The Respiratory System
The Respiratory System is a very important part of an organisms lifestyle. The system supplies oxygen to muscles, enabling them to work and move. To explain in brief, the role of the respiratory system is to exchange gases which the body needs and has already exhausted.
The respiratory system is reliant on another system called the circulatory system. Without the circulatory system, all the work that the respiratory system does is put to waste.
The respiratory system is reliant on another system called the circulatory system. Without the circulatory system, all the work that the respiratory system does is put to waste.
How the Respiratory System Works
Breathing/Inhalation
To exchange gases, there must be a source to collect from first. Inhaling is the process of getting an intake of air. There are two possible pathways to get this air from the outside. The mouth is one way of breathing in air and the nose is another way. Because the mouth and the nose is completely connected, it doesn't matter which way the air goes through.
After the air enters into the organisms, the air will travel down the trachea- a long tunnel which goes down the throat. After passing further down the trachea, it reaches the larynx (the voice box) which is also connector to the bronchi. The bronchi is a tree branch shaped part of the body which has two tunnels which break off (called the bronchus). Each of these tunnels lead to one lung.
After the air enters into the organisms, the air will travel down the trachea- a long tunnel which goes down the throat. After passing further down the trachea, it reaches the larynx (the voice box) which is also connector to the bronchi. The bronchi is a tree branch shaped part of the body which has two tunnels which break off (called the bronchus). Each of these tunnels lead to one lung.
The air will travel down one of the bronchus' and eventually through the path, they sub divide into bronchial tubes and once again sub divide into small grape look alike things called alveoli.
These alveoli are grape shaped and are were gas exchanges happen. As the body inhales, intercostal muscles -muscle located in between the ribs- come up and outwards and the diaphragm relaxes creating large volume in the chest. |
Exhalation
To exhale the air, the process is just reversing. Th air will come back up through the bronchial tubes, up through the bronchus and back through the trachea. The air will then come out from either our nose or mouth.
Gaseous Change
Between the air coming into the alveoli and going out, there is a special process called the exchanging of gases. Here is a little bit of background information on the alveoli.
There are blood capillaries all around these alveoli. Cells constantly move past each alveoli which is filled with air- and as each blood cell passes, the alveoli exchange exhausted oxygen filled air (carbon dioxide) and supply the cell with fresh oxygen. Each capillary will then bring the blood to various muscles and supply oxygen, enabling muscles to move.
- It has a surface area of about 70m(2)
- It has very thing walls to allow exchanging of gase.
- A huge blood supply
- There are 95,000 km of capillaries in our body which carry the oxygen to the muscles and the carbon dioxide out.
- Capillaries are about one-cell thick
There are blood capillaries all around these alveoli. Cells constantly move past each alveoli which is filled with air- and as each blood cell passes, the alveoli exchange exhausted oxygen filled air (carbon dioxide) and supply the cell with fresh oxygen. Each capillary will then bring the blood to various muscles and supply oxygen, enabling muscles to move.
Cellular Respiration
Respiration is more than just breathing in and out- as much people don't know. Respiration is actually the converting of glucose to energy and it happens in every cell in the body. Once this energy is created, molecules are built up, muscles are enabled to move and the bodies temperature stabilizes. There are two types of respiration.
Aerobic Respiration:
Aerobic respiration is done when there is a large amount of oxygen available. The chemical and word equation for this is: Glucose(Sugar)+Oxygen > CrbnDiox+Water+Energy and C(6)H(12) 6O(6) > 6CO(2)+6H(2)O+Energy As seen in the equation, oxygen is used to break down glucose, and its outcome is carbon dioxide (which is put back out of the body through the mouth or nose), water and energy (used for the body). Not only do mammals have this aerobic respiration, but so do plants. Plants use photosynthesis to gather oxygen and transform it into energy. |
Anaerobic Respiration:
Anaerobic is the complete opposite of aerobic. It uses no oxygen at all and is used when no oxygen is available. (For example after vigorous exercise) Here is the word equation: Glucose(Sugar) --> Energy + Lactic Acid Though anaerobic respiration is a very useful thing for the body, it doesn't produce as much energy as aerobic respiration. This is because as glucose is turned into lactic acid, the lactic acid acts like the water and it travels to the muscles. The muscles will start to ache because of this acid - and causes something called cramps. Though anaerobic is very useful as it gives the organism more time to continue moving the muscles. After the body stops moving, the body will start to look for oxygen (have an oxygen debt) and the organism will start breathing heavily in order to get that oxygen back. High levels of CO(2) and lactic acid will cause the brain to, by instinct, increase the bodies pulse and breathing rate. |