HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
INTRODUCTON
When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. The so-called exchange of gases
is necessary for metabolic activities and can be considered a chemical process. Every organism,
from an individual bacterial cell to a mighty blue whale, undergoes respiration. This respiration is
carried out by a system of organs known as the Respiratory System and the respiration in
humans is carried out by the human respiratory system.
What is the Respiratory System?

The human respiratory system consists of a group of organs and tissues that help us to breathe.
Lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system which help in the exchange of gases. The
other main parts of this system include a series of airways for air passages, blood vessels and the
muscles that facilitate breathing.
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Respiratory System Parts and Functions
Nose
The nose possesses a couple of exterior nostrils, which are divided by a framework of
cartilaginous structure termed as the septum. This is the structure that evenly separates the
right nostril from the left nostril. Tiny hair follicles that cover the interior lining of nostrils acts as
the body’s first line of defence against foreign pathogens. Furthermore, they provide additional
humidity for inhaled air.
Larynx
Two cartilaginous chords lay the framework for the larynx. They are situated at the point of
joining the pharynx and trachea. It is also termed as Adam’s apple or the voice box. It is the
portion which rises and falls during swallowing of food particles. It generates sound as air passes
through the hollow in the middle.
Pharynx
The nasal chambers open up into a wide hollow space termed as the pharynx. It is a common
path for both air and food. It functions by preventing the entry of food particles into the
windpipe. The epiglottis is an elastic cartilage, which serves as a switch between the larynx and
the oesophagus by allowing the passage of air into the airway to the lungs, and food in
the gastrointestinal tract.
Have you ever wondered why we cough when we eat or swallow?
Talking while we eat or swallow results in incessant coughing. The reason behind this reaction is
the epiglottis. It is forced to open for the air to exit outwards and the food to enter into the
windpipe, triggering a cough.
Trachea
The trachea or the windpipe rises below the larynx and moves down to the neck. The walls of
trachea comprise C-shaped cartilaginous rings which give hardness to the trachea and maintain it
by completely expanding. The trachea extends further down into the breastbone and splits into
two bronchi, one for each lung.
Bronchi
The trachea splits into two tubes termed as bronchi, which enter each lung individually. The
bronchi divide into secondary, tertiary, and to bronchioles, which is again further divided into
small air-sacs called the alveoli. The alveoli are minute sacs of air with thin walls and single-celled
manner. It enables the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules into or away from the
bloodstream.
Lungs
Lungs are the chief centres of the respiration in humans and other vertebrates. They are located
in the thoracic cavity of the chest near the backbone and on either side of the heart. They are
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the pair of large, spongy organs, mainly involved in the exchange of gases between the blood
and the air. Compared to the left lung, the right lung is quite bigger and heavier.
Respiratory Tract
The respiratory tract in humans is made up of the following parts:
 External nostrils – For the intake of air.

 Nasal chamber – which is lined with hair and mucus to filter the air and remove dust and
dirt.
 Pharynx – It is a passage behind the nasal chamber and serves as the common
passageway for both air and food.
 Larynx – Also known as the soundbox as it helps in the generation of sound and thus
helps us in communicating.
 Epiglottis – It is a flap-like structure that covers the glottis and prevents the entry of food
into the windpipe.
 Trachea – It is a long tube passing through the mid-thoracic cavity.
 Bronchi – The trachea divides into left and right bronchi.
 Bronchioles – Each bronchus is further divided into finer channels known as bronchioles.
 Alveoli – The bronchioles end up into the balloon-like structures known as the alveoli.
 Lungs – We have a pair of lungs, which are sac-like structures and covered by a double-
layered membrane known as pleura
NOTE: The air that we inhale has the following composition:
 Nitrogen – 78%
 Oxygen – 21%
 Carbon dioxide – 0.03 – 0.04%
 Traces of Hydrogen and Noble gases
Respiratory System Functions

The human respiratory system functions are mentioned below:
Inhalation and Exhalation
The respiratory system helps in breathing, known as pulmonary ventilation. The air inhaled
through the nose moves through the pharynx, larynx, and trachea into the lungs. The air is
exhaled back through the same pathway. Changes in the volume and pressure in the lungs aid in
pulmonary ventilation.
@*M.S.⑤
Exchange of Gases between Lungs and Bloodstream
Inside the lungs, the oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide waste through millions of
microscopic sacs called alveoli. The inhaled oxygen diffuses into the pulmonary capillaries, binds
to haemoglobin and is pumped through the bloodstream. The carbon dioxide from the blood
diffuses into the alveoli and is expelled through exhalation.
Exchange of Gases between Bloodstream and Body Tissues
The blood carries the oxygen from the lungs around the body and releases the oxygen when it
reaches the capillaries. The oxygen is diffused through the capillary walls into the body tissues.
The carbon dioxide also diffuses into the blood and is carried back to the lungs for release.
The vibration of the Vocal Cords
While speaking, the muscles in the larynx move the arytenoid cartilage. These cartilages push the
vocal cords together. During exhalation, when the air passes through the vocal cords, it makes
them vibrate and creates sound.
Olfaction or Smelling
During inhalation, when the air enters the nasal cavities, some chemicals present in the air bind
to it and activate the receptors of the nervous system on the cilia. The signals are sent to the
olfactory bulbs via the brain.
Respiration is one of the metabolic processes which plays an essential role in all living organisms.
Breathing is the first step in respiration for almost all organisms. The inhaling and exhaling of gas
and its mechanism depend on the environment in which the organisms live.
For instance, the lower organisms like the unicellular take up oxygen and release carbon dioxide
by the process of diffusion across their membrane. Annelids like earthworms have a moist cuticle
which helps them in gaseous exchange. Respiration in fish and other aquatic organisms have
special organs called gills, which help them in respiration. Most of the higher organisms possess
a pair of lungs for breathing.
Respiration In Humans
Respiration is the process of taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide. There are two types
of respiration processes in humans:
 External Respiration, that involves the inhalation and exhalation of gases.

 Internal Respiration, that involves the exchange of gases between blood and body cells.
Respiration in humans takes place through the lungs. It is the largest organ of the human
respiratory system. The air inhaled moves down the trachea into the lungs where oxygen is
exchanged for carbon dioxide from the body tissues. Carbon dioxide is then exhaled out of the
lungs through the mouth.
@*M.S.⑤

HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

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HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

What is the Respiratory System?

 External nostrils – For the intake of air.

NOTE: The air that we inhale has the following composition:

Respiratory System Functions

Inhalation and Exhalation

Exchange of Gases between Bloodstream and Body Tissues

The vibration of the Vocal Cords

 External Respiration, that involves the inhalation and exhalation of gases.

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