The Respiratory system By: Cianna Williams, Antoinette Slaughter, Kevin Holmes, Patrick Maycock

Introduction The name of our organ system is the respiratory system. The respiratory system is a set of organs, that takes in oxygen and eliminates carbon dioxide. The respiratory system is essential to the human body because the body needs oxygen to survive. The nasal cavity, larynx, bronchi, lungs, bronchioles, trachea, and the pharynx, are all apart of the respiratory system. In addition to this, each system depend on one another. For instance, the circulatory system depends on the respiratory system to help with the body’s circulation of blood. This is due to the fact that the respiratory system provides the circulatory system with air and oxygen.

Major Parts of the Respiratory System The major parts of the respiratory system include: Lungs Larynx Trachea Epiglottis Diaphragm Vocal Cords

Diagram of the respiratory system

Functions of the Lungs The lungs are each of the pair of organs situated within the rib cage, consisting of elastic sacs with branching passages into which air is drawn. The airways that bring oxygen to the lungs are made ­of smooth muscle and cartilage, allowing the airways to expand. The lungs and airways conducts oxygen and eliminates carbon dioxide made by the body’s cells. When you inhale, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles expand the chest’s empty space, or cavity. This sudden expansion lowers the pressure in the chest’s empty space below the pressure of the air outside the body. The air from outside then infiltrates the lungs. When you exhale, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax and the chest’s cavity gets smaller. This allows air from the lungs to flow out of the airways, to outside of the body. This process then repeats itself as the human continues to inhale and exhale.

Functions of the Larynx and Trachea The larynx sits on top of the trachea, which is the air passage from the throat to the lungs. The larynx contains two vocal cords that open during breathing and close during swallowing and voice production. When we make a sound, the airstream passes between the two vocal cords that have come together. These cords are tender and are set into vibration by the passing airstream. Pitch is determined by the length and tension of the vocal folds, which are controlled by muscles in the larynx. The trachea is connected to the larynx. After each time the body takes in oxygen, the air goes downward, through the trachea and through other parts of the body to arrive at the lungs. This process results in the trachea partially opening up as the air continues to move downward. The trachea goes back to its original size after the carbon dioxide exits the body, from the lungs. (It might be a simple part of the body, but, if there is any damage to the trachea, the result can be sudden death).

Functions of the Epiglottis and Diaphragm The epiglottis acts as a switch between the larynx and the esophagus, to allow oxygen to pass through the airway to the lungs and food to pass into the gastrointestinal tract. The epiglottis spends most of its time relaxed at the superior edge of the larynx, and just to the back of the tongue. While in this position, air is capable of entering the pharynx from the nose or mouth and pass freely into the larynx and onward to the lungs. The epiglottis only moves and performs its vital function when the body swallows food or any type of drink. When the body takes in oxygen (inhalation), the muscles that make up the diaphragm diminish, while also pulling the central tendon downwards. As a result of this, the chest becomes larger, allowing the air to pass through the lungs and fill the cavity. The diaphragm also occasionally diminishes without consciousness. This occurs when the controlling nerves eat too quickly and they get irritated. If air is inhaled while this takes place, the open space between the vocal cords at the back of the throat close suddenly, causing hiccups to form.

The Breathing Process The respiratory system is the system inside your body that takes in oxygen and ejects carbon dioxide while you breathe. At the top of the respiratory system is the nostrils, which acts as the air intake, and is warmed and humidified. Air can also be taken through the mouth, and these two airways meet at the throat, back of the nose, and mouth. Your lungs carry out the gas exchange process which is when your lungs inhales the oxygen it needs and exerts carbon dioxide.

Functions of the Vocal Cords During speaking singing, muscles in the larynx bring the vocal cords closer together. Due to the narrowing of the opening between the cords, air is passing through an opening that is smaller than the rest of the trachea. This leads to the increase in the amount of breaths taken. Vibration starts to form in the vocal cords, which in turn generates sound. This sound passes into the spaces above the larynx, which then filters the sound that is then made. It is this process of sound filtering that makes a voice recognizable as a human voice. The speeding up of the breath as it passes through the vocal cords can also create a suction that helps bring them closer together.

Collaborating With the Other systems The respiratory system works with all of the other systems in the body. This allows a human to stay healthy and alive. This includes the circulatory, digestive and immune systems. The circulatory system works well with the respiratory system in making sure that oxygen-rich blood can flow through the body. Thus, the respiratory system provides the circulatory system with air and more oxygen, that is sent to other organs in the body. Then, the veins carry the deoxygenated blood to the heart, so it can be restored. The respiratory system also works with the digestive system as the digestive tract uses contractions from muscles to break down the food and move it through the tract. The digestive system transforms foods into energy to aid our physical activities. The body’s respiratory system needs the digestive tract to continue working because the muscles of the respiratory system require fuel to work , which they receive from the digestive system. The respiratory system works with the kidneys to keep the right levels of oxygen in the bloodstream. If the kidneys find that the blood oxygen levels are low, they emit erythropoietin which will encourage additional red blood cells that have oxygen in them to form and combine with hemoglobin so that additional oxygen will be absorb thedrough the lungs.

Facts Yawns are caused by a lack of oxygen. When you breath, you lose a lot of water. The right lung is slightly larger than the left. Elephants have a unique respiratory structure. On average we breathe 13 pints of air every minute. Hiccups are caused by the sudden movements in our diaphragm. When we breath we only taken 21% of oxygen, 78% Nitrogen and bacteria/virus.

Conclusion To conclude, every system in the body collaborates with one another in order to keep it up and functioning properly. If one System gets damaged, then then it can spread, or cause another system to fall with it. The respiratory system, for example collaborates with the circulatory system in making the blood inside the body go around. It provides this system with the air and oxygen to send the blood to other organs in the body. As a result, if something damages in the body’s respiratory system, the circulatory system will also be damaged, resulting in the damage of all other systems. Thank You! 