Respiratory System

The respiratory system helps to breathe – which is inhaling oxygen so that it can be distributed to each cell in the body and collect the waste product carbon dioxide from the cells and expel it back to the atmosphere.

The human respiratory system consists of:

The nasal passages

Pharynx

Larynx

Windpipe

Lungs

The exchange of the gases – replenishing the blood with oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from it – happens in the lungs. We breathe about 6 liters of air every minute. The adult lungs have the capacity to hold about 3 liters of air.

When we breathe, the air first enters the body through the nose or the mouth and enters the trachea. The trachea splits into two bronchi – one going to each lung. Each bronchus continues to divide into narrower and narrower bronchi ending up as microscopic alveoli. The walls of alveoli are single celled through which the blood can exchanges the carbon dioxide with oxygen from the fresh air in the lungs.

What makes us breathe?

The breathing action is as a matter of fact is not initiated by the lungs. They are like bags which get compressed and expanded due to a dome shaped muscle that attaches to both the lungs. This muscle is called the diaphragm. The diaphragm is an involuntary muscle that keeps contracting and flattening. When the diaphragm contracts, it pushes the ribs upward and out. This makes the lungs expand. When the lungs expand, the pressure in the lungs in less than the atmospheric pressure, due to which the air from the outside rushes in. This action of pulling in the outside air into the lungs through the nose and or mouth is called the inhaling.

When the diaphragm returns to its normal shape, the ribs move downward and in thereby squeezing the lungs which therefore force the air out of the body. This is called exhaling.

What are the diseases of the respiratory system found in humans?

The common diseases that affect the respiratory system are:

Bronchitis

Pneumonia

Asthma

Lung Cancer

Emphysema

As obvious, any infection or disease associated with the respiratory system makes breathing difficult. When the body is not able to get sufficient oxygen, the heart tries to work faster to circulate more blood so that enough oxygen can be supplied to the parts of the body. The lack of oxygen due to difficulty in breathing can make the body feel tired. A severe lack of oxygen can also prove to be fatal.

How can we keep the respiratory system healthy?

The respiratory system can keep healthy if we breathe fresh air. Inflammation of the bronchi or the lungs may not be easy to prevent but trying to keep away from infections or infected people can help you stay healthy. The tumors in the may not be preventable.

However, smoking is one major activity that is extremely harmful and that many adults and youth indulge in.