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.

Learn about the respiratory system's functions, its three major parts, and how it provides oxygen to the body's cells while removing carbon dioxide.