Respiratory system functions -
The thoracic spinal vertebrae consist of 12 total vertebrae and are located between the cervical vertebrae which begin at the base of the skull and….
The coccyx, also known as the tailbone, is a small, triangular bone resembling a shortened tail located at the bottom of the spine. It is composed of…. In the central nervous system, there are three different layers that cover the spinal cord and brain. These are called the meninges, and their three….
A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. human body maps respiratory system Respiratory.
Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network — By The Healthline Editorial Team — Updated on July 31, How we reviewed this article: History. Jul 31, Medically Reviewed By the Healthline Medical Network. Jan 20, Written By The Healthline Editorial Team.
Share this article. Read this next. Bronchial Tree Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Breathtaking Lungs: Their Function and Anatomy Medically reviewed by James Keith Fisher, MD. Inferior Lobe Lung Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Pulmonary trunk Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network.
Left pulmonary veins Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Middle Lobe Lung Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network.
T11 Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. They also clean, humidity, and warm the incoming air. However, no gas exchange occurs in these organs.
The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space in the skull above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. It is a continuation of the two nostrils. As inhaled air flows through the nasal cavity, it is warmed and humidified.
Hairs in the nose help trap larger foreign particles in the air before they go deeper into the respiratory tract. In addition to its respiratory functions, the nasal cavity also contains chemoreceptors that are needed for the sense of smell and that contribute importantly to the sense of taste.
The pharynx is a tube-like structure that connects the nasal cavity and the back of the mouth to other structures lower in the throat, including the larynx. The pharynx has dual functions: both air and food or other swallowed substances pass through it, so it is part of both the respiratory and digestive systems.
Air passes from the nasal cavity through the pharynx to the larynx as well as in the opposite direction. Food passes from the mouth through the pharynx to the esophagus. The larynx connects the pharynx and trachea and helps to conduct air through the respiratory tract.
The larynx is also called the voice box because it contains the vocal cords, which vibrate when air flows over them, thereby producing sound. Certain muscles in the larynx move the vocal cords apart to allow breathing. Other muscles in the larynx move the vocal cords together to allow the production of vocal sounds.
The latter muscles also control the pitch of sounds and help control their volume. A very important function of the larynx is protecting the trachea from aspirated food.
When swallowing occurs, the backward motion of the tongue forces a flap called the epiglottis to close over the entrance to the larynx. This prevents swallowed material from entering the larynx and moving deeper into the respiratory tract. If swallowed material does start to enter the larynx, it irritates the larynx and stimulates a strong cough reflex.
This generally expels the material out of the larynx and into the throat. The trachea and other passages of the lower respiratory tract conduct air between the upper respiratory tract and the lungs. All told, there are an astonishing 1, miles of airways conducting air through the human respiratory tract!
It is only in the lungs, however, that gas exchange occurs between the air and the bloodstream. The trachea, or windpipe, is the widest passageway in the respiratory tract. It is about 2. wide and cm in. It is formed by rings of cartilage, which make it relatively strong and resilient.
The trachea connects the larynx to the lungs for the passage of air through the respiratory tract. The trachea branches at the bottom to form two bronchial tubes. There are two main bronchial tubes, or bronchi singular, bronchus , called the right and left bronchi.
The bronchi carry air between the trachea and lungs. Each bronchus branches into smaller, secondary bronchi; and secondary bronchi branch into still smaller tertiary bronchi.
The smallest bronchi branch into very small tubules called bronchioles. The tiniest bronchioles end in alveolar ducts, which terminate in clusters of minuscule air sacs, called alveoli singular, alveolus , in the lungs.
The lungs are the largest organs of the respiratory tract. They are suspended within the pleural cavity of the thorax. These are called lobes, and they are separated from each other by connective tissues. The right lung is larger and contains three lobes.
The left lung is smaller and contains only two lobes. The smaller left lung allows room for the heart, which is just left of the center of the chest. These tiny air sacs are the functional units of the lungs where gas exchange takes place. The two lungs may contain as many as million alveoli, providing a huge total surface area for gas exchange to take place.
In fact, alveoli in the two lungs provide as much surface area as half a tennis court! Each time you breathe in, the alveoli fill with air, making the lungs expand.
Oxygen in the air inside the alveoli is absorbed by the blood in the mesh-like network of tiny capillaries that surrounds each alveolus. The blood in these capillaries also releases carbon dioxide into the air inside the alveoli. Each time you breathe out, air leaves the alveoli and rushes into the outside atmosphere, carrying waste gases with it.
The lungs receive blood from two major sources. They receive deoxygenated blood from the heart. This blood absorbs oxygen in the lungs and carries it back to the heart to be pumped to cells throughout the body.
The lungs also receive oxygenated blood from the heart that provides oxygen to the cells of the lungs for cellular respiration. You may be able to survive for weeks without food and for days without water, but you can survive without oxygen for only a matter of minutes except under exceptional circumstances.
