RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Oxygen


  An essential element to humans and animals alike. It supports cellular functions in every system of a species' body. It assists in the breakdown of complex molecules and allows the production of energy.
• Respiratory system


  A set of organs responsible for absorbing oxygen into the body and for discarding carbon dioxide
• Respiration


  The transportation of oxygen from the surrounding air to every cell and tissue of the human body
• Respiration occurs as long as you are breathing
• Nose and mouth


  • Air enters the body first through the nose or mouth. Normally, people breathe through the nose but do so through the mouth only when the passage in the nose is congested.
• Nasal cavity


  Dust particles that come with the air are filtered by the hair and the mucous lining of the nasal cavity. This is also where the air exits during exhalation.
• Pharynx, epiglottis and larynx

  Air proceeds in quick succession through the pharynx, epiglottis and larynx. The epiglottis prevents food from entering the lungs. The larynx contains the vocal cords and links the pharynx to the trachea.
• Trachea


  The trachea filters the air further before allowing it to enter the next passages. It is divided into two branches called bronchi.
• Bronchi and bronchioles


  The bronchial tubes have a mucous lining and tiny hairs called cilia, which also filter the air to remove the tiniest dust particles. As air travels further, it passes through the bronchioles, which are smaller branches of cartilage inside the lungs.
• Lungs


  • The biggest parts of the respiratory system. They are a pair of spongy bags in which oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases interchange. The right lung is bigger but shorter than the left, as it accommodates the liver below it. The left lung is slightly smaller than the right to give space to the heart behind it.
• Lobes and alveoli


  The lungs are divided into sections known as lobes, which hold the tiny tubes within the lungs. Inside the lobes are small spongy sacs of air called alveoli. The alveoli are located at the tip of the bronchioles within the lungs. This is where the respiratory system interacts with the circulatory system.
• Rib cage and diaphragm


  • The rib cage protects the lungs and the nearby internal organs within the chest cavity. It extends slightly outward when a person breathes so that it moves with the expansion of the lungs. The diaphragm is a curved muscle that contracts and enlarges during the process of breathing.
• Inhalation


  The alveoli and the lungs contract and expand. The rib cage and the diaphragm contract in unison, decreasing the air pressure inside the lungs compared to the pressure outside. This causes air or oxygen to rush into the respiratory system.
• Exhalation


  The lungs and the alveoli deflate. The chest cavity, rib cage, and diaphragm relax and move back to their original positions. The air pressure inside the body becomes greater than the air pressure outside, causing the air inside to flow outwards. The carbon dioxide removed from the bloodstream is then expelled by the lungs, expanding the diaphragm.