The respiratory system is the set of organs responsible for absorbing oxygen from the air by the body and eliminating carbon dioxide removed from the cells.
It is formed by the airways and the lungs. The organs that make up the airways are: nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi.
Organs that make up the Respiratory System
Functions of the Respiratory System
Each of the organs of the Respiratory System helps maintain balance in the body. Discover below the functions developed by the Respiratory System.
gas exchange
When we inhale atmospheric air, which contains oxygen and other chemical elements, it passes through the airways and reaches the lungs.
The exchange of carbon dioxide for oxygen takes place in the lungs. And thanks to the respiratory muscles that this organ creates forces for the air to flow. All this from stimuli and commands issued by the Central Nervous System.
acid-base balance
The acid-base balance corresponds to the removal of excess CO 2 from the organism.
In this function, we again have the performance of the Nervous System, which is responsible for sending information to the breath controllers.
See also: Human Body Systems
sound production
The production and emission of sounds is carried out by the joint action of the Nervous System and the muscles that work in breathing.
They are what allow the flow of air from the vocal cords and mouth.
pulmonary defense
When breathing, it is practically impossible to eliminate the impurities contained in the atmospheric environment. Inspiration of microorganisms becomes inevitable.
To avoid health problems, the Respiratory System has defense mechanisms, which in turn are carried out from the performance of different organs.
Find out below what the organs of the Respiratory System are and how they act in our body.
Organs of the Respiratory System
Several organs play a part in the respiratory system.
nasal cavities
The nasal cavities are two parallel canals lined with mucosa and separated by a cartilaginous septum, which begin at the nostrils and end at the pharynx.
Inside the nasal cavities, there are hairs that act as an air filter, retaining impurities and germs, ensuring that the air reaches the lungs clean.
The membrane lining the nasal cavities contains mucus-producing cells that humidify the air. She is rich in blood vessels that warm the air that enters the nose.
Pharynx
The pharynx is a tube that serves as a passage for both food and air, therefore it is part of the respiratory system and the digestive system.
Its upper end communicates with the nasal cavities and mouth, at the lower end it communicates with the larynx and esophagus. Its walls are muscular and lined with mucous.
See also: digestive system, digestive system
Larynx
The larynx is the organ that connects the pharynx to the trachea. At the top of the larynx is the epiglottis, the valve that closes during swallowing.
This is also the main organ of speech. The vocal cords are located there.
See also: Larynx
Trachea
The trachea is a tube located below the larynx and formed by fifteen to twenty cartilaginous rings that keep it open.
This organ is covered by a mucous membrane, in which the air is heated, humidified and filtered.
See also: trachea
bronchi
The trachea, bronchus, bronchioles and alveoli play important roles
The bronchi are two branches of the trachea also formed by cartilaginous rings.
Each bronchus penetrates one of the lungs and divides into several smaller branches, which are distributed throughout the organ forming the bronchioles.
The bronchi branch and subdivide several times, forming the bronchial tree.
Lungs
Details of the Bronchi, Bronchioles and Alveoli and gas exchange
The respiratory system is made up of two lungs , spongy organs located in the rib cage. They are responsible for the exchange of oxygen into carbon dioxide through respiration.
Each lung is surrounded by a double membrane called the pleura. Internally, each lung has about 200 million very small, grape-shaped, air-filled structures called lung alveoli.
Each alveolus receives branches from a bronchiole. In the alveoli, gas exchange takes place between the environment, called hematosis. All this happens thanks to the very thin membranes that cover them and house numerous very thin blood vessels, the capillaries.
Diseases of the Respiratory System
The lungs can be attacked by several diseases, which can be infectious or allergic.
Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory System
Infectious diseases are the result of inflammation in certain organs. They are caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and other parasites.
The infectious process can also be triggered by toxic substances, such as toxic cigarette smoke, which is what happens in emphysema, a chronic degenerative disease, usually triggered by smoking.
Among the most well-known infectious diseases are: flu, cold, tuberculosis, pneumonia and pulmonary emphysema.
Allergic Diseases of the Respiratory System
The respiratory system is also attacked by allergic diseases, which result from the body’s hypersensitivity to a certain agent: dust, medicines, cosmetics, pollen, etc.
As an example of allergic diseases, the following stand out: rhinitis, bronchitis and asthma.
Curiosity about the Respiratory System
No system in our body works alone. In dangerous situations, for example, the Respiratory System and the Nervous System act together.
In dangerous situations, our body reacts in different ways, one of them is accelerated breathing. This happens because the organism needs to capture more oxygen.
The sympathetic nervous system releases adrenaline and noradrenaline and, in parallel, the pituitary gland produces hormones, causing these sensations and reactions in the body.
See also: Cardiovascular system
Summary of the Respiratory System
See the mental map below for a summary of the organs of the Respiratory System.
Click on the image to print. Summary of the organs that make up the Respiratory System
Test your knowledge on the subject and check out the commented resolution in exercises on the respiratory system .