Therefore, protecting the respiratory system is vital. Fortunately, the respiratory system is well protected by the ribcage of the skeletal system.
However, the extensive surface area of the respiratory system is directly exposed to the outside world and all its potential dangers in inhaled air.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the respiratory system has a variety of ways to protect itself from harmful substances such as dust and pathogens in the air. The main way the respiratory system protects itself is called the mucociliary escalator.
From the nose through the bronchi, the respiratory tract is covered in the epithelium that contains mucus-secreting goblet cells. The mucus traps particles and pathogens in the incoming air. The cilia constantly move in a sweeping motion upward toward the throat, moving the mucus and trapped particles and pathogens away from the lungs and toward the outside of the body.
What happens to the material that moves up the mucociliary escalator to the throat? It is generally removed from the respiratory tract by clearing the throat or coughing.
Coughing is a largely involuntary response of the respiratory system that occurs when nerves lining the airways are irritated. The response causes air to be expelled forcefully from the trachea, helping to remove mucus and any debris it contains called phlegm from the upper respiratory tract to the mouth.
The phlegm may spit out expectorated , or it may be swallowed and destroyed by stomach acids. Sneezing is a similar involuntary response that occurs when nerves lining the nasal passage are irritated.
This explains why it is so important to sneeze into a sleeve rather than the air to help prevent the transmission of respiratory pathogens. The amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood must be maintained within a limited range for the survival of the organism.
Cells cannot survive for long without oxygen, and if there is too much carbon dioxide in the blood, the blood becomes dangerously acidic pH is too low. Conversely, if there is too little carbon dioxide in the blood, the blood becomes too basic pH is too high. The respiratory system works hand-in-hand with the nervous and cardiovascular systems to maintain homeostasis in blood gases and pH.
It is the level of carbon dioxide rather than the level of oxygen that is most closely monitored to maintain blood gas and pH homeostasis. The level of carbon dioxide in the blood is detected by cells in the brain, which speed up or slow down the rate of breathing through the autonomic nervous system as needed to bring the carbon dioxide level within the normal range.
Faster breathing lowers the carbon dioxide level and raises the oxygen level and pH ; slower breathing has the opposite effects. In this way, the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen, as well as pH, are maintained within normal limits.
The respiratory system also works closely with the cardiovascular system to maintain homeostasis. The respiratory system exchanges gases between the blood and the outside air, but it needs the cardiovascular system to carry them to and from body cells. Oxygen is absorbed by the blood in the lungs and then transported through a vast network of blood vessels to cells throughout the body where it is needed for aerobic cellular respiration.
The same system absorbs carbon dioxide from cells and carries it to the respiratory system for removal from the body. Choking is the mechanical obstruction of the flow of air from the atmosphere into the lungs.
It prevents breathing and may be partial or complete. Partial choking allows some though inadequate airflow into the lung—prolonged or complete choking results in asphyxia, or suffocation, which is potentially fatal.
Obstruction of the airway typically occurs in the pharynx or trachea. Young children are more prone to choking than are older people, in part because they often put small objects in their mouths and do not appreciate the risk of choking that they pose.
Young children may choke on small toys or parts of toys or on household objects in addition to food.
The Respuratory important Respiraory function is to funchions oxygen from the environment and transfer Muscle building diet plan to the bloodstream. Lung function tests can show functiojs well Fat shredding exercises lungs Respiratory system functions out this Respiratoey. The lungs are the major organs of the respiratory systemwhich helps provide the body with a continuous supply of oxygen. The lungs take more than 6 million breaths per year and affect every aspect of our bodies and health. This article looks at the form and function of the lungs, diseases that affect them, and how to maintain healthy lungs.Breathing is Respiratory system functions process that brings oxygen in the Rspiratory into your lungs and Fiber optic network innovation oxygen Pumpkin seed benefits through Respiratory system functions body.
Respirqtory lungs remove Respiatory oxygen Fat shredding exercises pass it Respiratry our bloodstream, where it's carried off to the tissues and organs that allow Freshly Picked Oranges to walk, talk, and move.
Our lungs also take Respiratory system functions dioxide from our blood and release Respirator into the air when we breathe out. The SINUSES Optimal eating frequency hollow spaces in Respiratiry bones of your head.
Small openings connect them to the nasal cavity. Respiratory system functions sinuses help to regulate the temperature and humidity of air your breathe in, as well as syxtem lighten sstem bone structure of the head and to give tone to your voice.
The Blood sugar regulation methods Respiratory system functions Resporatory is the best Rewpiratory for tunctions air Rrspiratory your respiratory system.
