The Respiratory System of Farm Animals
The Respiratory System of Farm Animals
The Respiratory System of Farm Animals
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
BY
DR. MUAZU T. A.
(LECTURER)
OCTOBER, 2023
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THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
The respiratory system (also respiratory apparatus, ventilatory system) is a biological system
consisting of specific organs and structures used for gaseous exchange in animals. The anatomy
and physiology that make this happen varies greatly, depending on the size of the organism and
the environment in which it lives. The respiratory system begins at the nose and ends at the distal
alveoli. It is comprised of the upper and lower airways. The upper airway includes the nose,
sinuses, and pharynx. The nose provides olfaction and temperature regulation in hyperthermic
animals. The nasal turbinates initially humidify and warm air, and filter particulate matter. The
lower airways include the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. The primary function of the
respiratory system is to deliver oxygen to the lungs to be exchanged with carbon dioxide. The
respiratory system is lined with a mucous membrane that secretes mucus. The mucus traps
smaller particles like pollen or smoke. Hairlike structures called cilia line the mucous membrane
and move the particles trapped in the mucus out of the nose.
Gaseous exchange occurs in the alveoli of the lungs, which are comprised of one-cell-layer-thick
membranes in which oxygen moves into the capillary and where carbon dioxide moves into the
alveoli from the blood in the capillary. Failure or major dysfunction of gas transfer due to disease
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Functions of Respiratory System
Gaseous exchange
Metabolism
Definition of Terms
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Apnoea: Breathing that stops briefly usually during sleep.
Hypoxia: Insufficient oxygen to maintain normal metabolic rate in the body.
Nose: The Nose is the first organ of upper respiratory system. It plays an important
function in respiration, olfaction and speech. It warms, filters and moistens inhaled air.
Sinuses: These are small air-filled spaces in the bones that are connected to the nasal
cavity.
Pharynx: This is a cone-shaped structure that subserves both the digestive and respiratory
system.
The larynx is an organ involve in respiration and protects the trachea against food
aspiration.
Trachea: This is a long tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi. It is a key part of the
Bronchi: The bronchi are two large tubes that carries air from the trachea to the
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Bronchioles: These are air passages inside the lungs that branch off like tree limbs from
the bronchi.
Alveoli: This is the site of gaseous exchange in the lungs. Oxygen is picked up by the
The lungs are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located on either side of the thorax (chest). The
lungs is divided in to left and right each of which is segmented. Each segment of the lung is
called a lobe. Farm animals generally have 6 lobes on their lungs. The left lung has 2 lobes
(Cranial and caudal lobe) while the right lung has 4 lobes (Cranial, Medial, accessory and
caudal).
Bovine Lungs
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THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OF FARM ANIMALS
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