The Respiratory System

The nose, mouth, throat, voice box, windpipe, and lungs are all parts of the respiratory system. Through the nose or mouth, air enters the respiratory system. The air gets heated and humidified when it enters the nostrils. The nasal passageways and other areas of the respiratory tract are protected by tiny hairs called cilia, which filter dust and other particles that enter the nose through inhaled air. At the rear of the nose and mouth, the pharynx (pronounced FAR-inks) or throat connects the two openings of the airway (the nasal cavity and the mouth). Because it transports both food and air, the pharynx belongs to both the digestive and breathing systems (How the Nervous System Interacts with Other Body Systems, 2022).

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This pathway splits at the bottom of the pharynx, with one for food — the oesophagus, which leads to the stomach — and the other for air. When we swallow, the epiglottis, a thin flap of tissue, closes the air-only route, preventing food and fluids from entering the lungs. The larynx, often known as the voice box, is the uppermost portion of the air-only pipe. This tiny tube houses a pair of vibrating vocal cords that produce sounds. The trachea, often known as the windpipe, is the airway's continuation below the larynx. To maintain the trachea open, strong cartilage rings are attached to the walls. Cilia line the trachea, which push fluids and foreign particles out of the airway so that they do not obstruct it.

 The trachea separates into left and right air tubes called bronchi at its bottom end, which attach to the lungs. The bronchi branch into smaller bronchi and even smaller tubes called bronchioles within the lungs. Bronchioles terminate in tiny air sacs called alveoli, which are where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. Each person's lungs contain hundreds of millions of alveoli. The bronchial tree is a network of alveoli, bronchioles, and bronchi. Elastic tissues in the lungs allow them to inflate and deflate without losing their form. A thin lining called the pleura protects them. The bronchial tree, lungs, heart, and other structures are all housed in the airtight chest cavity, or thorax. The ribs and related muscles form the top and sides of the thorax, while a big muscle termed the diaphragm forms the bottom. The lungs and other contents of the chest cavity are protected by the chest walls, which form a protective cage around them.

The respiratory system has five distinct functions. 

• Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. 

• Sound Production – Breathing – Air Movement 

• olfactory assistance – olfactory perception 

• Dust and bacteria are protected from entering the body by mucus production, cilia, and coughing.    

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Maintaining Homeostasis:

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Lungs are the thoracic cavity's spongy, air-filled primary respiratory organs. The lungs are directly above the diaphragm. The primary function of the lungs is to assist oxygen from the air we breathe in reaching the red blood cells. The oxygen is subsequently carried around the body by red blood cells. Exhalation of breath also assists the lungs in removing carbon dioxide from the body.

Homeostasis refers to a living being's ability to maintain a steady internal environment. The respiratory system, particularly the lungs, plays a critical role in the body's homeostasis. One of the ways the respiratory system helps maintain homeostasis is by gas exchange in the lungs. This gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs in the lungs' alveolar sacs.

Changes in pressure gradients occur as blood travels through the tiny capillaries of the alveolar sacs, allowing gases to move in and out of the blood capillaries. The mechanism of gas exchange in the lungs also aids in the body's acid-base balance. As a result, the lungs play a role in maintaining the pH balance. The breathing rate rises when the blood pH gets excessively acidic. The amount of carbon dioxide in the blood is reduced when the breathing rate increases. As a result, the blood pH rises and returns to normal. The breathing rate slows down when the blood pH becomes excessively alkaline. The amount of carbon dioxide in the blood increases as the breathing rate slows. As a result, the blood pH drops to a normal level.​ 

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How does the Respiratory System support the Nervous System (and vice versa)?

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The respiratory system is responsible for supplying oxygen to the bloodstream as well as removing carbon dioxide. Respiratory volume and blood gas levels are monitored by the brain. The breathing rate is controlled by the brain. The brain regulates breathing rate and monitors respiratory volume and blood gas levels. The dorsal respiratory group regulates the rate at which it sends rhythmic impulses through the phrenic nerves as sensor input about the condition of the lungs and the concentration of oxygen and CO2 in the blood comes in from the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves, maintaining homeostasis (How the Nervous System Interacts with Other Body Systems, 2022).

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