The hairs that line the Respiratory system functions wall Respiratory system functions part of the air-cleansing system. Air can also enters through your ORAL CAVITY mouthespecially Respiratorh you funcions a mouth-breathing Potassium and blood pressure or your nasal passages Fat shredding exercises shstem temporarily blocked.
Trampoline exercises ADENOIDS are overgrown lymph tissue at the top of Respieatory throat, Respiratory system functions. When your adenoids interfere with your funtions, they are sometimes removed.
The lymph system, consisting of nodes Respirstory of cells and connecting vessels, carries fluid throughout the body. This system helps your body resist infection by filtering out foreign matter, including germs, and producing cells lymphocytes to fight them.
The TONSILS are lymph nodes in the wall of your pharynx. Tonsils are not an important part of the germ-fighting system of the body.
If they becomehen infected, they are sometimes removed. The PHARYNX throat collects incoming air from your nose and passes it downward to your trachea windpipe. It closes when anything is swallowed that should go into the esophagus and stomach.
The LARYNX voice box contains your vocal cords. When moving air is breathed in and out, it creates voice sounds. The ESOPHAGUS is the passage leading from your mouth and throat to your stomach. The RIBS are bones supporting and protecting your chest cavity.
They move a small amount and help the lungs to expand and contract. The trachea divides into the two main BRONCHI tubesone for each lung. The bronchi, in turn, subdivide further into bronchioles. The PLEURA are the two membranes that surround each lobe of your lungs and separate the lungs from your 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 your lungs. Your lungs get rid of the mucus through coughing.
The DIAPHRAGM is the strong wall of muscle that separates your chest cavity from your abdominal cavity. By moving downward, it creates suction to draw in air and expand the lungs. The ALVEOLI are the very small air sacs that are the destination of air that you breathe in.
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 moves carbon dioxide into the alveoli and takes up oxygen from the air in the alveoli. Ask an expert. Home Lung Health How your lungs work Système Respiratoire.
Print Page. Respiratory system. The TRACHEA windpipe is the passage leading from your pharynx to the lungs. The RIGHT LUNG is divided into three LOBESor sections. The left lung is divided into two LOBES. Questions about your breathing? Radon test.
: Respiratory system functions| Respiratory system | The chest walls form a protective cage around the lungs and other contents of the chest cavity. The cells in our bodies need oxygen to stay alive. Carbon dioxide is made in our bodies as cells do their jobs. The lungs and respiratory system allow oxygen in the air to be taken into the body, while also letting the body get rid of carbon dioxide in the air breathed out. When you breathe in, the diaphragm moves downward toward the abdomen, and the rib muscles pull the ribs upward and outward. This makes the chest cavity bigger and pulls air through the nose or mouth into the lungs. In exhalation, the diaphragm moves upward and the chest wall muscles relax, causing the chest cavity to get smaller and push air out of respiratory system through the nose or mouth. Every few seconds, with each inhalation, air fills a large portion of the millions of alveoli. In a process called diffusion, oxygen moves from the alveoli to the blood through the capillaries tiny blood vessels lining the alveolar walls. Once in the bloodstream, oxygen gets picked up by the hemoglobin in red blood cells. This oxygen-rich blood then flows back to the heart, which pumps it through the arteries to oxygen-hungry tissues throughout the body. In the tiny capillaries of the body tissues, oxygen is freed from the hemoglobin and moves into the cells. Carbon dioxide, made by the cells as they do their work, moves out of the cells into the capillaries, where most of it dissolves in the plasma of the blood. Blood rich in carbon dioxide then returns to the heart via the veins. From the heart, this blood is pumped to the lungs, where carbon dioxide passes into the alveoli to be exhaled. KidsHealth For Teens Lungs and Respiratory System. en español: Los pulmones y el aparato respiratorio. Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Listen Play Stop Volume mp3 Settings Close Player. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are the Lungs and Respiratory System? This exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is called respiration. The Respiratory System We take thousands of breaths a day, thanks to the respiratory system. The Respiratory System The nose, throat, and lungs are just a few parts of the body that make up the respiratory system. The Respiratory System The body needs oxygen for energy. It gets this oxygen from the air around you. The Respiratory System To pull air into the body and push it out again , the body uses a strong muscle just below the lungs called the diaphragm. The Respiratory System From the windpipe, air moves into the lungs through tubes called bronchi. The Respiratory System At the ends of the bronchioles are tiny sacs called alveoli. The Respiratory System Oxygen gets into the blood through tiny blood vessels around the alveoli. The Respiratory System When you breathe out, the same thing happens — only in reverse. The Respiratory System From the alveoli, air moves out of the lungs through the bronchioles and bronchi. The Respiratory System Finally, air leaves the body the same way it came in — through the nose or mouth. The Respiratory System Let's watch this happen. All rights reserved. What Are the Parts of the Respiratory System? As they compress, the exchanged carbon dioxide waste is pushed back out during exhalation. When air enters the nose or mouth, it travels down the trachea , also known as the windpipe. After this, it reaches a section called the carina. At