What is the role of epiglottis and diaphragm in respiration ?
A. . Epiglottis:
- Epiglottis, a flap-like muscular valve controls movement of air and food towards their respective passages.
- The epiglottis serves as protection to our wind pipe. It stops food and liquid from going down into air way.
- Epiglottis allows air pass through the larynx and the respiratory system.
Diaphragm : - The diaphragm in the respiratory system is the dome shaped sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen.
- During inhalation the diaphragm contracts and moves in the inferior direction, thus enlarging the volume of the thoracic cavity.
- This reduces the pressure in the lungs and air enters into lungs.
- During exhalation the diaphragm relaxes and assumes its dome shape. This change increases the pressure on the lungs and squeezes the air out through the nose to the external atmosphere.