The Human Respiratory System

The
Human
Respiratory
system
B Y K A AV YA S A R A S WAT H I
CLASS: 8E
What is the human
respiratory system?
The respiratory system is a group of organs and
tissues that help us breath and provide oxygen for
our body. The respiratory system consists of a set of
airways, lungs and blood vessels. These organs
work together to move oxygen throughout the body
and clean out the waste gases like carbon dioxide.
Parts of the
respiratory
system
Lungs
Function
They are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located either

side of the chest. The main role of the lungs is to bring air
from the atmosphere and pass oxygen into the bloodstream.
Characteristics
They are spongy and are filled with organs that help pass
oxygen through the blood and remove carbon dioxide from
the blood.
Nasal Cavity
Function
The nasal cavity is the inside of your nose. This part of
the respiratory system is moist and filters impurities like
dirt and dust from the air you breath into your lungs.
Characteristics
The nasal cavity is lined with a mucous membrane that
keeps the nose moist by making mucus. The nose also
consists of little hairs that help filter the air from dirt
and dust along with the mucus.
Pharynx
Function
It is commonly called the throat. This part of the
respiratory system serves the digestive system too by
receiving air from the nasal cavity and air, food and
water from the oral cavity.
Characteristics
The pharynx is a cone shaped passageway leading from
the oral and the nasal cavity that head to the oesophagus
and the larynx. It has thick fibres of muscles that attach
it to the base of the skull.
Larynx
Function
The larynx is also called the voice box. The larynx

opens and closes when we breathe in an out even when
talking it reduces the chances of the food we eat from
entering the wind pipe. The larynx serves to protect the
lower airways, facilities respiration and plays a key role
in phonation.
Characteristics
The larynx is composed of an external skeleton of

cartilage plates that prevent collapse of the structure.
The plates are fastened together by membranes and
muscle fibres.
Trachea
Functions
Also called the windpipe, the trachea serves as a passage way for air to moisten and
warm-up as it passes into the lungs and protects the respiratory surface from an
accumulation of foreign particles.
Characteristics
The trachea consists of a moist mucous membrane layer composed of cells containing
small hairlike projects called cilia which filter the air from foreign particles. The
trachea is composed of about 20 rings of tough cartilage. The back part of each ring is
made of muscles and connective tissues. Due these muscles and the 20 ring structure
the trachea is enabled to expand and contract slightly as the air passes through.
Bronchi
Function
The bronchi is are also the Large airways. They carry

air that is breather in through to the functional tissues of
the lungs called the alveoli.
Characteristics
The bronchi also have cartilage and a mucous

membrane that is similar to those found in the trachea.
Bronchioles
Function
They are also called the small airways. Bronchioles are air
passages inside the lungs that branch off from the bronchi. The
bronchioles deliver air to tiny sacs called the alveoli.
Characteristics
The bronchioles are 1mm or less in diameter and their walls

have ciliated cells and a layer of smooth muscle. The bronchioles
divide into even smaller airways called terminal, which are
0.5mm or less in diameter.
Alveoli
Function
In the alveoli the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and
carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and out.
Oxygen breathed in from the air through the alveoli and into the
blood and travels to the tissue throughout the body.
Characteristics
The alveoli are cup-shaped with very thin walls. It is

surrounded by a network of blood vessels called capillaries that
also have thin walls. The oxygen we breathe in diffuses though
the alveoli and into the capillary blood vessels.
Diaphragm
Function
The diaphragm is a thin skeletal muscle that sits at the base of the
chest and separates the abdomen from the chest. It contracts and
flattens when you inhale. This creates a vacuum effect that pulls air
into the lungs. When you exhale the diaphragm relaxes and the air is
pushed out of the lungs.
Characteristics
It is a large dome-shaped muscle that contracts rhythmically and
continually. Upon inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and flattens
and the chest cavity enlarges.
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The

They are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located either

The larynx is also called the voice box. The larynx

The larynx is composed of an external skeleton of

The bronchi is are also the Large airways. They carry

The bronchi also have cartilage and a mucous

The bronchioles are 1mm or less in diameter and their walls

The alveoli are cup-shaped with very thin walls. It is

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