1. The Respiratory System
Body Systems Unit
The Respiratory System

2. The Respiratory System
Function: To get oxygen from the environment and remove carbon dioxide and other waste products from your body. 7
Respiratory Video from
Kids Health

3. How does oxygen get to your cells?
Oxygen enters your body when you inhale.
Transported to the cells by red blood cells
The air contains only about 20% oxygen.
Must exhale carbon dioxide because high levels of it will damage cells
Must maintain proper levels of oxygen and CO2

4. Cellular Respiration
During Cellular Respiration, cells use oxygen and glucose (sugar) to release energy.
CO2 is a waste product of this process.
CO2 must be removed from cells
Respiratory system works with the digestive system and circulatory system

5. Structures in the Respiratory System function together.
Nose, Throat, & Trachea
Air enters through nose
Cilia (tiny hairs) filter dirt, etc.
Mucus (sticky liquid) traps particles
Nasal cavity warms air
Trachea – windpipe, tubelike structure where air passes through
Epiglottis (trapdoor)– keeps air from entering stomach and food and liquids from entering the lungs.

6. Lungs Healthy Lung Unhealthy Lung
Lungs - Large organs located on either side of your heart.
Bronchial tubes – moves air into the lungs, branch through the lungs into smaller tubes and moves into alveoli.
Alveoli – tiny air sacs, walls are only one cell thick.
Air passes through the thin walls and diffuses into the blood.
At same time, CO2 wastes passes from blood into alveoli.
Healthy Lung
Unhealthy Lung

7. Ribs and Diaphragm
Rib cage encloses a space called the thoracic cavity.
Ribs are connected by cartilage – allows it to expand when you breathe.
Diaphragm – a large muscle, when you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and pulls downward, other muscles draw the ribs outward.

8. Speech and other movements
Air causes the vocal cords to vibrate and produce sound.
1. Air from lungs is forced between vocal cords
2. Vocal cords vibrate
3. Sound waves generated
4. Sound waves are shaped to form specific sounds.
5. Sound waves travel through air and become speech

9. Other movements that involve the Respiratory System
Coughing, sneezing, sighing, yawning, laughing, and crying
Allows you to hiccup.
All respiratory movements allow you to release water from your body into the environment.