Respiratory System Overview

The Respiratory System

• The human body's cells require a constant stream of oxygen to stay alive.
• The respiratory system provides oxygen to the body's cells while removing carbon dioxide, a waste product.

Components of the Respiratory System

• The airway includes the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, and carries air between the lungs and the body's exterior.
• The lungs are responsible for gas exchange.
• The muscles of respiration, including the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, work together to act as a pump, pushing air into and out of the lungs during breathing.

Respiration Rate

• The normal rate of inspiration and expiration, the respiration rate, is about 16 times a minute in an adult.
• Breathing is controlled by the brainstem, which automatically regulates the rate and depth of breathing depending on the level of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Respiratory System Diagram

• The diagram depicts the flow of air through the respiratory system, showing the lungs, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pharynx, larynx, and diaphragm.

Lung Conditions

Asthma

• The lungs’ airways (bronchi) become inflamed and can spasm, causing shortness of breath and wheezing.
• Allergies, viral infections, or air pollution often trigger asthma symptoms.

Acute Bronchitis

• An infection of the lungs’ large airways (bronchi), usually caused by a virus.
• Cough is the main symptom of acute bronchitis.

Lung Cancer

• Cancer may affect almost any part of the lung.
• Most lung cancer is caused by smoking.

Tuberculosis (TB)

• A slowly progressive pneumonia caused by bacteria.
• Chronic cough, fever, weight loss, and night sweats are common symptoms of tuberculosis.