What term refers to the passages that serve only for airflow from nostrils to bronchioles?

The term that refers to the passages serving solely for airflow from the nostrils to the bronchioles is the conducting division. This division of the respiratory system includes all the structures involved in transporting air to the sites of gas exchange but does not participate in the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The structures involved in the conducting division include the nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, which serve to warm, humidify, and filter the air as it moves through them.

The key distinction of the conducting division is that it is solely responsible for directing airflow, while the respiratory division specifically includes the structures where gas exchange occurs, such as the alveoli. Understanding this distinction is crucial for grasping how the respiratory system is organized and functions to support respiration.