Anatomy and Physiology

I protect the lungs and heart

• The ribs
• The alveoli
• The larynx
• The intercostal muscles

I prevent food from entering the trachea

• The pleural cavity
• The diaphragm
• The alveoli
• The epiglottis

I produce sound

• The alveoli
• The trachea
• The larynx
• The cartilage rings

I carry air down to the lungs

• The trachea
• The ribs
• The pleural cavity
• The alveoli

I help to keep the trachea and bronchi open

• The cartilage rings
• The larynx
• The ribs
• The diaphragm

I prevent friction between the lungs and ribs when breathing

• The pleural fluid
• The nasal cavity
• The ribs
• The diaphragm

The intercostal muscles do what when we breathe in?

• Contract
• Relax

When we breathe in what does the chest do?

• Increase in volume
• Decrease in volume

When we breathe in what does the diaphragm do?

• Contracts/flattens/chest gets larger
• Relaxes/bulges upwards/decreases the volume even more

When we breathe out what do the intercostal muscles do?

• Contract/Pull rib cage upwards, chest increases in volume.
• Relax/lowers the rib/chest decreases in volume