The trachea, also called the windpipe, is a 4 inch long tube that measures a diameter of less than one inch. The trachea starts right listed below the voice box (throat) and runs down simply below the breast bone (breastbone). It then divides into two smaller tubes called bronchi; each lung having a bronchus. Each time you breathe in, the trachea slightly extends and widens, and it returns to its normal size whenever you breathe out. What are the primary functions of trachea? What about other organs of the breathing system and their functions?
Functions of the Trachea
1. Air Conduction: Respiration
This is the primary function of the windpipe or trachea; to permit air passage to your lungs for respiration i.e. to take in air abundant in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. When you breathe in air, oxygen travels down your trachea, then to the bronchi, then to the bronchioles, and after that the alveoli. If the trachea struggles with any damage, it will lead to its clog or collapse. This will disrupt the normal air exchange, which if not treated urgently could result in death.
2. Protection: Keeping Foreign Bodies Away
Despite the fact that the trachea’s primary function is the exchange of air, it also assists in protection from microbes and hazardous substances. This, in turn, avoids entry of hazardous substances into much deeper parts of the lungs, which would induce malfunctioning.
For security, the windpipe’s lumen has a sticky mucous layer lining which traps foreign compounds. When caught, these foreign substances are expelled upwards and can either be excreted from the body as phlegm or swallowed in the esophagus.
There are, nevertheless, some foreign things that accidentally penetrate into the trachea. When this occurs, the ciliary cells get irritated and as an outcome, coughing is induced. By coughing, the trachea is attempting to expel those objects consequently permitting air to obtain to the lungs. Ciliary cells inflammation can also happen when there is existence of excess mucus and infective agents which cause coughing.
3. Gastrointestinal Process Function
The trachea likewise plays a crucial function in the digestion process. Your trachea is connected to the tubing system that makes it possible for you to swallow. Your respiratory system has developed a system that avoids respiratory failures and choking. When this tubing system is obstructed, you begin choking. Choking, combined with coughing reflex, makes it possible for the ciliated cells to get the foreign item out of the respiratory system and trachea.
4. Thermoregulation
This enhances the humidifying and warming of the air that goes into the lungs. When there is increased temperature, a system is triggered by the body which promotes loss of heat and the body temperature is returned to normal. On the other hand, when the air is too cold, your trachea can warm the air before it participates in your lungs, thus promoting a thermo balance.
Function of Cilia in the Trachea
The function of cilia in the trachea and bronchi is to secure the airways from being damaged or infected by particles of dust or foreign matter.
Air that is inhaled might not always be free of dust particles. For this factor, there should be something to remove the potentially damaging matter from the body. The cilia in the trachea and bronchi serve as a defence system for the body by keeping the respiratory tracts clear of mucus, dust, dirt, and other foreign matter. This permits us to breathe quickly without disruption. For example, in Beijing, the air is so full of dust that lots of people need to wear masks to safeguard themselves from breathing in the damaging particles.
Illness with Trachea
| Condition | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Tracheal Stenosis | This occurs when the trachea is swollen. It results in narrowing and scarring of the windpipe. |
| Tracheoesophageal Fistula | This is when an abnormal connective channel types. The channel links the esophagus and trachea. With this channel, swallowed food is able to pass to the trachea, and this causes severe lunch problems. |
| Tracheal Foreign Body | This is when you inhale a foreign things, and it gets lodged in the trachea on one of the branches. A bronchoscopy is generally required for the removal of these foreign items. |
| Tracheal Cancer | This is an extremely unusual condition. Symptoms include trouble in breathing and coughing. |
| Tracheomalacia | This is when our trachea is floppy and soft instead of stiff. It is normally a defect that occurs at birth. However, it comes as a result of cigarette smoking or injury in grownups. |
| Tracheal Obstruction | This is when there is a development or tumor which narrows and compresses the trachea resulting in breathing difficulty. Surgery or a stent is required to enhance breathing by opening the trachea. |
Respiratory Organs and Their Functions
| Organs Information verified by the iytmed.com team. | Functions |
|---|---|
| Nostrils | They are used to inhale and breathe out. The tiny nostril hairs are referred to as cilia. The hairs are used to filter foreign particles like dust that are present in the air. They protect the nasal passage and other breathing tract areas. |
| Trachea | This is likewise called the windpipe. It filters the air you breathe as well as branches to the bronchi. |
| Lungs | This is the main respiratory system organ. The lungs receive the oxygen and expel co2. The RBC’s present in blood pick oxygen from the lungs and transports the oxygen to body cells that need oxygen. Red blood cells (RBC’s) provide oxygen to cells that need it and take the co2 the cells have actually produced. |
| Alveolus | This is a minute structure that appears like a sac. It is discovered in the lungs, and it is where gaseous exchange happens. |
| Diaphragm | This is a muscle in the lungs (bottom part) which has a dome shape, and it is where breathing begins. When you breathe in, the diaphragm agreements, flattens out and is pulled downward. With this movement, lung area is increased and air is able to be pulled to the lungs. When you breathe out, the diaphragm broadens, decreases space, and air is displaced. |
