Title: Identify the parts and functions of the respiratory system.
Course: Equine Science (18104-18) > Section: Understanding Body Systems and Internal Anatomy

Identification should include

- components of the upper respiratory tract (e.g., nostrils, nasal cavities, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, epiglottis, trachea, guttural pouches) and their functions
- components of the lower respiratory tract (e.g., lungs, bronchi, alveoli, pleura, diaphragm) and their functions
- differentiation between inspiration and expiration
- common infectious respiratory diseases in equine.

Teacher Resource:

- Overview of Respiratory Disease in Horses, Merck Manual Veterinary Manual

Process/Skill Questions:

- What purpose do the sinuses serve?
- What can happen if food passes through the epiglottis into the windpipe and lungs?
- How does the diaphragm bring air into the lungs and then expel air from the lungs?
- What role does oxygen play in breathing?
- What role does carbon dioxide play in breathing?
- What is “Heaves,” and what are the symptoms?
- What effect does ventilation have on respiratory health? Why is it unhealthy to completely close the barn when it is cold?