Respiratory system
What is the structure of the Respiratory System?
Many people know that the Respiratory System has an important need to supply the human body with the oxygen it needs to live every day healthily. However, like every system, the Respiratory System is in need of working with other areas of the body, such as;
Mouth and Nasal Cavity
- this has a function of warming up the air that we inhale.
Pharynx
- Back of throat area.
Larynx
- this is where the voice box is located. Larynx protects the trachea (back of throat) by ensuring no large objects can pass over the epiglottis (stops food entering the back of throat)
Trachea
- this is the windpipe which transports air in the direction of the lungs.
Bronchi
- a tube entered into each lung that has split from the trachea.
Bronchioles
- this is the even smaller parts of the bronchi that are within the lung cavity which are surrounded by alveoli sacs.
Alveoli
- known to be sacs. This is where the gas exchange of oxygen to carbon dioxide takes place. Also surrounded by capillaries from where the gas passes into.
Diaphragm
- a strong muscle that lies underneath the rib cage, making the thoracic cavity (chest area) The diaphragm is composed of the intercostal muscles which are required to produce movement within the ribcage - these muscles are known to make the thoracic cavity smaller or larger, depending on whether you are breathing in or out. There are internal and external muscles. Internal meaning muscles that are located on the inner side of the diaphragm and the external meaning muscles situated on the outer area.
Lungs
- this is where oxygen and carbon dioxide is passed into during the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm. Humans have two lungs that are not the same, the right lung has 3 lobes and the left lung has 2 lobes. Within the lungs are the pleural membrane which has an inner layer being the visceral pleura which is what is linked to the lung tissue, located within the lungs. Between this layer is the pleural fluid which is known to be a thin substance that is a lubricant to stop the layers rubbing together.
What is the function of the Respiratory System?
The respiratory system is a efficient system that provides the body with the oxygen and removal of waste products through breathing. The most important role of this system is to supply the blood with the oxygen it needs in order for it to be transported around the body to all of the cells. The respiratory system carries out transformations of inhaling the oxygen from the outside environment to all the working cells. In addition, it exhales carbon dioxide that is no longer needed to the body. The gas exchange takes place within the body and has a certain path to follow, continuously.
Firstly, when we inhale oxygen from the environment the oxygen is then entered into the body via the mouth and nasal cavity. After this, the oxygen travels past the pharynx which is known to be the back of the throat area. The oxygen flows through where our voice is producted which is known to be the larynx. After this the air we have taken in passes over the door named the epiglottis which has a function to protect the trachea by closing the entrance off when food is consumed. After passing through the epiglottis we then transfer through the trachea which is a long tube that is the entrance to the two lungs we have in the human body. Now being at the thoracic cavity, the trachea splits off into bronchi which are then branched off into bronchial tubes that enter the lungs. Now being at the lungs, the Bronchioles being millions of tubes entering the lungs have sacs at each end known to be the alveoli, which is known to be the gaseous exchange. Alveoli is surrounded by the capillaries which is how the oxygen is diffused into, and where carbon dioxide is then flowed into. This process occurs when we gasp for a breath and breath out, known to be called respiration.
Mechanism of Breathing
Inspiration - this is the process of when the diaphragm contracts, gets smaller and tightens up. Inspiration is the process in order to receive more oxygen that is then transported to the alveoli via the path shown above, in blue. Inspiration occurs when the body is in need a oxygen around the body in order for it to endure and stay healthy. Without oxygen the body would be unable to function as the muscles would not be receiving the amount that it needs. The faster your body works the more oxygen that is needed for around the body in order for it to carry on. If we need oxygen to stay live, so do our muscles in order to continue also.
Expiration - this is when carbon dioxide is released from the body via the lungs having exchanged in the alveoli for oxygen. Expiration occurs when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax and move in a downward motion. In this action the lungs get smaller, so that the air is able to feel pressured and push out from the lungs... this is when we breath out. The body is ensured to remove waste products from the body so that the muscles and systems are functioning properly in order to carry on in activities, such as sport. Our muscles would constantly feel tired as the excess build up of lactic acid in our muscles would cause involvements in cramps as this is due to the muscles not receiving enough oxygen.
Look at it like this; respiration is the process of oxygen entering the body and carbon dioxide leaving the body through exhaled breathing. If someone is struggling to breath/has stopped breathing this is a result of no oxygen getting to the body, resulting in the heart not being able to function properly. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is a process in order to transport oxygen from one human into another. The healthy person is enabled to gasp oxygen from the air, and exhale from their mouth into the person who is unable to breath. This will allow a person to ensure they have oxygen, with the pumping of the heart (CPR) to get the blood pumping around, whilst carrying the oxygen also.
What is the thoriac cavity? This is the chest cavity. It is surrounded by the ribs in between the diaphragm and the neck area. The thoriac cavity also contains the lungs and the heart. The diaphragm allows respiration to take place by expanding and relaxing.
What is the visceral pleura? This is known to be the inner membrane that surrounds the lungs on the inside. This enables the lungs not to be in contact with each other and allows one to continue working using the membranes even if the other lung fails to work. Within the membrane consist of pleural fluid.
What is the pleural fluid? This is a fluid produced within the visceral pleura to lubricate the area. This will reduce friction when respiration takes place as when breaking the diaphragm is contracting and relaxing against each other. The pleural fluid allows the layers from the visceral pleura to rub against each other, easily, during respiration.
FACT: One the lungs deflate or the lungs happen to shut down, the body would die after about 1 and a half minutes!
