respiratory system

• the trachea is the windpipe
• bronchial tree refers to all branches of the airways within the lung
• alveoli are tiny sacs where gas exchange occurs between blood and air
• the bronchi are tubes that branch off from the trachea into the lungs
• respiration is breathing, which includes both external (inhalation/exhalation) and internal processes (ventilation)
• the right lung has three lobes, while the left lung has two
• inhalation is when we breathe in
• the diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located at the bottom of the thoracic cavity
• exhalation is when we breathe out
• The respiratory system allows us to breathe by bringing oxygen into our bodies (inspiration) and sending carbon dioxide out (expiration)
• The respiratory system includes the nasal cavity, throat, and lungs, working together to bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide
• Oxygen is needed for energy and is obtained from the air through breathing
• Air enters the body through the nose or mouth, then moves down the windpipe into the lungs
• The diaphragm, a muscle below the lungs, helps pull air into and push air out of the body
• Air moves into the lungs through tubes called bronchi, which lead to smaller tubes called bronchioles
• At the ends of the bronchioles are tiny sacs called alveoli, where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is removed
• The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide happens through diffusion in the alveoli
• In exhalation, the diaphragm moves upward and chest wall muscles relax, pushing air out of the body through the nose or mouth
• Oxygen-rich blood flows back to the heart, which pumps it through the arteries to oxygen-hungry tissues throughout the body
• Carbon dioxide, produced by cells, moves into the blood and is carried back to the lungs to be exhaled
• Respiratory system brings oxygen into the body and helps to remove carbon dioxide
• Lungs are part of the respiratory system and sit in the chest, protected by the ribcage
• Problems with the respiratory system can reduce the oxygen reaching the lungs, making a person unwell
• Parts of the respiratory system include:

  • Nose
  • Pharynx (throat)
  • Larynx (voice box)
  • Trachea (windpipe)
  • Bronchi (airways branching from the trachea, leading to smaller bronchioles)
  • Lungs
• Breathing in is done by contracting the diaphragm, causing the chest to expand and drawing air in
• Air is breathed in and out through the nose and mouth, warmed and moistened along the way
• Air passes through the larynx containing vocal cords for talking, then through upper airways like the trachea and bronchi to reach the lungs
• In the lungs, air sits in small air sacs called alveoli, next to blood vessels. Oxygen from the air goes into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide goes from the bloodstream into the alveoli and is breathed out
• Respiratory conditions can be short term (acute) or long-lasting (chronic) and include:

  • Asthma
  • Bronchitis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Hay fever
  • Laryngitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Other lung conditions
  • Whooping cough
• Symptoms of respiratory conditions may include:

  • Runny or blocked nose
  • Sore throat
  • Breathlessness
  • Wheezing
  • Cough
  • Chest pain
  • Coughing up mucus, phlegm, or blood
• To keep the respiratory system healthy:

  • Don't smoke
  • Avoid harmful environmental factors like smoke, dust, and chemicals
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Have an active lifestyle
  • Wash hands regularly
  • Stay home when unwell
  • Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
  • Consider flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccinations, whooping cough, and pneumonia vaccinations
• When you inhale air, your diaphragm contracts and flattens out, allowing your lungs to grow larger as they fill up with air
• Your rib muscles lift the ribs up and outward to give the lungs more space
• Air is inhaled through your mouth and nose, then travels down the trachea (windpipe)
• The air goes through branches in the lungs, including the bronchi and bronchioles
• Tiny hairs called cilia move gently in the windpipe to keep mucus and dirt out of the lungs
• The air reaches the 600 million alveoli in the lungs, which allow oxygen from the air to pass into the blood
• Oxygen passes through the walls of each alveolus into tiny capillaries that surround it
• The heart sends the oxygenated blood out to all the cells in the body
• The oxygen enters the blood in the capillaries, hitching a ride on red blood cells to travel to the heart