Respiratory System
Below is a presentation on the functions, organs, tissues, cells, diseases, and organization of the respiratory, as well as in depth research on the system.
1. How does the organ system work?
The respiratory system works through a series of passageways for air and various cells, hairs, tissues and organs (see how is it organized?) Air travels from the nose and mouth to the pharynx and trachea (the larynx at the top of the trachea allows you to speak, sing, scream, etc…). From the larynx, air proceeds to the bronchi. Each bronchus leads down to the lungs. Air continues from the bronchi to bronchioles. The bronchioles continue to divide until they reach the alveoli.
Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli. Oxygen dissolves in the in the inner surface of the alveoli and diffuses into the capillaries which then carries the oxygen throughout the body. The lungs remove about one third of the oxygen inhaled, and release about 15% O2 and 4% CO2.
Breathing is controlled both voluntarily and involuntarily (in fact you’re probably aware of your breathing now). The nervous system controls breathing while you are otherwise preoccupied. The medulla oblongata in the brain is the main commander of involuntary breathing. Nerves from the MO to the diaphragm and chest produce the contraction cycles. The MO cycles breathing through the nerves connecting it to the cells. When the CO2 level in the cells reaches a high enough level, nerve impulses cause the diaphragm to contract.
2. What does it do?
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. The respiratory passageways allow air to pass directly into some of the most delicate tissues in the body. The respiratory system also helps the body maintain homeostasis, or balance among the many elements of the body’s internal environment. Breathing is one of the main jobs of this system. Breathing occurs when there is movement of air into and out of the lungs. When you breathe in or exhale the diaphragm contracts and expands the volume of the chest cavity.
3. What types of cells and tissues are part of this system?
Red blood cells play an important part of the respiratory system because they collect and carry oxygen to the places in the body that need it. Without oxygen, brain cells will start dying and it can lead to death eventually.
4. How is it organized?
This system is organized with different organs, cells, and hairs. At the top of the system are the nose and mouth air passageways. As the system progresses downward, there is the pharynx(throat) and trachea. At the top of the trachea is the larynx which contains the vocal cords. The trachea is covered by the epiglottis while swallowing. To keep the lungs clean, the respiratory passageways are covered by small hairs called cilia and a thin layer of mucus. From the larynx, there are the bronchi-two large airways that lead to the lungs. The bronchi break into smaller bronchi, and then into bronchioles. Covered by smooth muscles, the bronchioles subdivide into into alveoli which are tiny, clustered air sacks.
5. How does it function?
The respiratory functions by your lungs expanding and contracting, supplying life-sustaining oxygen to your body and removing from it, a waste product called carbon dioxide. The muscles of respiration, including the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, work together to act as a pump, pushing air into and out of the lungs during breathing.
6. How does it work with other systems?
Without oxygen, cells cannot produce ATP, which helps them synthesize new molecules, pump ions, and carry nerve impulses. The whole body relies on the transportation and disposal of O2 and CO2. The respiratory system gets rid of the oxygen and carbon dioxide, but it needs the circulatory system to transport the oxygen and CO2 to the lungs and the other parts of the body.
7. What goes wrong in diseases that affect the system?
Respiratory diseases affect the system’s ability to bring in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Common tracheal diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, acute bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis. Other diseases include pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, mesothelioma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, forms of lung cancer, and pneumoconiosis. Many of these diseases rupture the alveoli, bronchi, or other organs in the system. Some of theses diseases are bacterial.
The respiratory system works through a series of passageways for air and various cells, hairs, tissues and organs (see how is it organized?) Air travels from the nose and mouth to the pharynx and trachea (the larynx at the top of the trachea allows you to speak, sing, scream, etc…). From the larynx, air proceeds to the bronchi. Each bronchus leads down to the lungs. Air continues from the bronchi to bronchioles. The bronchioles continue to divide until they reach the alveoli.
Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli. Oxygen dissolves in the in the inner surface of the alveoli and diffuses into the capillaries which then carries the oxygen throughout the body. The lungs remove about one third of the oxygen inhaled, and release about 15% O2 and 4% CO2.
Breathing is controlled both voluntarily and involuntarily (in fact you’re probably aware of your breathing now). The nervous system controls breathing while you are otherwise preoccupied. The medulla oblongata in the brain is the main commander of involuntary breathing. Nerves from the MO to the diaphragm and chest produce the contraction cycles. The MO cycles breathing through the nerves connecting it to the cells. When the CO2 level in the cells reaches a high enough level, nerve impulses cause the diaphragm to contract.
2. What does it do?
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. The respiratory passageways allow air to pass directly into some of the most delicate tissues in the body. The respiratory system also helps the body maintain homeostasis, or balance among the many elements of the body’s internal environment. Breathing is one of the main jobs of this system. Breathing occurs when there is movement of air into and out of the lungs. When you breathe in or exhale the diaphragm contracts and expands the volume of the chest cavity.
3. What types of cells and tissues are part of this system?
Red blood cells play an important part of the respiratory system because they collect and carry oxygen to the places in the body that need it. Without oxygen, brain cells will start dying and it can lead to death eventually.
4. How is it organized?
This system is organized with different organs, cells, and hairs. At the top of the system are the nose and mouth air passageways. As the system progresses downward, there is the pharynx(throat) and trachea. At the top of the trachea is the larynx which contains the vocal cords. The trachea is covered by the epiglottis while swallowing. To keep the lungs clean, the respiratory passageways are covered by small hairs called cilia and a thin layer of mucus. From the larynx, there are the bronchi-two large airways that lead to the lungs. The bronchi break into smaller bronchi, and then into bronchioles. Covered by smooth muscles, the bronchioles subdivide into into alveoli which are tiny, clustered air sacks.
5. How does it function?
The respiratory functions by your lungs expanding and contracting, supplying life-sustaining oxygen to your body and removing from it, a waste product called carbon dioxide. The muscles of respiration, including the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, work together to act as a pump, pushing air into and out of the lungs during breathing.
6. How does it work with other systems?
Without oxygen, cells cannot produce ATP, which helps them synthesize new molecules, pump ions, and carry nerve impulses. The whole body relies on the transportation and disposal of O2 and CO2. The respiratory system gets rid of the oxygen and carbon dioxide, but it needs the circulatory system to transport the oxygen and CO2 to the lungs and the other parts of the body.
7. What goes wrong in diseases that affect the system?
Respiratory diseases affect the system’s ability to bring in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Common tracheal diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, acute bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis. Other diseases include pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, mesothelioma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, forms of lung cancer, and pneumoconiosis. Many of these diseases rupture the alveoli, bronchi, or other organs in the system. Some of theses diseases are bacterial.