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• Respiratory System is made up of different organs that work together in the process of respiration.
• All parts of the Respiratory system helps in the process of respiration.
Other Parts:
1. Pharynx
2. Larynx
3. Alveoli
The Nose
The nose has two openings called nostrils. The air enters the nasal passages through the
nostrils.
The air that you breathe may not be fit to enter the lungs. It must be cleaned, warmed,
and moistened before it reaches the lungs. The hairs in your nostrils filter the larger particles of
dust and dirt as air enters the nostrils. The nasal passages are lined with tiny hairs
called cilia and a moist tissue lining called mucous membrane.
• The cilia filter the smaller particles of dust and dirt.
• The moist mucous membrane also catches particles of dirt. It also warms and moistens the incoming air.
• The tiny blood vessel inside the nose also warm and moisten the passing air.
The Pharynx
The clean, warm, and moist air travels from the nasal passages to the pharynx.
The pharynx is found at the back of the throat. The pharynx seperates into two tubes:
• Esophagus – leading to the stomach.
• Trachea – leading to the lungs.
• At the bottom of the pharynx is a flap of cartilage called the epiglottis.
The epiglottis opens and closes the trachea. It prevents the food from going to
the trachea by closing it during swallowing. Most ofthe time, the epiglottis is open to
allow the flow of air in the breathing process.
The Larynx
The trachea, or windpipe, is a tube about 13 centimeters long. It is the tube leading to the
lungs. It is a tough, flexible passageway that air can move through all the time. The trachea lies
just in front of the esophagus at the lower part of the larynx.
Like the nasal passages, the inner wall of the trachea is lined with cilia. The cilia catch
the dust particles that reach the windpipe. The dust particles are then pushed out and up toward
the throat and mouth for expulsion. This explains why one coughs or sneezes when dirt gets into
the upper respiratory tract. The lower end of the trachea branches into two large tubes called
the bronchi.
The 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.
Inside the lungs, each bronchus divides into smaller tubes called bronchial rami. The
bronchial rami branches off further into smaller tubes called bronchial tubes or bronchioles. At
the ends of these bronchioles are the tiny air sacs calledalveoli.
The bronchioles and alveoli look like the branches of a tree. The biggest branches are
the bronchi. Bronchi are covered by cilia and a thin film of mucus. Dust and pollen are trapped
by the mucus before they reach the alveoli.
Each of the lungs 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.