Anatomy of the Respiratory System
Respiration
Respiration is the act of breathing:
Respiratory system
The respiratory system is made up of the organs included in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The respiratory system is divided into two areas: the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract.
The upper respiratory tract is made up of the:
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Nose
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Nasal cavity
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Mouth
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Sinuses
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Throat (pharynx)
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Voice box (Larynx)
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Windpipe (trachea)
The lower respiratory tract is made up of the:
Lungs
The lungs take in oxygen. Your body's cells need oxygen to live and carry out their normal functions. The lungs also get rid of carbon dioxide, a waste product of the cells.
The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped organs made up of spongy, pinkish-gray tissue. They take up most of the space in the chest (thorax).
The lungs are surrounded by a membrane (pleura).
The lungs are separated from each other by the mediastinum, an area that contains the:
The right lung has three sections, called lobes. The left lung has two lobes. When you breathe in:
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Air enters your body through your nose or mouth.
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Air then travels down the throat through the larynx and trachea.
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Air goes into the lungs through tubes called main-stem bronchi.
One main-stem bronchus leads to the right lung and one to the left lung:
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In the lungs, the main-stem bronchi divide into smaller bronchi.
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The smaller bronchi divide into even smaller tubes (bronchioles).
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Bronchioles end in tiny air sacs (alveoli) where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.
You then breathe out carbon dioxide.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Deborah Pedersen MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Jessica Gotwals RN BSN MPH
Online Medical Reviewer:
Tennille Dozier RN BSN RDMS
Date Last Reviewed:
8/1/2023
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