Answer
Statement 1 is **true**, not false. Cutting the phrenic nerves would indeed paralyze the prime mover of respiration, which is the diaphragm. I'll assess the other statements:
2. The trachea is part of the digestive system.
- **False**: The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is not part of the digestive system; it is part of the respiratory system. It serves to transport air to and from the lungs.
3. Alveoli are responsible for producing mucus.
- **False**: Alveoli are small air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange, not for producing mucus. Mucus production is primarily the function of goblet cells and mucous glands in the respiratory tract.
4. The pleura is a type of lung tissue.
- **False**: The pleura is not lung tissue. It is a thin, double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest cavity. Its primary function is to create a lubricated space for the lungs to expand and contract during breathing.
5. The epiglottis covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent food from entering it.
- **True**: This statement is true. The epiglottis is a flap-like structure located in the throat that covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent food and liquids from entering the airway.
6. The primary function of the larynx is gas exchange.
- **False**: The primary function of the larynx is not gas exchange but rather sound production and protecting the lower airway. It houses the vocal cords, allowing for speech production, and it contains the epiglottis to protect the trachea during swallowing.
7. The bronchi are responsible for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs.
- **False**: While the bronchi are part of the respiratory system and serve as air passages to and from the lungs, they do not directly participate in gas exchange. Gas exchange primarily occurs in the alveoli, which are smaller structures within the lungs.
8. The medulla oblongata controls basic respiratory rhythm.
- **True**: This statement is true. The medulla oblongata, located in the brainstem, plays a vital role in controlling the basic respiratory rhythm, including the rate and depth of breathing.
Work Step by Step
Statement 1 is **true**, not false. Cutting the phrenic nerves would indeed paralyze the prime mover of respiration, which is the diaphragm. I'll assess the other statements:
2. The trachea is part of the digestive system.
- **False**: The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is not part of the digestive system; it is part of the respiratory system. It serves to transport air to and from the lungs.
3. Alveoli are responsible for producing mucus.
- **False**: Alveoli are small air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange, not for producing mucus. Mucus production is primarily the function of goblet cells and mucous glands in the respiratory tract.
4. The pleura is a type of lung tissue.
- **False**: The pleura is not lung tissue. It is a thin, double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest cavity. Its primary function is to create a lubricated space for the lungs to expand and contract during breathing.
5. The epiglottis covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent food from entering it.
- **True**: This statement is true. The epiglottis is a flap-like structure located in the throat that covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent food and liquids from entering the airway.
6. The primary function of the larynx is gas exchange.
- **False**: The primary function of the larynx is not gas exchange but rather sound production and protecting the lower airway. It houses the vocal cords, allowing for speech production, and it contains the epiglottis to protect the trachea during swallowing.
7. The bronchi are responsible for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs.
- **False**: While the bronchi are part of the respiratory system and serve as air passages to and from the lungs, they do not directly participate in gas exchange. Gas exchange primarily occurs in the alveoli, which are smaller structures within the lungs.
8. The medulla oblongata controls basic respiratory rhythm.
- **True**: This statement is true. The medulla oblongata, located in the brainstem, plays a vital role in controlling the basic respiratory rhythm, including the rate and depth of breathing.
