The respiratory system consists of a network of tissues and organs which perform the process of breathing.
How does the respiratory system work?
The respiratory system allows us to breathe. It performs the function in 2 steps consisting of inhalation (breathing in oxygen) and exhalation (breathing out carbon dioxide).
The respiratory system is made up of various organs which allow this exchange of gases.
In a series these organs include nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea or windpipe, bronchi (large airways), bronchioles (small airways) and lungs.
These organs together form the upper and the lower respiratory tract.
The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped organs that take in oxygen.
During respiration, air enters your body through your nose or mouth.
Then the air travels through the larynx and trachea.
From here, the air moves into the lungs by passing through main bronchi.
One main bronchus leads to the right lung and one to the left lung:
Here, the bronchi divide into smaller tubes called bronchioles.
Bronchioles end in tiny air sacs called alveoli where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.
