Respiratory System /biology/the-human- body/respiratory-system
Respiratory System
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Transcript of Respiratory System
Respiratory System
Respiratory System – gas exchange
Path of the Respiratory
System:
Air enters the mouth or nose
Air continues down the pharynx past the larynx (voice box) and into the
trachea (windpipe)
The lower end of the trachea splits
into 2 bronchi
The bronchi split off into several bronchioles
At the end of each
bronchiole there is an air sac
The air sac is made
up of several alveoli
The alveoli have
capillaries wrapped around them
Capillaries
Alveoli
Trachea
Bronchioles
Blood cells with Oxygen
Oxygen in CO2 out
Blood cells with CO2
Why would the alveoli have capillaries around them?
This ensures that gas can pass through the walls of the capillaries
exchanging Carbon Dioxide for Oxygen The alveoli and capillaries in the lungs represent the point where the Respiratory and Circulatory
Systems interact.
When you inhale muscles in between your ribs contract and the diaphragm (a muscle below
your lungs) contracts. When you exhale the muscles in between your
ribs relax and the diaphragm relaxes.
What can make the Respiratory System not work like it should?
Asthma - respiratory disease in which certain airways in the lungs become constrictedBronchitis – mucous accumulates in the
bronchioles and does not allow as much air to pass through
Emphysema – the alveoli lose their elasticityPneumonia – the alveoli fill with liquid (pus,
mucous etc)
Facts about smokingToxic substances in tobacco (over 4,000 chemicals) bother
the lining of bronchi and destroy cilia.
Why would this be bad?
More susceptible to infections/diseases caused by air-borne particles.
Increases the risk to have cardiovascular disease – higher rate of heart attacks than a normal person
Nicotine – the main substance in a cigarette
Why is nicotine so addictive?Absorbed easily through the skin, increases levels of dopamine (feel good hormone) The problem is: dopamine wears off after a short bit and the body craves more nicotine.
Person who smokes 30 cigarettes (pack and ½) in a day gets 300 doses of nicotine a day.