The components of the gaseous exchange in mammals
include the nostril, trachea, intercostals muscles, diaphragm and ribs.
Table show the adaptation and function of the
parts of the mammalian respiratory system
|
Part
|
Adaptive
feature
|
Functions
|
|
Nose
and nasal cavity
|
Mucus
lining and hairs (cilia)
|
Trap
dust and microorganism
|
|
Glottis
|
Presence
of epiglottis
|
To
prevent entering of food to the respiratory surface
|
|
Trachea,
bronchiolus and bronchioles
|
Blood
vessel near the surface
|
Warm
the air
|
|
Have
rings of cartilage tissue along their length
|
Prevent
collapse of the respiratory rack
|
|
|
Mucus
lining and cilia
|
Traps
and filter dust and microorganism
|
|
|
Lungs
|
Alveolus
|
Main
organ for mammalian gaseous exchange
Air
space hold inhaled air
|
|
Alveouli
|
Numerous
in number
|
Provide
large surface area for gasous exchange
|
|
|
Thin
membrane
|
Reduce
distance for diffusion of gases
|
|
|
Has
dense network of capillaries
|
Transport
oxygen from the alveoli to the tissue and carbondioxide from the tissued to
the alveoli
|
|
|
Moist
surface
|
Enable
gases to dissolve into solution before diffusing
|
|
Pleural
membrane
|
Contain
pleural fluid
|
Lubricate
the membrane so that the lungs cam slide smoonthly over the thoric cavity
during breating
|
|
Ribs
|
Are
made of hard bones tissue
|
Protect
the lungs from injury
|
|
Intercotal
muscles
|
Move
antagonistically: when one muscles contract and other relax and vice versa
|
Allow
expansion and contraction of the thoroic cavity
|
|
Diaghragm
|
Muscular
sheet of tissue
|
Seperates
the thorax from the abdomen, allow for gaseous exchange by becoming dome
shaped or relaxing
|