Respiratory SYstem
The
primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in
order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory
system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale
carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of
getting oxygen to the blood.
Respiration
is achieved through the mouth, nose, trachea, lungs, and diaphragm. Oxygen
enters the respiratory system through the mouth and the nose. The oxygen then
passes through the larynx (where speech sounds are produced) and the trachea
which is a tube that enters the chest cavity. In the chest cavity, the trachea
splits into two smaller tubes called the bronchi. Each bronchus then divides
again forming the bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes lead directly into the
lungs where they divide into many smaller tubes which connect to tiny sacs
called alveoli. The average adult's lungs contain about 600 million of these
spongy, air-filled sacs that are surrounded by capillaries. The inhaled oxygen
passes into the alveoli and then diffuses through the capillaries into the
arterial blood. Meanwhile, the waste-rich blood from the veins releases its
carbon dioxide into the alveoli. The carbon dioxide follows the same path out of
the lungs when you exhale.
The
diaphragm's job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the lungs and pull the
oxygen into the lungs. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscles that lies across the
bottom of the chest cavity. As the diaphragm contracts and relaxes, breathing
takes place. When the diaphragm contracts, oxygen is pulled into the lungs. When
the diaphragm relaxes, carbon dioxide is pumped out of the lungs.
http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/systems/respiration.html
primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in
order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory
system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale
carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of
getting oxygen to the blood.
Respiration
is achieved through the mouth, nose, trachea, lungs, and diaphragm. Oxygen
enters the respiratory system through the mouth and the nose. The oxygen then
passes through the larynx (where speech sounds are produced) and the trachea
which is a tube that enters the chest cavity. In the chest cavity, the trachea
splits into two smaller tubes called the bronchi. Each bronchus then divides
again forming the bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes lead directly into the
lungs where they divide into many smaller tubes which connect to tiny sacs
called alveoli. The average adult's lungs contain about 600 million of these
spongy, air-filled sacs that are surrounded by capillaries. The inhaled oxygen
passes into the alveoli and then diffuses through the capillaries into the
arterial blood. Meanwhile, the waste-rich blood from the veins releases its
carbon dioxide into the alveoli. The carbon dioxide follows the same path out of
the lungs when you exhale.
The
diaphragm's job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the lungs and pull the
oxygen into the lungs. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscles that lies across the
bottom of the chest cavity. As the diaphragm contracts and relaxes, breathing
takes place. When the diaphragm contracts, oxygen is pulled into the lungs. When
the diaphragm relaxes, carbon dioxide is pumped out of the lungs.
http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/systems/respiration.html