Breathing is a vital aspect that happens automatically. We don’t even give it a second thought! Generally each day, you breathe about 20,000 times. Breathing requires the respiratory system which includes the nose, voice box, throat, windpipe and finally lungs.
Introduction To The Respiratory System
To begin with the respiratory system, the air is first taken in through the nostrils or the mouth. In the nose, tiny hairs called cillia protect the nasal membrane and other parts of the respiratory tract. They filter out dust and other particles. These two orifices (the mouth and the nasal cavity) meet at the pharynx. It is part of the digestive as well as respiratory system. At the bottom, it divides into two tubes. One for food and the other for air.
The larynx is the uppermost part of the windpipe. It contains a pair of vocal chords, which makes sounds by vibrating. The windpipe (Trachea) extends downward from larynx. It lies partly in the chest cavity and in the neck. It is also lined with cilia, which prevents the foreign particles from entering into the lungs.
The Lungs and Respiratory System – What exactly they do?
Air is mixture of several gases. Out of these, oxygen is the predominant gas. It is required for energy and growth. Without it, the living cell’s in your body would die. Carbon dioxide is the spent gas produced after metabolism. The respiratory system and the lungs allow exhalation of this spent gas and inhalation of fresh oxygen in the air.
What Is Respiration?
Respiration is the exchange of oxygen from the environment, which you inhale and carbon dioxide from the body’s cell, which you exhale. It generally consists of four stages-
- Movement of air into and out of the lungs.
- Exchange of gases between the capillaries and the alveoli of the lungs.
- Transport of gases through blood flow to the peripheral capillaries in the organs and vice-versa.
- Peripheral gas exchange.
