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  • Introduction
  • The pharynx
  • The trachea and the stem bronchi
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human lungs

human respiratory system

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human lungs

human respiratory system , the system in humans that takes up oxygen and expels carbon dioxide .

The design of the respiratory system

Passage of air through the respiratory tract explained

The human gas-exchanging organ, the lung , is located in the thorax, where its delicate tissues are protected by the bony and muscular thoracic cage. The lung provides the tissues of the human body with a continuous flow of oxygen and clears the blood of the gaseous waste product, carbon dioxide . Atmospheric air is pumped in and out regularly through a system of pipes, called conducting airways, which join the gas-exchange region with the outside of the body. The airways can be divided into upper and lower airway systems. The transition between the two systems is located where the pathways of the respiratory and digestive systems cross, just at the top of the larynx .

The upper airway system comprises the nose and the paranasal cavities (or sinuses ), the pharynx (or throat), and partly also the oral cavity , since it may be used for breathing. The lower airway system consists of the larynx, the trachea , the stem bronchi , and all the airways ramifying intensively within the lungs, such as the intrapulmonary bronchi, the bronchioles, and the alveolar ducts. For respiration, the collaboration of other organ systems is clearly essential. The diaphragm , as the main respiratory muscle, and the intercostal muscles of the chest wall play an essential role by generating, under the control of the central nervous system , the pumping action on the lung. The muscles expand and contract the internal space of the thorax, the bony framework of which is formed by the ribs and the thoracic vertebrae. The contribution of the lung and chest wall (ribs and muscles) to respiration is described below in The mechanics of breathing . The blood, as a carrier for the gases, and the circulatory system (i.e., the heart and the blood vessels ) are mandatory elements of a working respiratory system ( see blood ; cardiovascular system ).

Morphology of the upper airways

How much air do you breathe in a lifetime?

The nose is the external protuberance of an internal space, the nasal cavity . It is subdivided into a left and right canal by a thin medial cartilaginous and bony wall, the nasal septum . Each canal opens to the face by a nostril and into the pharynx by the choana. The floor of the nasal cavity is formed by the palate , which also forms the roof of the oral cavity. The complex shape of the nasal cavity is due to projections of bony ridges, the superior, middle, and inferior turbinate bones (or conchae), from the lateral wall. The passageways thus formed below each ridge are called the superior, middle, and inferior nasal meatuses.

On each side, the intranasal space communicates with a series of neighbouring air-filled cavities within the skull (the paranasal sinuses ) and also, via the nasolacrimal duct , with the lacrimal apparatus in the corner of the eye . The duct drains the lacrimal fluid into the nasal cavity. This fact explains why nasal respiration can be rapidly impaired or even impeded during weeping: the lacrimal fluid is not only overflowing into tears, it is also flooding the nasal cavity.

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The paranasal sinuses are sets of paired single or multiple cavities of variable size. Most of their development takes place after birth, and they reach their final size toward age 20. The sinuses are located in four different skull bones—the maxilla, the frontal, the ethmoid, and the sphenoid bones. Correspondingly, they are called the maxillary sinus , which is the largest cavity; the frontal sinus; the ethmoid sinuses ; and the sphenoid sinus , which is located in the upper posterior wall of the nasal cavity. The sinuses have two principal functions: because they are filled with air, they help keep the weight of the skull within reasonable limits, and they serve as resonance chambers for the human voice.

The nasal cavity with its adjacent spaces is lined by a respiratory mucosa . Typically, the mucosa of the nose contains mucus-secreting glands and venous plexuses; its top cell layer, the epithelium , consists principally of two cell types, ciliated and secreting cells. This structural design reflects the particular ancillary functions of the nose and of the upper airways in general with respect to respiration. They clean, moisten, and warm the inspired air, preparing it for intimate contact with the delicate tissues of the gas-exchange area. During expiration through the nose, the air is dried and cooled, a process that saves water and energy.

Two regions of the nasal cavity have a different lining. The vestibule , at the entrance of the nose, is lined by skin that bears short thick hairs called vibrissae . In the roof of the nose, the olfactory bulb with its sensory epithelium checks the quality of the inspired air. About two dozen olfactory nerves convey the sensation of smell from the olfactory cells through the bony roof of the nasal cavity to the central nervous system .

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Respiratory System - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

The respiratory system is an essential part of the human body, responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and its environment. It includes the organs required for respiration, such as the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. The process begins when air enters the body through the nose or mouth, then moves through the various parts of the system before reaching the alveoli in the lungs, where the exchange of gas occurs. The respiratory system also plays a vital role in regulating the pH balance of the body and removing waste products. Overall, the respiratory system is crucial for providing the body with the oxygen it needs to survive.

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  • The Disorders and Routine Care of The Cardiovascular System (coronary Heart Disease), The Nervous System (stroke), and The Respiratory System (asthma)
  • The Purpose and Function of The Respiratory System
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  • The Importance of Nutrition Management in Respiratory Diseases and Mechanically Ventilated Patients
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  • An Overview of Cystic Fibrosis
  • The Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
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  • Infectious Respiratory Diseases (Copd, Asthma, Tuberculosis)
  • Respiratory Diseases and Air Pollution
  • My Experiment: Cellular Respiration and Co2
  • The Main Environmental Causes of Asthma
  • Cystic Fibrosis: Defining the Illness and Its Treatment

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A chronic infection that effects the lungs' airways and causes asthma causes irregular breathing patterns. All ages are affected by asthma, which frequently starts in childhood although it can also appear for the first time in adulthood. There is currently no cure for asthma, but there are easy managements that...

