The major parts of the Respiratory System and their functions

The cells of the human body constantly needs a consistent flow of oxygen to remain alive. The respiratory system attains this great responsibility as it holds the function of providing the body cells with oxygen while removing Carbon[IV]oxide and other gaseous products as waste. The respiratory system therefore enables us to breathe (which involves  inhalation and exhalation of air in the body).

 It consist of 3 major parts which include:

The Airways: This consists of the nose/nostrils, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi& bronchioles. This  parts functions as an air transporter between the outer body and the lungs.

The Lungs: This is the functional organ of the respiratory system, it passes oxygen into the body and CO2 out of the body

Finally The Muscles of Respiration; they include the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles, which work together to act as an air pump in and out of the lungs during breathing.

Parts of the Respiratory Airways.

NOSE/NOSTRILS:  The nose/nostrils also known as the nasal cavity is involved in air intake. They form the main outer opening of the respiratory system. It is the hollow space which allows for the inhalation and exhalation of air. The major function is to warm, humidify and filter air entering the body with tiny hairs called Cilia before it gets to the lungs.

MOUTH: The mouth, which is also known as the Oral cavity act as the secondary opening of the respiratory airway. It is a supplement or replace to the nasal cavity. The advantage of breathing through the mouth is that it is a shorter distance to the lungs and has a larger diameter which allows more air to quickly enter the body.

PHARYNX: This is also known as the throat. It aids the passage of air from the nasal cavity to the laryngopharynx where air descends and is diverted into the larynx by the help of the epiglottis

LARYNX: The  larynx also known as the voice box, is a short section of the airway that connect the laryngopharynx and the trachea, the larynx contains special structures known as vocal folds which allows the body to provide the sound of speech and singing.

TRACHEA: The trachea or windpipe is a 5inch long tube. The trachea connects the larynx to the bronchi and allows air to pass through the neck. The major function of the trachea is to filter the air we inhale and clear the airway.

BRONCHI & BRONCHIOLES: The trachea divides into two bronchi tubes( the left and the right) which runs into each lungs before branching into smaller secondary bronchi. The secondary bronchi splits into tertiary bronchi which in turn splits into many smaller bronchioles that spread throughout the lungs. The main function of the bronchi and bronchioles is to convey atmospheric air from the trachea into the lungs. They also use the muscles and cilia of the epithelial linning to trap and remove dust and other particles aways from the lungs

LUNGS: This is the main organ of the respiratory system. This are a pair of large, spongy organ foud in the thorax lateral to the heart and above the diaphragm. The lungs is the site in the body where oxygen is taken in and CO2 taken out. The inner part of the lungs is made up of spongy tissues containing many capillaries and around 30million tiny sacs called alveoli. The cells present in the blood carries oxygen and distribute oxygen to all the body cells that needs it. 

DIAPHRAGM: This is a dome shaped muscle located at the bottom of the lungs. When we breathe in, the diaphragm contracts and flattens out and pull downward. The lungs therefore increases and draws air into the lungs. When we breathe out, the diaphragm expands and reduces the amount of space for the lungs and forces air out.