b. Main Subdivisions. The main subdivisions of the respiratory system may be
identified by their relationship to the voice box or larynx. Thus, the main subdivisions
are as follows:
FUNCTION
SUBDIVISION
SUPRALARYNGEAL STRUCTURES
Cleanse, warm, moisten, and
(su-prah-lah-RIN-je-al)
test inflowing air.
LARYNX (voice-box)
Controls the volume of inflowing
(LARE-inks)
air; produces selected pitch
moving column of air.
INFRALARYNGEAL STRUCTURES
Distributes air to the alveoli
(in-frah-lah-RIN-je-al)
of the lungs where actual
respiration takes place.
1-3.
SUPRALARYNGEAL STRUCTURES
See figure 1-4.
Figure 1-4. Supralaryngeal structures.
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1-4