Biology Thoracic Cavity Vocabulary Review

Know function, structure, what it is found, and where it is found

Hard palate

* bone plate covered by moist tissue
* helps grip food during chewing
* separates the nasal and mouth cavities
* helps with vocalization (tongue pressure on palate)

Soft palate

* muscle and connective tissue
* seals nasal cavity during sucking and swallowing by elevating to block nasal portion of the pharynx from the mouth and oral port of the pharynx
* while elevated, it creates a vacuum in the oral cavity which keeps food out of the respiratory tract

Epiglottis

* flap of tissue at the back of the mouth before esophagus
* protects glottis (entrance to trachea) and trachea itself from food and liquid during swallowing
* made of elastic cartilage covered with a mucous membrane

Pharynx

* muscular walls help in the process of swallowing
* passageway for food or air travelling to either the trachea or esophagus
* connects the nasal and oral cavities from behind
* also made of epithelium

Esophagus

* muscular (skeletal and smooth) tube connecting the pharynx and the stomach
* upper esophageal sphincter is close other than swallowing
* moves things through itself using peristalsis
* can also be used during vomiting

Larynx

* voice box located at the top of the trachea where the pharynx splits into the esophagus and trachea
* helps protect the trachea against food aspiration
* contains vocal folds which allow manipulation of pitch and volume
* created pressure differences, expands and contracts, and controls tightness of vocal folds
* a cartilaginous skeleton with ligaments, muscles, and mucous membrane

Trachea

* passageway for air to travel from nasal or oral cavities to the bronchi of the lungs
* rings reinforcing cartilage (a type of connective tissue) that help it from damage and collapsing due to change in pressure
* widens and lengthens slightly with inhalation
* lower pressure during inhalation

Inferior vena cava

* extends from lower body to right atrium


* carries mixed blood from the body which has CO2 rich blood and from the umbilical vein which has O2 rich blood
* made of elastic connective tissues and endothelium

Coronary arteries and veins

* blood vessels that provide circulation to the heart
* made of elastic connective tissues and endothelium

Heart chambers and vessels

The right side of the heart has very high pressure because it usually pumps CO2 rich blood to the lungs for diffusion, but in fetuses, there is fluid in the lungs so there is high resistance causing high pressure. Some blood from the right atrium will go through the pulmonary arteries, to the lungs, back into the left atrium, and continue the regular cycle (only a small amount). Other blood can actually cross between the right and left atrium over the Foramen Ovale, and then to the left ventricle and aorta. For the mixed blood pumped to the lungs from the right ventricle, not as much as necessary for the lungs since they are filled with fluid dand have high resistance, so the ductus arteriosus is a passage that allows blood to skip a step and go straight from the pulmonary artery, to the aorta. Blood ends up in the umbilical artery.

Pericardium

* the membrane enclosing the heart
* protects it from infections
* lubricates the heart
* limits heart’s motion
* prevents excessive dilation of the heart
* made of connective, elastic tissue

Aorta

* located on the mid-right side of the pig when looking at it
* largest artery in the body
* transports mixed blood to the body where the capillaries will take O2 to the cells
* smooth, elastic muscle

Diaphragm

* contracts and expands to create a vacuum inside the chest cavity that creates pressure changes allowing inhalation and exhalation (relaxed during exhalation- goes up to draw more air in)
* made of skeletal muscle

Lungs

* place air into alveoli air sacs near capillary beds, blood picks up O2 and diffuses CO2

Ductus arteriosus

* in fetus this directs blood from the pulmonary artery into the aorta, bypassing the lungs
* carries blood away from the lungs and sends it to the rest of the body
* once born it seals and acts as a heart ligament (flexible, connective tissue)

Carotid artery

* artery located on each side of the neck
* brings O2 rich blood to the upper body to crucial structures like the brain and eyes
* made of smooth muscle tissue (endothelium)

Jugular vein

* vein located on each side of the neck and carries CO2 rich blood from head back to the heart via the superior vena cava
* made of smooth muscle tissue (endothelium)

Right atrium

* receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the right ventricle
* thin walled to receive blood from veins
* lower pressure than ventricles
* the outer epicardium, the middle myocardium, and the inner endocardium

Right ventricle

* pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs
* thick walled because it has to forcefully pump blood out of the heart
* higher pressure than atria
* endothelium and myocardium (cardiac muscle)

Left atrium

* receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle
* thin walled to receive blood from veins
* lower pressure than ventricles
* the outer epicardium, the middle myocardium, and the inner endocardium

Left ventricle

* receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the rest of the body
* strongest chamber
* higher pressure than atria
* endothelium and myocardium (cardiac muscle)

Pulmonary trunk

* transports deoxygenated blood from the heart (right ventricle) to the lungs
* known as the main pulmonary artery
* made of smooth muscle tissue (endothelium)