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Internal surface of nasal cavity is covered with mucus. Due to the presence of mucus
in the nasal cavity, the lining of it is moist. There are numerous cilia present on the
lining of the nasal cavity. The bacteria, dust and other wastes found in inhaled air
stick onto the mucus. This prevents the entry of them into the lungs. By rhythemic
movement of cilia the waste materials are sent out. The materials that are collected
at pharynx are removed out with saliva.
The changes that take place when inhaled air passes through the nasal
cavity are as follows.
1 Moisturizing/ Humidifying inhaled air
Inspiration
During inspiration, air enters into
lungs. For that, the volume of the
lungs should increase. To increase
the volume of the lungs volume of
the thoracic cavity should be
Increased
Inter-costal muscles relax. So the sternum and ribs move into its
original position. The diaphragm relax and becomes curved. Due
to these activities the volume of the lungs decreases, thereby gas
inside lungs move out through trachea and then nasal cavity.
The inhaled air finally reach the alveoli, through nasal cavity, trachea, bronchi, and
bronchioles. The O2 concentration in alveoli is greater than that of the blood capillary
network around it. Therefore O2 diffuse out of the alveoli into the blood capillaries.
Similarly CO2 and water vapor concentration is greater in blood capillaries than air
surface
The adaptations of the respiratory surfaces for efficient gas exchange are
as follows.
needs of animals
In many animals body cover acts as the respiratory surface and gases exchange
through the body cover. The respiratory surface of human is the wall of alveoli
and the adaptations of the alveoli for efficient gas exchange are as
follows.
1. Presence of a blood capillary network around alveoli
2. Thin alveolar wall