Veterinary Systemic Physiology
________________________________________________________________________________
Module No.1 (Physiology of the Respiratory System)
Lesson 1.1 The Functional anatomy of the Respiratory
System
Function of Respiratory System
● Supply the body w/ oxygen
● Removes carbon dioxide
● Acid-base function
● Other functions
○ Getting rid of metabolites
Anatomical components of the mammalian
respiratory system
Respiration is the means by which animals obtain
and use oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide.
Respiratory apparatus consists of:
● Lungs
● Pleura Airways to the lungs
● Air passages to the lungs:
○ Nostrils Nostrils (nares)
○ Nasal cavity - paired external openings to the air passages
○ Pharynx - dilation is advantageous when more air is
○ Larynx required
○ Trachea - provide the external openings for the paired
○ Bronchi nasal cavities
○ bronchioles
Nasal cavities
Lungs and Pleura - separated from e/o by nasal septum and
from the mouth by the hard and soft palates
Lungs - contains mucosa‐covered turbinate bones
- principal structures of the respiratory system (conchae)
- paired structures; occupy all space in thorax
- when thorax expands, lungs also expand; this Pharynx
provides for airflow into the lungs - common passageway for air and food
- have an almost friction‐free movement within
the thorax because of the pleura Larynx
- opening from the pharynx leading to the
Pleura continuation of the respiratory passageway
- smooth serous membrane - organ of phonation (sound production) in
- consists of a single layer of cells fused to the mammals
surface of a connective tissue layer
- Visceral pleura – envelops both lungs Trachea
- Costal pleura – provides lining - primary passageway for air to the lungs
- mediastinal space – space between the
respective visceral pleura layers; associated Alveoli
with the intrapleural space - right and left bronchi and their subdivisions
- intrapleural space – space between visceral continue all the way to the alveoli
and costal pleura - final and smallest subdivision of the air
passages
Note: pressure changes in the intrapleural space are
accompanied by similar changes in the mediastinal
space
Pulmonary alveoli
________________________________________________________________________________
Module No.1 (Physiology of the Respiratory System)
Lesson 1.1 The Functional anatomy of the Respiratory
System
Function of Respiratory System
● Supply the body w/ oxygen
● Removes carbon dioxide
● Acid-base function
● Other functions
○ Getting rid of metabolites
Anatomical components of the mammalian
respiratory system
Respiration is the means by which animals obtain
and use oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide.
Respiratory apparatus consists of:
● Lungs
● Pleura Airways to the lungs
● Air passages to the lungs:
○ Nostrils Nostrils (nares)
○ Nasal cavity - paired external openings to the air passages
○ Pharynx - dilation is advantageous when more air is
○ Larynx required
○ Trachea - provide the external openings for the paired
○ Bronchi nasal cavities
○ bronchioles
Nasal cavities
Lungs and Pleura - separated from e/o by nasal septum and
from the mouth by the hard and soft palates
Lungs - contains mucosa‐covered turbinate bones
- principal structures of the respiratory system (conchae)
- paired structures; occupy all space in thorax
- when thorax expands, lungs also expand; this Pharynx
provides for airflow into the lungs - common passageway for air and food
- have an almost friction‐free movement within
the thorax because of the pleura Larynx
- opening from the pharynx leading to the
Pleura continuation of the respiratory passageway
- smooth serous membrane - organ of phonation (sound production) in
- consists of a single layer of cells fused to the mammals
surface of a connective tissue layer
- Visceral pleura – envelops both lungs Trachea
- Costal pleura – provides lining - primary passageway for air to the lungs
- mediastinal space – space between the
respective visceral pleura layers; associated Alveoli
with the intrapleural space - right and left bronchi and their subdivisions
- intrapleural space – space between visceral continue all the way to the alveoli
and costal pleura - final and smallest subdivision of the air
passages
Note: pressure changes in the intrapleural space are
accompanied by similar changes in the mediastinal
space
Pulmonary alveoli
