October 07, 2002

By: Laurie Simpson
Website: http://www.1st-in-wellness.com

The respiratory system makes it in with the good and out with the bad

Without air we cannot live. We must be able to breath in oxygen to sustain ourselves. The system in our body that takes in air for the oxygen and expels carbon dioxide is called the respiratory system. The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. We take in air through our mouths and extract the oxygen in it for our bodies needs. The oxygen then moves through the blood into all parts of the body.

The mouth, nose, trachea and diaphragm help the air enter the body. This is the start of the respiratory system. The oxygen then passes through the larynx and trachea, which is a tube that enters the chest cavity. In the chest cavity, the trachea splits into two smaller tubes called the bronchi. Each bronchus then divides again forming the bronchial tubes. These tubes lead directly into the lungs where they divide into many smaller tubes, which connect to tiny sacs called alveoli. The inhaled oxygen passes into the alveoli and then diffuses through the capillaries into the arterial blood.

Meanwhile, the waste-rich blood from the veins releases its carbon dioxide into the alveoli. The carbon dioxide follows the same path out of the lungs when you exhale. All this movement is made possible by the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large sheet of muscles that contracts and relaxes causing breathing to take place. In the respiratory system the diaphragm's job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the lungs and pull the oxygen into the lungs.

About The Author:

Laurie Simpson is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-wellness.com.  Obtaining and keeping good health through healthy living, natural healing, great mental health and healthy finances.