RESPIRATORY

SYSTEM
Introduction to Respiratory
System
•It is the system of respiratory passages, lungs and
respiratory muscles of human body.
•It is responsible for exchange of gases between the human
body and the surroundings. In the process of exchange of
gases, human body gains oxygen and gets rid of carbon
dioxide.
•It is extremely important for human body because the
process of respiration cannot be stopped even for a few
seconds.
Respiratory Tracts
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT: Composed of
the nose, the pharynx, and the larynx.
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT: Composed of
the trachea, the lungs, and all segments of
the bronchial tree (including the alveoli),
the organs of the lower respiratory tract are
located inside the chest cavity.
Nose and Nasal Cavity
•The most external organ, air is
inhaled and exhaled through nose.
It has different mechanisms for
cleaning and condensing the
inhaled air
•Inside the nose, the sticky mucous
membrane lining the nasal cavity
traps dust particles, and tiny hairs
called cilia help move them to the
nose to be sneezed or blown out.
 Pharynx
• It is a five-inch long tube that starts near
our nose and ends at our windpipe.
• The pharynx’s respiratory role is mainly
to allow inhaled air entering the nasal
cavity to make its way to the respiratory
tract.
• The muscular pharynx effectively forms
the entry for the esophagus, or our “food
canal,” and the trachea. For this reason,
the pharynx is considered a part of both
our respiratory and digestive systems.
 Larynx
• It is a tough, flexible segment of the
respiratory tract connecting the pharynx
to the trachea in the neck.
• It plays a vital role in the respiratory tract
by allowing air to pass through it while
keeping food and drink from blocking the
airway.
• It is also the body’s “voice box” as it
contains the vocal folds that produce the
sounds of speech and singing.
 Trachea
•It is commonly known as the windpipe, is a
tube about 4 inches long and less than an
inch in diameter in most people.
•The trachea begins just under the larynx
(voice box) and runs down behind the
breastbone (sternum).
•The trachea widens and lengthens slightly
with each breath in, returning to its resting
size with each breath out.
 Lungs
•The lungs are the center of the respiratory
(breathing) system.
•Lungs are the organs of human body where
gaseous exchange take place. Human beings
have two lungs known as the right and left
lungs.
•Lungs are soft, spongy and very elastic.
 Bronchi
•These are the two large tubes that carry air
from your windpipe to your lungs.
•It helps to moisturize the air you breathe and
screen out foreign particles.
•The left bronchus carries air to your left lung.
The right bronchus carries air to your right
lung.
 Alveoli
•These are the tiny air sacs at the end of the
bronchioles (tiny branches of air tubes in the
lungs)
•The alveoli are where the lungs and the blood
exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during
the process of breathing in and breathing out.
Main Functions of Respiratory
System
•Gaseous exchange
•Excretion of carbon dioxide
•Oxygenation of blood
1. These are the tiny hairs inside our nasal cavity that traps dust particles.
CILIA
2. It is a five-inch long tube that starts near our nose and ends at our windpipe.
PHARYNX
3. Three regions of pharynx.
NASOPHARYNX, OROPHARYNX, LARYNGOPHARYNX
4. It is also known as the “voice box”.
LARYNX
5. It is the center of the respiratory system.
LUNGS
6. It is also called as the windpipe.
TRACHEA
7. These are passageways that bring air in and out of the lungs.
BRONCHI