What is respiration v Respiration often means inhaling

What is respiration? v Respiration often means inhaling and exhaling or the process of breathing. v Respiration includes the process of taking in oxygen to oxidize food. This is called oxidation. In oxidation, energy is produced while carbon dioxide and water are released as by-products. v Respiration is the exchange of gases --- oxygen and carbon dioxide.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Main Parts of the Respiratory System • Nose • Pharynx • Larynx • Trachea • Lungs

NOSE • The nose has two openings called nostrils. • The air enters the nasal passages through it. • The air that you breathe must be cleaned, warmed and moistened before it reaches your lungs.

NOSE DETAILS • The hairs in your nostrils filter the larger particles of dust and dirt as air enters the nostrils. • The tiny hairs lining your nasal passage are called cilia and it works with a moist tissue lining called mucous membrane.

Function of cilia and mucous membrane • The cilia filter the smaller particles of dust and dirt. • The moist mucous membrane helps in catching particles of dirt. • The mucous membrane also warms and moistens the incoming air.

PHARYNX • The pharynx is found at the back of your throat. • The pharynx separates into two tubes namely the esophagus and the trachea. • The trachea is a long tube that leads to your lungs. • At the bottom of your pharynx is a flap of cartilage called epiglottis.

Role of Epiglottis • The epiglottis opens and closes the trachea. • It prevents the food from going to the trachea by closing it during swallowing. This explains why you cannot breathe while swallowing something. • Most of the time, it is open to allow the flow of air in the breathing process.

LARYNX • The larynx is found at the lower end of the pharynx. • It is the enlarged upper portion of the trachea. • It is also called the VOICE BOX.

Sound Production • The larynx contains the vocal cords that vibrate when air passes through them. • The vibration of the vocal cords, together with the movements of the mouth and tongue produces the sound of your voice.

TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE • The trachea is a tube about 13 cm long. • It is the tube leading to your lungs. • The lower end of the trachea branches into two large tubes called bronchi. • It is a tough, flexible passageway where air can move through all the time. • When you move your head and neck, the trachea twists and stretches.

Cilia lining • The trachea lies just in front of the esophagus at the lower part of the larynx. • The inner wall of the trachea is lined with cilia. • The cilia are again always in motion to prevent the dust particles and dirt from entering the lungs. • It catches the particles that reach the windpipe.

Coughing and Sneezing • The dust particles caught by the cilia are pushed out and up toward the throat and mouth for expulsion. • This explains why we cough or sneeze when dirt gets into the upper respiratory tract.

LUNGS • The lungs are the main organs for breathing. • The left bronchus leads to the left lung while the right bronchus leads to the right lung. • Each bronchus divides into smaller tubes called bronchial rami. • These bronchial rami branches into smaller tubes called bronchial tubes or bronchioles. • At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air sacs called alveoli.

Breathing Tree • The bronchioles and alveoli look like the branches of a tree. • The biggest branch is the bronchi. • Bronchi are also covered with cilia and a thin film of mucus. • The mucus traps dust and pollen before they reach the alveoli.

Lung Details • Each lung contains about 300 million alveoli! • Each alveolus is surrounded by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. • The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during the breathing process takes place in the capillaries of each alveolus.

THE PATH OF AIR INSIDE THE BODY

Breathing In • Breathing in is called INHALING or INSPIRATION. • When you inhale, you fill your lungs with air.

Breathing Out • Breathing out is called EXHALING or EXPIRATION. • When you exhale, you push air with more carbon dioxide out of the lungs.

Breathing Process • Breathing is an involuntary process because we do not think about it when we do it. • Breathing is important to keep us alive.

Breathing Body Parts • The lungs are important and delicate organs. They are protected by a set of bones called rib cage. • The rib cage forms the chest cavity where the lungs are found. • There is a sheet of muscles at the lower part of the chest cavity called the diaphragm. • The diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen.

Breathing In Movements • The rib cage and the diaphragm are important in the breathing process. • When you inhale, the ribs move upward and outward while the diaphragm moves downward. • The volume of the chest cavity becomes larger. • The pressure inside it is lower than the air pressure outside your body. • Air is drawn into the lungs by the atmospheric pressure outside the body.

Breathing Out Movements • When you exhale, the ribs move downward and inward while the diaphragm moves upward. • These actions make the chest cavity smaller. • The pressure in the chest cavity becomes greater than the air outside the body. • This causes the air to rush out of the lungs and out of the body.

Looking Back • The respiratory system supplies the body with the oxygen it needs and relieves it of carbon dioxide during the process of RESPIRATION. • The main parts of the respiratory system are the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea and lungs.

Looking Back • Breathing in is called inhaling and breathing out is called exhaling. • The rib cage forms the chest cavity where the lungs are found. • The diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen. • The rib cage and the diaphragm are important in the breathing process.

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