The respiratory system It is the set of organs in our body that allows us to breathe. It is mainly composed of the lungs and the windpipe, and we also use it to speak, shout and sing, among many other things..
Like all animal cells, our cells need a constant supply of oxygen in order to survive. Oxygen is a gas that is found in the air we breathe and is essential for our cells to be able to transform everything we eat into energy, so that they can fulfill their functions in the organs and tissues to which they belong..
In the process of using oxygen, a waste product is formed that is also gaseous: carbon dioxide (CO₂). If this accumulates inside us, it can be toxic, so it is necessary to get rid of it..
Our respiratory system, as well as that of many other animals, is responsible for helping us breathe, that is, to introduce oxygenated air to our cells and to expel carbon dioxide into the environment, so that the necessary conditions for life are maintained. mobile.
The process we know as breathing is the sum of three separate functions: (1) ventilation, (2) gas exchange, and (3) the use of oxygen by tissues for energy.
What we usually call "breathing" - the inhalation and exhalation of air through the nose and / or mouth - is what experts define as ventilation or external respiration, that has to do with the introduction and expulsion of air to and from our lungs.
On the other hand, the gas exchange processes between air, blood and tissues, and the use of oxygen by tissues, is what is technically known as internal breathing.
The main functions of the human respiratory system are:
- Allow the introduction and conduction of oxygenated air into the lungs.
- Promote the expulsion of deoxygenated air (loaded with carbon dioxide) from the tissues (contained in the blood) to the outside.
- Provide a fruitful medium for gas exchange between blood and air.
- Participate in the functions of speech, thanks to the conduction of air through the vocal cords, which produces the vibrations that allow us to emit sounds.
- Allowing the inhalation of air to perceive odors (sense of smell).
The respiratory system is made up of various organs and structures of our body that perform different functions. These organs are anatomically classified as the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract..
As its name indicates, it corresponds to the organs of the respiratory system that are in the upper part of our body and its main functions are the conduction of air. It is made up:
The nose contains the nasal cavity, a space rich in mucus, which is produced by the cells of the epithelium that covers it, and which plays an important role in the sequestration of dust particles present in the air. In this cavity there are also a large number of cells equipped with cilia that help move these particles..
The pharynx is a tube that is connected to the nose and the mouth, which is why it is also considered part of the digestive system. This tube works to transport food and air to the stomach and lungs, respectively..
The larynx, also known as the vocal box or laryngeal box, is the next segment of the respiratory tract through which air passes into the lower respiratory tract..
The lower respiratory tract is where respiration itself occurs, that is, where part of internal respiration (the gas exchange between air and blood) takes place. The structures that make up this tract are the following:
The trachea conducts the air that reaches it from the larynx, but its functions also have to do with the elimination of any foreign substance or suspended particles that may be in the air, preventing them from reaching the lungs, which are highly sensitive structures..
This function is achieved thanks to the presence of hair cells and mucus. It also participates in the moistening and heating of the air, in the expulsion of foreign particles through coughing, etc..
At its most distal part, the trachea is shaped like an inverted “Y”, and each branch is called the bronchus. The two bronchi, in turn, branch further into multiple smaller branches, which are characterized by small air sacs at their ends, the alveoli.
The alveoli form the lungs, which is where part of the internal respiration occurs, which is why it is known as the breathing zone. Each lung has approximately 300 million alveoli.
The functioning of the lungs is controlled at the level of the nervous system, that is, our brain controls our breathing, just as it controls the digestive process, the excretory process and everything else..
In particular, the brain controls the functions of a muscle located at the base of the lungs, the diaphragm, to move up and down. It also controls the muscles between our ribs, so that it moves our rib cage in or out..
When we inhale, the first thing that has to happen is for the diaphragm to move downward and for the ribs to move outward and help expand the rib cage, allowing air to enter the lungs and expand..
Air is then drawn into the body through the nose or the mouth thanks to the mechanical process of inhalation. In the nose, this air is heated and "purified" of some particles and microorganisms present in it, while it makes its way towards the pharynx and larynx..
The pharynx It is the tube at the top of the throat. After the pharynx there is a bifurcation of the ducts in the esophagus (part of the digestive system) and the larynx or the voice box, where the vocal cords are. Both the pharynx and larynx are two hollow tubes that allow air to pass into the trachea..
The windpipe It is also a hollow tube and is responsible for connecting the regions of the mouth and nose with the lungs. In its most distal portion it divides into two branches called bronchi: there is one left and one right, each directed, respectively, towards the left and right lungs.
Each bronchus is simultaneously subdivided into smaller branches, at the end of which are small sacs known as alveoli (there are a large number of alveoli in human lungs), which are equipped with thousands of very thin blood vessels (capillaries).
The respiratory system only works efficiently because it works in conjunction with the circulatory system, which is responsible for moving blood and transporting elements to and from the cells of our body..
In the lungs, specifically in the pulmonary alveoli, air and blood come into contact when we inhale, allowing gas exchange to occur. This exchange occurs mainly due to a difference in concentrations, so it is a diffusion process..
Air has a higher oxygen concentration than blood and blood, at the same time, has a higher carbon dioxide concentration than air (remember that this gas is a metabolic waste that must be eliminated). As a result, both gases easily diffuse in opposite directions..
Eventually, in a short time, the muscles between the ribs relax, as does the diaphragm, causing the space within the chest to decrease and promoting the expulsion of CO₂-filled air as the lungs shrink..
In adult humans, on average, the inhalation and exhalation cycle occurs about 16 times per minute under normal conditions, but this number is lower when we sleep and higher when we exercise or get scared..
The respiratory system is usually very exposed to the environment that surrounds us, so we can imagine that it is a victim of many types of diseases and conditions of different kinds..
Among some of the diseases that we can mention of the complete respiratory tract are:
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