli.  It is here where the actual exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide occur.  The bronchi lie at the bottom of the trachea and divide into the lungs.  

 

Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a muscle separates the lungs from the other organs in the cat.  It works with muscles between the ribs-intercostals-to perpetuate inspiration (breathing in) and exhalation (breathing out).

 

Similarities and Differences with Human Respiratory System

 

     The human and cat respiratory systems contain many similarities as both are mammals that have well-developed lungs and respiratory structures.  However, since humans are larger in size, the lungs, length of the trachea, and amount of alveoli are also larger than in cats.  Also, since humans are bipedal, the epiglottis serves an important function because it has to fight the effects of gravity more directly than cats who are quadrupeds.  The respiratory rate in cats is also much higher than humans because of their smaller lung capacity.

 

Lobes of Cats and Humans

 

     When cats breathe, they inhale air composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and some trace elements.  Air travels either through the nasal passages into the pharynx which then connects to the larynx.  From here, air travels through the trachea and into the primary bronchi.  The bronchi further divides into bronchioles which feed into tiny air sacs called alveoli.  This is where gas exchange takes place.  Oxygen is dropped off into the sacs and carbon dioxide is picked up in turn.  Carbon dioxide is formed as a waste product for the production of ATP.  This molecule travels back up the tracheal pathway and out through the mouth or nasal passages.  

 

     The right and left lung of a cat each have three lobes for specialization.  Humans, however have three lobes in their left lung but only two in their right lung.  This evolutionary difference most likely exists because the heart is normally located on the left side which takes up some space allowing for only two lobes to be present in the left lung.  

 

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