The human respiratory system is a series of organs responsible for taking in oxygen and

expelling carbon dioxide. The primary organs of the respiratory system are lungs, which carry out
this exchange of gases as we breathe.
-Red blood cells collect the oxygen from the lungs and carry it to the parts of the body where it is
needed,
--The human body needs oxygen to sustain itself. A decrease in oxygen is known as hypoxia and
a complete lack of oxygen is known as anoxia
-These conditions can be fatal; after about four minutes without oxygen, brain cells begin dying,
according to NYU Langone Medical Center, which can lead to brain damage and ultimately death.
-The respiratory system also helps the body maintain homeostasis, or balance among the
many elements of the bodys internal environment.
Parts of the respiratory system
-As we breathe, oxygen enters the nose or mouth and passes the sinuses, which are hollow
spaces in the skull. Sinuses help regulate the temperature and humidity of the air we breathe.
Blood passes through the capillaries. The pulmonary artery carries blood containing carbon
dioxide to the air sacs, where the gas moves from the blood to the air, according to the NHLBI.
Oxygenated blood goes to the heart through the pulmonary vein, and the heart pumps it
throughout the body.
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The respiratory system is divided into two main components:
Upper respiratory tract: Composed of the nose, the pharynx, and the larynx, the organs of the
upper respiratory tract are located outside the chest cavity.
Mouth, nose & nasal cavity: The function of this part of the system is to warm, filter and
moisten the incoming air
Nasal cavity: Inside the nose, the sticky mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity traps dust
particles, and tiny hairs called cilia help move them to the nose to be sneezed or blown out.
Sinuses: These air-filled spaces along side the nose help make the skull lighter.
Pharynx: Both food and air pass through the pharynx before reaching their appropriate
destinations. The pharynx also plays a role in speech. Pharynx: Here the throat divides into the
trachea (wind pipe) and oesophagus (food pipe). There is also a small flap of cartilage called the
epiglottis which prevents food from entering the trachea
Larynx: The larynx is essential to human speech. Larynx: This is also known as the voice box
as it is where sound is generated. It also helps protect the trachea by producing a strong cough
reflex if any solid objects pass the epiglottis.

Lower respiratory tract: Composed of the trachea, the lungs, and all segments of the
bronchial tree (including the alveoli), the organs of the lower respiratory tract are located inside
the chest cavity.

Trachea: Located just below the larynx, the trachea is the main airway to the lungs. Trachea:
Also known as the windpipe this is the tube which carries air from the throat into the lungs. It
ranges from 20-25mm in diameter and 10-16cm in length. The inner membrane of the trachea is
covered in tiny hairs called cilia, which catch particles of dust which we can then remove through
coughing. The trachea is surrounded by 15-20 C-shaped rings of cartilage at the front and side
which help protect the trachea and keep it open. They are not complete circles due to the
position of the oesophagus immediately behind the trachea and the need for the trachea to
partially collapse to allow the expansion of the oesophagus when swallowing large pieces of food.
The trachea, also called the windpipe, filters the air that is inhaled, according to the American
Lung Association. It branches into the bronchi, which are two tubes that carry air into each lung.
The bronchial tubes are lined with tiny hairs called cilia. Cilia move back and forth, carrying
mucus up and out. Mucus, a sticky fluid, collects dust, germs and other matter that has invaded
the lungs. We expel mucus when we sneeze, cough, spit or swallow.
Lungs: Together the lungs form one of the bodys largest organs. Theyre responsible for
providing oxygen to capillaries and exhaling carbon dioxide.
Bronchi: The bronchi branch from the trachea into each lung and create the network of
intricate passages that supply the lungs with air.
Bronchi: The trachea divides into two tubes
called bronchi, one entering the left and one entering the right lung. The left bronchi is narrower,
longer and more horizontal than the right. Irregular rings of cartilage surround the bronchi,
whose walls also consist of smooth muscle. Once inside the lung the bronchi split several ways,
forming tertiary bronchi
The bronchial tubes lead to the lobes of the lungs. The right lung has three lobes; the left lung
has two, according to the American Lung Association. The left lung is smaller to allow room for
the heart, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Lobes are filled with
small, spongy sacs called alveoli, and this is where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
occurs.
Diaphragm: The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle that contracts and relaxes to
allow air into the lungs.The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the lungs,
controls breathing and separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity, the American Lung
Association noted. When a breath it taken, it flattens out and pulls forward, making more space
for the lungs. During exhalation, the diaphragm expands and forces air out