Many people know that the Respiratory System has an important need to supply the human body with the oxygen it needs to live every day healthily. However, like every system, the Respiratory System is in need of working with other areas of the body, such as;
Mouth and Nasal Cavity
- this has a function of warming up the air that we inhale.
Pharynx
- Back of throat area.
Larynx
- this is where the voice box is located. Larynx protects the trachea (back of throat) by ensuring no large objects can pass over the epiglottis (stops food entering the back of throat)
Trachea
- this is the windpipe which transports air in the direction of the lungs.
Bronchi
- a tube entered into each lung that has split from the trachea.
Bronchioles
- this is the even smaller parts of the bronchi that are within the lung cavity which are surrounded by alveoli sacs.
Alveoli
- known to be sacs. This is where the gas exchange of oxygen to carbon dioxide takes place. Also surrounded by capillaries from where the gas passes into.
Diaphragm
- a strong muscle that lies underneath the rib cage, making the thoracic cavity (chest area) The diaphragm is composed of the intercostal muscles which are required to produce movement within the ribcage - these muscles are known to make the thoracic cavity smaller or larger, depending on whether you are breathing in or out. There are internal and external muscles. Internal meaning muscles that are located on the inner side of the diaphragm and the external meaning muscles situated on the outer area.
Lungs
- this is where oxygen and carbon dioxide is passed into during the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm. Humans have two lungs that are not the same, the right lung has 3 lobes and the left lung has 2 lobes. Within the lungs are the pleural membrane which has an inner layer being the visceral pleura which is what is linked to the lung tissue, located within the lungs. Between this layer is the pleural fluid which is known to be a thin substance that is a lubricant to stop the layers rubbing together.
What is the function of the Respiratory System?
The respiratory system is a efficient system that provides the body with the oxygen and removal of waste products through breathing. The most important role of this system is to supply the blood with the oxygen it needs in order for it to be transported around the body to all of the cells. The respiratory system carries out transformations of inhaling the oxygen from the outside environment to all the working cells. In addition, it exhales carbon dioxide that is no longer needed to the body. The gas exchange takes place within the body and has a certain path to follow, continuously.
Firstly, when we inhale oxygen from the environment the oxygen is then entered into the body via the mouth and nasal cavity. After this, the oxygen travels past the pharynx which is known to be the back of the throat area. The oxygen flows through where our voice is producted which is known to be the larynx. After this the air we have taken in passes over the door named the epiglottis which has a function to protect the trachea by closing the entrance off when food is consumed. After passing through the epiglottis we then transfer through the trachea which is a long tube that is the entrance to the two lungs we have in the human body. Now being at the thoracic cavity, the trachea splits off into bronchi which are then branched off into bronchial tubes that enter the lungs. Now being at the lungs, the Bronchioles being millions of tubes entering the lungs have sacs at each end known to be the alveoli, which is known to be the gaseous exchange. Alveoli is surrounded by the capillaries which is how the oxygen is diffused into, and where carbon dioxide is then flowed into. This process occurs when we gasp for a breath and breath out, known to be called respiration.
Mechanism of Breathing
Inspiration - this is the process of when the diaphragm contracts, gets smaller and tightens up. Inspiration is the process in order to receive more oxygen that is then transported to the alveoli via the path shown above, in blue. Inspiration occurs when the body is in need a oxygen around the body in order for it to endure and stay healthy. Without oxygen the body would be unable to function as the muscles would not be receiving the amount that it needs. The faster your body works the more oxygen that is needed for around the body in order for it to carry on. If we need oxygen to stay live, so do our muscles in order to continue also.
Expiration - this is when carbon dioxide is released from the body via the lungs having exchanged in the alveoli for oxygen. Expiration occurs when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax and move in a downward motion. In this action the lungs get smaller, so that the air is able to feel pressured and push out from the lungs... this is when we breath out. The body is ensured to remove waste products from the body so that the muscles and systems are functioning properly in order to carry on in activities, such as sport. Our muscles would constantly feel tired as the excess build up of lactic acid in our muscles would cause involvements in cramps as this is due to the muscles not receiving enough oxygen.
Look at it like this; respiration is the process of oxygen entering the body and carbon dioxide leaving the body through exhaled breathing. If someone is struggling to breath/has stopped breathing this is a result of no oxygen getting to the body, resulting in the heart not being able to function properly. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is a process in order to transport oxygen from one human into another. The healthy person is enabled to gasp oxygen from the air, and exhale from their mouth into the person who is unable to breath. This will allow a person to ensure they have oxygen, with the pumping of the heart (CPR) to get the blood pumping around, whilst carrying the oxygen also.
What is the thoriac cavity? This is the chest cavity. It is surrounded by the ribs in between the diaphragm and the neck area. The thoriac cavity also contains the lungs and the heart. The diaphragm allows respiration to take place by expanding and relaxing.
What is the visceral pleura? This is known to be the inner membrane that surrounds the lungs on the inside. This enables the lungs not to be in contact with each other and allows one to continue working using the membranes even if the other lung fails to work. Within the membrane consist of pleural fluid.
What is the pleural fluid? This is a fluid produced within the visceral pleura to lubricate the area. This will reduce friction when respiration takes place as when breaking the diaphragm is contracting and relaxing against each other. The pleural fluid allows the layers from the visceral pleura to rub against each other, easily, during respiration.
FACT: One the lungs deflate or the lungs happen to shut down, the body would die after about 1 and a half minutes!