Why do you

breathe?
Why is oxygen essential to life?
WHY DO WE NEED OXYGEN?
Oxygen is an integral part of the atmosphere; it
is an essential element to support life. Oxygen
plays a vital role in carrying out metabolic
functions of cells, enabling us to survive.
 WHEN WE BREATHE
Air enters the body through a process called
breathing. Breathing is defined as the act of
drawing air into (inhalation) and eliminating air
out (exhalation) of the lungs.
 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The respiratory system

is responsible for the
exchange of oxygen and
carbon dioxide.
 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Functions:
Works closely with circulatory
system, exchanging gases between air
and blood:
• Takes up oxygen from air and
supplies it to blood (for cellular
respiration).
• Removal and disposal of carbon
dioxide from blood (waste
product from cellular
respiration).
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Organs of Respiratory System
• Nose
• Pharynx
• Larynx
• Trachea
• Bronchi
• Bronchioles
• Alveoli
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Upper Respiratory System

Lower Respiratory System
UPPER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
1. Nose (Nasal Cavity)
Air enters nostrils, is
filtered by hairs, warmed,
moistened, and sampled
for odors as it flows
through a maze of nasal
passages.
UPPER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
2. Pharynx (Throat)
Intersection where
pathway for air and food
cross. Most of the time,
the pathway for air is
open, except when we
swallow.
UPPER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
3. Larynx (Voice Box)
Reinforced with cartilage. Contains
vocal cords, which allow us to make
sounds by voluntarily tensing
muscles.
• High pitched sounds: Vocal cords
are tense, vibrate fast.
• Low pitched sounds: Vocal cords
are relaxed, vibrate slowly.
• More prominent in males
(Adam’s apple).
LOWER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

4. Trachea (Windpipe)
Rings of cartilage maintain
shape of trachea, to prevent
it from closing. Forks into
two bronchi.
LOWER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

5. Bronchi (Singular:
Bronchus)
Each bronchus leads into a lung
and branches into smaller and
smaller bronchioles,
resembling an inverted tree.
LOWER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
6. Bronchioles
Fine tubes that allow
passage of air. Epithelium
of bronchioles is covered
with cilia and mucus to
trap and remove dust and
other particles.
LOWER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

7. Alveoli
Air sacs at the end of
bronchioles where
gas exchange takes
place.
HOW DO LUNGS WORK?
BREATHING
• Lungs are sealed in pleural
membranes inside the chest
cavity.
• At the bottom of the cavity
is a large, flat muscle known
as the diaphragm.
HOW DO LUNGS WORK?
• During inhalation, the diaphragm
contracts and the rib cage rises up.
• This expands the volume of the chest
cavity.
• The chest cavity is sealed, so this
creates a partial vacuum inside the
cavity.
• Atmospheric pressure fills the lungs
as air rushes into the breathing
passages.
HOW DO LUNGS WORK?
• Often exhaling is a passive
event.
• When the rib cage lowers and
the diaphragm relaxes,
pressure in the chest cavity is
greater than atmospheric
pressure.
• Air is pushed out of the lungs.
 PHYSIOLOGY OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The breathing mechanism allows the transport

oxygen into the bloodstream so that the gas can
be distributed to all the cells of the body, where
food molecules are broken down
to produce energy.
 Let’s
check!