Comprehensive Guide to the Cat Respiratory System

The Structure of the Cat's Respiratory System

The cat's respiratory system, while primarily responsible for breathing, serves a multitude of crucial functions. These include humidifying and warming the air before it enters the body, capturing and expelling foreign particles, enhancing the sense of smell, and producing sounds such as meows and purrs. This intricate system is composed of the nasal cavity, the posterior part of the mouth (pharynx), the larynx, the trachea, the lower airways, and the lungs.

The respiratory tract is a vast, continuous network, made up of several distinct structures. It begins at the nostrils and extends through several structures in the head, continuing down to the neck and finally reaching the lungs within the chest.

1. The nose, centrally located on the face, is the gateway to the respiratory system.

2. The nasal passages, situated between the nostrils and the back of the throat, are two channels on either side of the nose. These are separated by bony plates or a nasal septum until they converge at the nasopharynx.

3. Surrounding the nasal cavity are the sinuses, airfilled spaces within the skull. The primary sinuses are located beneath and above the eyes.

4. The throat, or pharynx, is a structure situated at the back of the mouth and nose. It is the cavity behind the tongue and the passage for both food and air, directing them to deeper structures. The pharynx includes a part of the respiratory tract known as the nasopharynx, which connects the posterior part of the nasal cavity to the larynx (voice box).

5. The larynx, located behind the root of the tongue and the soft palate, sits between the pharynx and the trachea. During swallowing, the larynx covers the trachea to prevent food from entering the airway.

6. The trachea is a cylindrical tube that extends from the bottom of the larynx to the beginning of the bronchial airways in the lungs. At the end of the chest, it divides into two branches, each corresponding to a lung (left and right). In the chest, it is positioned above the heart's base, alongside and below the esophagus.

7. Once the trachea splits into two branches, these are known as bronchi. They branch out into the lung tissue, continuing to divide into smaller, hollow passages as they penetrate deeper into the lungs. The respiratory tract ultimately terminates in tiny air sacs called alveoli.

8. The chest houses two sets of lungs on either side. These lungs encircle the heart, filling most of the chest from the base of the neck to the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Pet Doctor Oxygen advises: For more information on feline respiratory diseases, you can continue reading with "Symptoms and Treatment of Cat Upper Respiratory Infections."