Respiratory System

Respiratory System http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Respiratory_system_complete_en.svg

Respiratory System What are some of the organs and what is the function of our respiratory system?

Respiratory System Organs include: larynx (voice box) trachea (wind pipe) bronchial tubes lungs alveoli diaphragm http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Respiratory_system.svg

Respiratory System Functions include: Supplying oxygen we inhale to the blood Removing carbon dioxide we exhale from the blood http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Respiratory_system.svg

Respiratory System Air travels from the mouth or nose through your larynx (voice box), down your trachea (wind pipe), and then into the bronchial tubes that enter your lungs. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Respiratory_system.svg

Respiratory System Inside your lungs, at the ends of the bronchial tube branches, there are millions of alveoli. These little sacs are where gas exchange occurs. Small capillaries are picking up oxygen and dropping off carbon dioxide. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Respiratory_system_complete_en.svg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Respiratory_system.svg

Respiratory System The diaphragm is made of smooth muscle. It contracts & relaxes to help the lungs inhale & exhale. If you inhale deeply, you can feel the diaphragm contracting. When you exhale, you can feel it relaxing. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Respiratory_system.svg

How do you Breathe? When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts, causing the chest cavity to expand. This expansion lowers the pressure in the chest cavity below the outside air pressure. Air then flows in through the airways (from high pressure to low pressure) and inflates the lungs. When you exhale, the diaphragm muscle relaxes and the chest cavity gets smaller. The decrease in volume of the cavity increases the pressure in the chest cavity above the outside air pressure. Air from the lungs (high pressure) then flows out of the airways to the outside air (low pressure). The cycle then repeats with each breath.

How do you Breathe?

Lung Trivia Each lung is about the size of a football. The lungs fill the area from the collarbone to the bottom of the ribs. Lungs are the only organ in the body light enough to float. There are 300-500 million alveoli having a total surface area of about a tennis court in an adult. If all the capillaries that surround the alveoli were unwound and laid end to end they would extend 997.79 kilometers (620 miles).