Respiratory System

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THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION
Day-in and Day-out, with out the prompt of conscious thought, the respiratory system carries out its life-sustaining activities. If the respiratory system’s responsibilities are interrupted for more than a few minutes, serious, permanent damage to tissues occurs, Followed by the break down of all the body’s systems in the human body. While the intake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide are the primary functions of the respiratory system, it plays other important roles in the body. It protects the body against disease-causing organisms and contaminated substance inhaled with air. The respiratory system also houses the cells that detect smell, and assists in the production of sounds for speech.
The Respiratory and Circulatory systems work together to deliver oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide in a two-phase process called respiration. The first phase
Of respiration begins with breathing in, or inhalation. Inhalation brings air from outside the body into the lungs. Oxygen in the air moves from the lungs through blood vessels to the heart, which pumps the oxygen-rich blood to all the parts of the body. Oxygen then moves from the bloodstream into cells, which completes the first phase of respiration. The second phase of respiration begins with the movement of carbon dioxide from the cells to the bloodstream. The bloodstream carries carbon dioxide to the heart, which pumps the carbon dioxide-laden blood to the lungs. In the lungs, breathing out, or exhalation, removes carbon dioxide from the body, therefore completing the respiratory cycle. (Frank Ford Hospitals)
The Organs of the respiratory system extend from the nose to the lungs and are divided into the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The upper respiratory tract consists of the nose, and the throat. The lower respiratory tract includes the voice box; the trachea or windpipe, which splits into two main braches called bron...