Respiratory System

• Respiratory system


  The network of organs and tissues involved in the exchange of gases between the body and the environment. Its primary function is to supply oxygen to the body's cells while removing carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism.
• Respiratory system


  • Provides oxygen to the blood
  • Excretes waste gases such as carbon dioxide
  • Creates noise via the voice box (in most animals) or the syrinx (in birds)
• Inhalation


  Muscles of the diaphragm contract causing the thoracic cavity to enlarge and a vacuum to be created. The lungs to expand and air is drawn into them.
• Exhalation


  The diaphragm muscles relax, causing contraction of the chest muscles, which decreases the thoracic cavity size, resulting in the retraction of alveolar elastic fibers.
• Breathing rates of animals are controlled by nerve cells in a portion of the brain called the medulla oblongata.
• The rate at which the brain stimulates breathing is affected by the carbon dioxide content of the blood, body temperature, and messages from other parts of the brain.