StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Breathing and Respiration - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
In the paper “Breathing and Respiration” the author analyzes the process used by organisms in exchanging gases with the environment, and it entails the use of oxygen and elimination of carbon dioxide. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are the two gases that are most in both ventilation and respiration…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.4% of users find it useful
Breathing and Respiration
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Breathing and Respiration"

Breathing and Respiration The respiratory system is an organ system which is used for breathing. Scientifically formulated, breathing is the process by which oxygen in the air is brought into the lungs and into close contact with the blood, which absorbs it and carries it to all parts of the body. At the same time the blood gives up waste matter (carbon dioxide), which is carried out of the lungs with the air breathed out. The respiratory system starts with the sinuses, which are hollow spaces in the bones of the head.

Small openings connect them to the nasal cavity. The functions they serve are not clearly understood, but include helping to regulate the temperature and humidity of air breathed in, as well as to lighten the bone structure of the head and to give resonance to the voice. The nasal cavity (nose) is the preferred entrance for outside air into the respiratory system. The hairs that line the inside wall are part of the air-cleansing system. Air also enters through the oral cavity (mouth), especially in people who have a mouth-breathing habit or whose nasal passages may be temporarily obstructed, as by a cold.

The adenoids are overgrown lymph tissue at the top of the throat. When they interfere with breathing, they are generally removed. The lymph system, consisting of nodes (knots of cells) and connecting vessels, carries fluid throughout the body. This system helps resist body infection by filtering out foreign matter, including germs, and producing cells (lymphocytes) to fight them. The tonsils are lymph nodes in the wall of the pharynx that often become infected. They are an unimportant part of the germ-fighting system of the body.

When infected, they are generally removed.The pharynx (throat) collects incoming air from the nose and passes it downward to the trachea (windpipe). The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that guards the entrance to the trachea, closing when anything is swallowed that should go into the esophagus and stomach. The larynx (voice box) contains the vocal cords. It is the place where moving air being breathed in and out creates voice sounds. The trachea is the passage leading from the pharynx to the lungs.

The trachea divides into the two main bronchi (tubes), one for each lung. These, in turn, subdivide further into bronchioles. The right lung is divided into three lobes, or sections. The left lung is divided into two lobes. The pleura are the two membranes that surround each lobe of the lungs and separate the lungs from the chest wall. The bronchial tubes are lined with cilia (like very small hairs) that have a wave-like motion. This motion carries mucus (sticky phlegm or liquid) upward and out into the throat, where it is either coughed up or swallowed.

The mucus catches and holds much of the dust, germs, and other unwanted matter that has invaded the lungs and thus gets rid of it.The chest cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm, which is the strong wall of muscle. By moving downward, it creates suction to draw in air and expand the lungs. The smallest subdivisions of the bronchi are called bronchioles, at the end of which are the alveoli. The alveoli are the very small air sacs that are the destination of air breathed in.

The capillaries are blood vessels that are imbedded in the walls of the alveoli. Blood passes through the capillaries, brought to them by the pulmonary artery and taken away by the pulmonary vein. While in the capillaries the blood discharges carbon dioxide into the alveoli and takes up oxygen from the air in the alveoli (Hardie 13-187; Parker 21-229). Summing up, one could say that 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.

When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Among the most important terms associated with the system are: nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, lungs, pleura, diaphragm, alveoli.Works Cited1. Hardie, Jackie. Breathing and Respiration. Des Plaines, Illinois: Rigby Interactive Library, 1997.2. Parker, Steve. The Lungs and Respiratory System. Austin, Texas: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1997.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Breathing and Respiration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1508914-breathing-and-respiration
(Breathing and Respiration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1508914-breathing-and-respiration.
“Breathing and Respiration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1508914-breathing-and-respiration.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Breathing and Respiration

Community Needs

This assignment describes the discussion of the statement "Health is all wealth".... The researcher focuses on understanding it in the context of modern times, when people are more tech savvy and play football on PS3 rather than burning out a few calories in the field.... hellip; It is stated in the assignment that health true to its lexical meaning, can be achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, which, together is commonly referred to as the Health Triangle....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

Human Respiration

The Tidal Volume (TV) is the quantity of air that a person is breathing in and out under a normal resting respiratory cycle.... The trace for normal breathing shows a reading varying between 3000cc of air and 4000cc.... Normal values for TV are 500cc. … The Frequency of breathing is the number of breathing cycles per minute.... One breathing cycle is an inhalation followed by an exhalation.... In the trace for normal breathing, there are 15 cycles plotted over the time of 1 minute so the respiratory rate is 15 breaths per minute....
4 Pages (1000 words) Lab Report

Human Systems - Respiration

The paper "Human Systems - respiration" underlines that the respiratory system is highly essential for a person's survival and it is very hard to replace it once it is damaged.... In fact, a few years ago, when stem cell therapy and organ transplants were not discovered, even replacing seemed impossible....
7 Pages (1750 words) Article

Advanced Interactive Modes of Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation has become a breakthrough and necessary component of sustaining life in various settings especially in the Intensive Care Unit (Carbery 106).... However, studies have brought to light that despite its life-saving abilities, mechanical ventilation brings about… These risks include lung injury for the patient, and added healthcare costs if not used properly for the hospital or healthcare institution (Rose and Ed 145)....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

The Study of Anatomy

A: eosinophil was the incorrect choice chose this because they are also associated with allergies too, but they do not produce histamines.... B: this is the correct answer because… 2.... C: this was incorrect because despite the fact that monocytes are actively involved in eating up of parasites and thus are involved in parasitic , however, they do not inactivate histamine A: is correct because eosinophils primarily deal with parasitic infections....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Describe the structures and regulatory mechanisms essential for both quiet and heavy breathing

A part of the brain called the pons, located near the medulla, is key in smoothening the Breathing and Respiration pattern.... During quiet breathing, the predominant… When it contracts, there is a drop in the pleural pressure.... Expiration during quiet breathing is a passive phenomenon.... This is due to the fact that as the respiratory Biology Essay al Affiliation Biology Essay breathing appears to take place automatically....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Human Biological Systems, Gas Exchange & Transport

There are total four respiratory centers in the brainstem; Inspiratory center, Expiratory… Cerebral cortex provides behavioral control, whereas, brainstem provides an autonomic control for respiration.... Overall, this CNS control determines the depth and frequency of the respiration.... Spinal cord and peripheral nerves provide a communication between controller and muscles of respiration....
8 Pages (2000 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us