Respiratory System Overview

Study Notes

The respiratory system is responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide.
It is a vital system that allows cells to produce energy and perform their functions.

Nose and Mouth: Air enters the body through the nose or mouth.
Trachea: Air passes through the trachea, a tube that divides into two bronchi.
Bronchi: Bronchi branch into smaller bronchioles, which lead to the lungs.
Lungs: The lungs are responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide through the process of respiration.
Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and helps expand the lungs during inhalation.
Rib Cage: The rib cage protects the lungs and helps expand them during inhalation.

Inhalation:
- Air enters the nose or mouth and passes through the trachea and bronchi.
- The diaphragm contracts and the rib cage expands, increasing the volume of the chest cavity.
- Air enters the lungs, and oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream.
Exhalation:
- The diaphragm relaxes and the rib cage descends, decreasing the volume of the chest cavity.
- Air is pushed out of the lungs and exits the body through the nose or mouth.

Oxygen: Oxygen diffuses from the air into the bloodstream in the lungs.
Carbon Dioxide: Carbon dioxide diffuses from the bloodstream into the air in the lungs.
Alveoli: Alveoli are small sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Diaphragm: The diaphragm is the primary muscle responsible for expanding the lungs during inhalation.
Intercostal Muscles: The intercostal muscles are located between the ribs and help expand the chest cavity during inhalation.
Accessory Muscles: Accessory muscles, such as the neck and back muscles, help with forced inhalation and exhalation.

Brainstem: The brainstem regulates breathing through the medulla oblongata and pons.
Chemoreceptors: Chemoreceptors in the brain and lungs detect changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and send signals to the brainstem to adjust breathing.
Voluntary Control: The cerebral cortex can also control breathing through voluntary actions, such as holding one's breath.

The respiratory system is responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and removing carbon dioxide.
It's a vital system that allows cells to produce energy and perform their functions.

Nose and Mouth: Air enters the body through the nose or mouth.
Trachea: A tube that divides into two bronchi.
Bronchi: Branch into smaller bronchioles, which lead to the lungs.
Lungs: Responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide through the process of respiration.
Diaphragm: A muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and helps expand the lungs during inhalation.
Rib Cage: Protects the lungs and helps expand them during inhalation.

Air enters the nose or mouth and passes through the trachea and bronchi.
The diaphragm contracts and the rib cage expands, increasing the volume of the chest cavity.
Air enters the lungs, and oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream.

The diaphragm relaxes and the rib cage descends, decreasing the volume of the chest cavity.
Air is pushed out of the lungs and exits the body through the nose or mouth.

Diaphragm: Primary muscle responsible for expanding the lungs during inhalation.
Intercostal Muscles: Located between the ribs and help expand the chest cavity during inhalation.
Accessory Muscles: Help with forced inhalation and exhalation.

Brainstem: Regulates breathing through the medulla oblongata and pons.
Chemoreceptors: Detect changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and send signals to the brainstem to adjust breathing.
Voluntary Control: The cerebral cortex can control breathing through voluntary actions, such as holding one's breath.