The breathing system

• It’s better to breathe out of your nose because 1) the hairs filter/trap bacteria and 2) air gets moistened and warm
• Pharynx (throat) contains epiglottis and larynx
• Epiglottis is a flap that prevents food or water entering trachea
• Larynx is your vocal cords
• Trachea is your windpipe
• Rings of cartilage surround the trachea to protect it by ensuring it doesn’t close in on itself
• The function of alveoli is gas exchange
• When you inhale; intercostal muscles and the diaphragm contracts, ribs move up and out, volume of chest increases causing pressure in lungs to decrease, air moves in
• Exhaling is the process of removing air from lungs
• Exercise increases the rate of respiration
• Carbon Dioxide determines or affects the breathing rate
• Your pulse is the alternate expansion and contraction of the arteries
• 70bpm is average resting heart rate
• Smoking, diet and exercise can affect your pulse