The Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the function of the respiratory system?
Is to supply the body with oxygen, which is needed to live and to remove the carbon dioxide.
What is the main organ of the respiratory system?
The lungs
What does the breath begin?
It begins with the diaphragm. This creates a vacuum, drawing air into the nose and mouth
What is the diaphragm?
It is a large breathing muscle that separates the heart and lungs from the abdominal cavity.
Where does the air travel down?
The air travels down the trachea (wind pipe). From here, the air enters the two bronchial tubes, which lead into the last lungs.
After the air passes through the two bronchial tubes, where does it go?
The bronchial tubes brand into smaller tubes called bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles the air enters the alveoli.
What are the alveoli surrounded by?
Alveoli are surrounded by small blood vessels called capillaries.
What do the capillaries do?
From the capillaries the oxygen in the air is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the blood.
Finally, the carbon dioxide….
The carbon dioxide in the alveoli is forced out of the lungs, up through the trachea and out of the mouth when the diaphragm relaxes.
