Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
The Respiratory System
Breathing is a bodily function that healthy, normal animals usually do
not think too much about. The process is controlled automatically by
the brain and nervous system.
The respiratory system of an animal has a lower and an upper part.
The nose and throat make up the upper respiratory tract and the tra-
chea and lungs make up the lower respiratory tract. Both parts must be
functioning for a cat to breathe normally.
Animals exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide by breathing.
Oxygen is essential to maintaining life and body functions, so if an ani-
mal becomes starved of oxygen, it will die. Some of the diseases that
affect the respiratory tract of cats are life threatening, but others are
more of a nuisance and discomfort for the animal. This chapter will
introduce you to some of the most common disorders of the feline
respiratory system.
A cat's respiratory anatomy is very similar to ours. Although our
noses are shaped differently, and theirs are hairier, the functions are the
same. Air enters into the body through the nostrils (or, less often, the
mouth). Mucus and small hairs cover the lining of the nasal passages and
trap small particles and bacteria in the air.The air is warmed and mois-
turized as it passes through the nasal cavity and into the lower airways.
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