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What is the role of cartilage in the upper airways? Help?!

What is the role of cartilage in the upper airways?
Original post by Me123456789
What is the role of cartilage in the upper airways?


To prevent the trachea from collapsing
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lornc
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Original post by Me123456789
What is the role of cartilage in the upper airways?


Thhere are rings of cartilage in the trachea to keep it upright? Idk if I'm wrong
To keep the airways open otherwise air wouldn't pass in and out and O2 would not be gained and CO2 would not be lost.
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DannyG1
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to prevent the collapse of the airways when they are under pressure
Original post by Me123456789
What is the role of cartilage in the upper airways?


And don't forget the cartilage isn't ring shaped but C-shaped. This allows the oesophagus (gullet) space to expand when you are swallowing food. If the cartilage went all the way round the trachea, swallowing would be much harder. The C-shaped cartilage prevents the trachea collapsing during the significant pressure changes that occur in ventilation.

This also means it is impossible to empty your lungs of all the air, as you can't squeeze these tubes anymore. This is called the residual volume.
Original post by Me123456789
What is the role of cartilage in the upper airways?


To prevent the trachea from collapsing, as a result prevents suffocation.

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