The term “respiratory system” gets thrown around a lot, I think.
The term generally gets attributed to anything that has to do with the lungs; while that’s true, the respiratory system does have to do with the lungs, it’s generalized so drastically and so often that it’s hard to tell those who know what they’re talking about from those who don’t.
In this article, I aim to go through a quick lesson on all you need to know about what the respiratory system is and how it works – no more, or less.
I won’t stall further than that!
Let’s dive right in:
Respiratory System…
That’s The Part Of The Body With The Lungs, Right?
Yes. Easy answer: yes it is the part of the body with the lungs.
Here’s some more detail:
The respiratory system is altogether responsible for the exchange of gases between the body and the environment.
It consists of the lungs and the airways that lead to them, including the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. This system plays a crucial role in maintaining the body’s homeostasis by regulating the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
The respiratory system has two primary functions: ventilation and gas exchange.
Ventilation refers to the movement of air in and out of the lungs, while gas exchange refers to the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood.
In this article, we’ll mostly talk about the bodily system, not specific ways to breathe better.
The Step-By-Step On How You Breath
Okay, so I’m going to go through these steps as if you don’t know anything. Bear with me, because you’re going to want to throw your hands in the air exclaiming “Does this guy think I’m an idiot?!”
Let’s jump into this:
The process of ventilation begins with inhalation, which is the act of taking in air.
During inhalation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity lungs.
During inhalation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract. This increased the volume of the thoracic cavity and caused air to flow into the lungs.
Exhalation, on the other hand, is the act of expelling air from the lungs.
During exhalation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, causing the volume of the thoracic cavity to decrease and air to be forced out of the lungs.
Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs located in the lungs. The walls of the alveoli are composed of a thin layer of cells called the alveolar epithelium, which is surrounded by a dense network of capillaries.
Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses across the alveolar epithelium and into the bloodstream, where it binds to hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells and is transported to the body’s tissues. At the same time, carbon dioxide from the body’s tissues diffuses across the capillary walls and into the alveoli, where it is exhaled during the next exhalation.
The Respiratory System: The Regulator
Did you know your body has acid in it?
It’s actually a little crazy, your body is adding to its acid levels all the time – and part of the job of our respiratory system is to expel some of that acid – this is what we call carbon dioxide – which comes out when we exhale.
To maintain the body’s acid-base balance, the respiratory system increases ventilation. This will help to remove carbon dioxide from the body and restore the blood’s pH to its normal level.
I hope this article helped you understand the basics of the respiratory system!
Have any more questions? Please feel free to leave a comment below!