Words: 1034

Child Health Assessment Tool (NURS 415). 1. Initials in points: A.A. is 2 months old. Only put the last two digits of the room number. Age-appropriate vital signs range: B/P – 75-100 P- 90-150 R- 25-40 3. Diet that is age and diagnosis appropriate 4. Medical Diagnosis/or Diagnosis(es): Dysphagia Laryngomalacia congenital Chronic illnesses (comorbidities): Fever Flu Pneumonia All diagnoses' pathophysiology and S&S: Feeding difficulties Inadequate...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung infection-related disease. The illness obstructs air flow into the lungs, interfering with the natural breathing function. In the United States and the Middle East, common contributing variables to COPD include an individual's age, smoking status, race/ethnicity, gender, and work. Of 1,454 research...

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COPD is a lung disease characterized by a chronic blockage of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing. The COPDs are irreversible. The most prevalent types of COPD are emphysema, which causes lungs to deteriorate over time, and chronic bronchitis, which causes a persistent cough with phlegm. The main cause...

Words: 1889

The Importance of the DANEH Checklist The DANEH checklist is an important document that an individual can utilize to obtain accurate health information. The act of monitoring your health aids in the reduction of treatment costs that may be required at a later stage. Yet, the usage of this checklist can...

This is the amount of air remaining in the lungs after performing a maximal expiration. Normal expiration occurs naturally and takes roughly 500mls, however when patients exhale more than normal, the air volume remaining in the lungs is referred to as the residual volume (Hyatt Mason, 2015). The...

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Tuberculosis Epidemic: A Global Health Challenge Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for the greatest morbidity and mortality rate of any illness worldwide. Every year, the disease kills roughly 1.5 million people and creates 9.6 million new infections (WHO 2016). The disease is more prevalent in poor and densely populated areas. Furthermore, a...

Words: 1485

Tuberculosis: A Fatal Disease Tuberculosis is a fatal disease that affects the human anatomy's airways, with the lungs being the organs most affected. Coughs and sneezes are means of transmission in which minute atomized droplets move through the air to create illnesses. In the mid-nineteenth century, TB had reached historically low...

Words: 2077

VAP is a common and costly problem in mechanically ventilated patients. The endotracheal tube allows germs and bacteria to enter the lungs. There are several VAP preventative methods available, including oral care, hand cleaning, and elevating the head of the bed. Nurses who provide patient care should be educated on...

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Comparison of CT Pulmonary Angiography and V/Q Lung Scanning While CT pulmonary angiography and ventilation-perfusion lung scanning (V/Q) are both crucial in the detection of pulmonary embolism, the two radiographic modalities have comparative advantages and limitations, which distinguishes their applicability. One clinical advantage that CT angiography has over V/Q is its...

The Respiratory System The respiratory system is a network of organs and tissues that help you breathe. It includes your airways, lungs, and blood vessels. It also contains the muscles that power your lungs and the organs that surround them.The Lungs The lungs are the largest part of your respiratory system. They...

A lung infection called Legionnaires disease is brought on by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila. It is contracted by breathing in the bacteria from tainted water. The bacteria is naturally occurring in lakes and streams, but when it spreads and taints man-made water systems like cooling towers, showers, heaters, and...

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Respiratory System — The Purpose and Function of the Respiratory System

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The Purpose and Function of The Respiratory System

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Respiratory System Essay Examples

How usa and china nations destroy humans respiratory system.

Respiratory health is of the utmost importance when considering our overall health and well-being. Our respiratory system is one of the most important organ systems in the human body. If we cannot exchange gases in our lungs, we will be poisoned by our own cellular...

Application of Various Measurements of Respiratory System Functioning in Modern Clinical Practice

Respiratory system provides the exchange of gases between blood and the atmospheric air, which is important for the functioning of all cells of the body. It can be divided into two parts which consist of the upper and the lower respiratory tract. The nostrils, nasal...

Acute Phase Response in Feedlot Calves with Respiratory Disease

Respiratory diseases is considered as one of the most serious problems that causes great losses in calves. Multiple pathogens are identified as causative agents to such diseases condition. Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma spp., Histophilus somni (H. somni), and Arcanobacterium (A.) pyogenes are known as...

Cystic Fibrosis' Description, Symptoms & Treatment

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is when mucus in the lungs is thicker and stickier than normal making it harder to breathe. CF occurs when there are two defective copies of the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis, one from each parent. [1] Cystic Fibrosis is a disease...

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis: Diagnostic Issues

Whilst it has been estimated that within the most recent two decades there has been an increase of over 300% in food related anaphylaxis hospital admissions and a 200% increase in non-food related anaphylaxis hospital admissions, anaphylaxis is still proportionately under-diagnosed and under-treated in both...

Simulation of Respiratory Function

The aim of Station 5 laboratory is to observe the effects of changes in breathing pattern on blood gas tensions using the MacPuf programme. In order to do so we examined 6 variables: alveolar oxygen pressure, arterial oxygen pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, arterial oxygen content,...

Role of Respiratory Therapist

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The Airway Surface Layer (asl) as an Important Part of Respiratory Function

The airway surface layer (ASL) is an important part of the respiratory function as it functions to defend against inhaled pathogens which are introduced to the body via the lungs. The body's primary defense mechanism against pathogens and infection is mucociliary clearance (MCC). The structure...

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