HUBS192 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Thoracic Vertebrae, Synovial Joint, Phrenic Nerve

• School: University of Otago
• Department: Human Body Systems
• Course: HUBS192
• Professor: Greg Jones

Document Summary

Conduction pathway: conduit to deliver and distribute the environmental air (tracheal, bronchi, alveolus, etc) Large surface area in the lungs (gas exchange surface) about the size of a tennis court; this is achieved by lungs via branching; for gas diffusion to occur. Greater volume; pressure decreases; vice versa; decreasing the volume would lead to increasing pressure. Need pressure gradient for air movement to happen. Certain respiratory muscles will contract , e. g. diaphragm and those muscle that are connected in our thorax; these will alter our thoracic volume and create a pressure gradient. Border between thoracic cavity and abdominal cavity is the diaphragm. Base of the lungs rest on the diaphragm. Most superior aspect of sternum ( root of neck ) is the superior boundary. Posterior: posterior parts of our ribs articulate with the thoracic vertebrae. Joints on anterior (ribs articulating directly and indirectly to the sternum) and posterior (where the ribs join the thoracic vertebrae) aspect.