Respiratory system

SOURCE

Functions:

→ lung ventilation and gas exchange

→ transport of respiratory gases (O2, CO2) and nutrients (glucose)

→ oxygen respiration

Building:

Airways - they enable the transport of air to the lungs • nasal cavity - where the air is warmed, moisturized and purified

• throat - a common section of the respiratory and digestive tract • larynx - made of 9 cartilages - one of them is the epiglottis closing the entrance to the larynx when swallowing food, it is the voice organ. • trachea - branches into 2 main bronchi • main bronchus - brings oxygen-rich air to the alveoli; removes air with a higher concentration of CO2 from the lungs

Lungs - allow gas exchange ♥ The LEFT lung consists of 2 lobes, because some of the space on that side of the chest is occupied by the heart. ♥ → The RIGHT lung is made up of 3 lobes

THE LUNGS ARE:

► Surrounded by the pleura - a double membrane made of 2 laminae - parietal and visceral. Between them there is a space (pleural cavity) that is filled with serous fluid. ► Made up of alveoli, which builds a single-layer respiratory epithelium. They are surrounded by a dense network of blood vessels, which is why gas exchange takes place there. They also increase the surface area of the lungs (that's important because the larger the surface area --> the more gases will be exchanged).