Parts of the Upper Respiratory Tract

parts of the Lower Respiratory Tract

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Bronchioles: Tertiary bronchi continue to divide and become bronchioles, very narrow tubes,
less than 1 millimeter in diameter. There is no cartilage within the bronchioles and they lead to
alveolar sacs.
Alveoli: Individual hollow cavities contained within alveolar sacs (or ducts). Alveoli have very
thin walls which permit the exchange of gases Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide. They are surrounded
by a network of capillaries, into which the inspired gases pass. There are approximately 3 million
alveoli within an average adult lung.
3.The alveolar walls are extremely thin (about 0.2 micrometers). These walls are composed of a
single layer of tissues called epithelial cells and tiny blood vessels called pulmonary capillaries.
Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a broad band of muscle which sits underneath the lungs,
attaching to the lower ribs, sternum and lumbar spine and forming the base of the thoracic
cavity.

Lung Diseases Affecting the Airways

The trachea (windpipe) branches into tubes called bronchi, which in turn branch to become
progressively smaller tubes throughout the lungs. Diseases that affect the airways include:

Asthma: The airways are persistently inflamed, and may occasionally spasm, causing
wheezing and shortness of breath. Allergies, infections, or pollution can trigger asthma's
symptoms.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Lung conditions defined by an inability to
exhale normally, which causes difficulty breathing.
Chronic bronchitis: A form of COPD characterized by a chronic productive cough.
Emphysema: Lung damage allows air to be trapped in the lungs in this form of COPD.
Difficulty blowing air out is its hallmark.
Acute bronchitis: A sudden infection of the airways, usually by a virus.
Cystic fibrosis: A genetic condition causing poor clearance of mucus from the bronchi. The
accumulated mucus results in repeated lung infections.

Lung Diseases Affecting the Air Sacs (Alveoli)

The airways eventually branch into tiny tubes (bronchioles) that dead-end into clusters of air
sacs called alveoli. These air sacs make up most of the lung tissue. Lung diseases affecting the
alveoli include:

Pneumonia: An infection of the alveoli, usually by bacteria.

Tuberculosis: A slowly progressive pneumonia caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium
tuberculosis.
Emphysema results from damage to the fragile connections between alveoli. Smoking is the
usual cause. (Emphysema also limits airflow, affecting the airways as well.)
Pulmonary edema: Fluid leaks out of the small blood vessels of the lung into the air sacs and
the surrounding area. One form is caused by heart failure and back pressure in the lungs' blood
vessels; in another form, direct injury to the lung causes the leak of fluid.
Lung cancer has many forms, and may develop in any part of the lungs. Most often this is in
the main part of the lung, in or near the air sacs. The type, location, and spread of lung cancer
determines the treatment options.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Severe, sudden injury to the lungs caused
by a serious illness. Life support with mechanical ventilation is usually needed to survive until the
lungs recover.
Pneumoconiosis: A category of conditions caused by the inhalation of a substance that
injures the lungs. Examples include black lung disease from inhaled coal dust and asbestosis
from inhaled asbestos dust.

Respiratory System Diseases

Pneumoconiosis - literally, an abnormal condition of dust in the lungs. A generic name for
conditions where toxic particles become trapped in the lungs and cause symptoms and disability
such a black lung or miners lung disease. Terms specific to the particulate matter may be
given such as asbestosis.
Cystic fibrosis - an inheritable disease that affects not only the lungs but other systems
producing mucous such as the digestive system. Patients suffer frequent lung infections that are
hard to treat because mucous is thick and sluggish and result in increased scarring (fibrosis) of
the lungs. They also take multiple enzyme pills because of digestive abnormalities related to
abnormal mucous production.
Emphysema (COPD) - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, of which emphysema is one of,
results in progressive destruction of the air sacs in the lungs and loss of respiratory membrane
for oxygen exchange.
Atelectasis - a collapsed lung. Literally, an imperfect expansion in Greek.