The respiratory system is a series of organs that work with the circulatory system to provide a continuous supply of oxygen and remove the waste products of the metabolic process of the body cells. The respiratory system also helps to regulate the pH (a measure of acidity and alkalinity of a solution) of the blood.
Respiration or breathing is a sequence of events resulting in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the body cells. The breathing process can be stimulated voluntary and involuntary, such as when sleeping. Every three to five-second, nerve impulses stimulate the breathing process or ventilation. While breathing, the air is moved through a series of passages into and out of the lungs. Three stages constitute respiration:
- External respiration is an exchange of gasses between the lungs and the blood.
- Internal respiration is an exchange of gases between the blood and tissue cells.
- Cellular Metabolism or Cellular respiration is the utilisation of oxygen in the cells for their specific activity.
The different parts of the respiratory system include Nose and Nasal, Cavity, Sinuses, Mouth, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchia, Alveoli, and Lungs