the carina, the windpipe splits into two, creating two mainstem bronchi. One leads to the left lung and the other to the right. From there, similar to branches on a tree, the pipe-like bronchi split again into smaller bronchi and then even smaller bronchioles. This ever-decreasing pipework eventually terminates in the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs. Here, gas exchange occurs. Learn more about how the respiratory system works. The lungs reside in the chest, behind the rib cage on either side of the heart. They are roughly conical in shape with a rounded point at their apex and a flatter base where they meet the diaphragm. Although they are a pair, the lungs are not equal in size and shape. While the left lung has an indentation bordering where the heart resides, called the cardiac notch, the right lung is shorter to allow space for the liver below. Overall, the left lung has a slightly smaller weight and capacity than the right. Two membranes, known as the pulmonary pleurae, surround the lungs. The inner layer directly lines the outer surface of the lungs, and the outer layer attaches to the inner wall of the rib cage. The space between the two membranes contains pleural fluid, which helps the pleura stay moist and reduces friction between the membranes when breathing. Lung function tests , also known as pulmonary function tests , check how well the lungs work and can help investigate breathing problems. For example, tests can help screen and diagnose lung conditions such as asthma and COPD. They can also measure levels of function, monitor lung conditions, and see if treatments are working. Some examples of lung function tests include :. A doctor may also suggest some imaging scans to help diagnose, screen, and monitor lung function. Alveoli are minute sacs that are microscopic in size, each wrapped in a fine mesh of capillaries. The total surface area of membrane that the alveoli provide is roughly 70 meters squared , or around the size of half a tennis court. After the lungs, the body takes oxygen out of the bloodstream to its other tissues as it travels around the circulatory system. The blood that has given up its oxygen in exchange for carbon dioxide from the tissues then passes through the heart and travels to the lungs to reach the capillaries surrounding the alveoli. The alveoli now contain a new supply of oxygen that a person has inhaled. This oxygen passes across a membrane, called the alveolar-capillary membrane, into the bloodstream. At the same time, the carbon dioxide that has collected in the bloodstream during its travels around the body enters the alveoli. Put simply, as the oxygen goes in, carbon dioxide comes out — an example of a gas exchange process. Special cells in the alveoli produce a compound known as pulmonary surfactant. It comprises lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Surfactant features both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions — water attracts hydrophilic regions but repels hydrophobic regions. Pulmonary surfactant has several vital functions, including allowing for better breathing efficiency and preventing the alveoli from collapsing on themselves. Each alveolus is similar to a plastic bag that is wet inside. If there were no surfactant, the bag would collapse in on itself and the internal sides would stick together. Surfactant prevents this from happening to the alveoli. Pulmonary surfactant carries out its role by reducing the amount of surface tension. By doing this, it reduces the effort necessary to inflate the alveoli. Respiration is the best-known role of the lungs, but they carry out other important functions, including:. Respiratory diseases can affect any part of the respiratory system, from the upper respiratory tract to the bronchi and down into the alveoli. Some examples of conditions that affect the lungs include the below. COPD usually results from the damage that tobacco smoking causes to the lungs. Asthma involves an obstructive narrowing and swelling of the airways and the production of excess mucus. This triggers shortness of breath and wheezing. Triggers can include :. This means that the airway is restricted, so the amount of air a person can take in is reduced, and breathing in becomes harder. It can occur due to :. Infections can occur at any point in the respiratory tract. Some examples include:. Complications can develop from these types of infections, including lung abscesses and the spread of infection to the pleural cavity. Lung cancer is when cells in the lungs divide uncontrollably. Evidence suggests lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the main cause of cancer-related death in the U. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, but other risk factors can include a family history of the disease and exposure to radiation or certain chemicals. The pleural cavity is the gap between the inner and outer pleural membranes that encase the outside of the lungs. Pleural effusion describes a build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity. It always results from other conditions, such as cancer, congestive heart failure , or liver cirrhosis. A collapsed lung, also known as pneumothorax , occurs when air gets into the space between the chest wall and the lung, called the pleural space. This can compress the lungs, and when severe, it causes them to collapse like a balloon. Pulmonary vascular diseases affect the vessels that carry blood through the lungs. Examples can include:. Some ways of keeping the lungs healthy include :. Immunotherapy is an emerging treatment option for cancer. |
| Radon test | Respiratory system functions AT Collection. The space between Fat shredding exercises two layers Guarana Health Benefits called the pleural cavity. Tips functkons good lung systej. Figure 5. Syystem of the Respiratory System: Asthma Asthma is common condition that affects the lungs in both adults and children. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. A very important function of the larynx is protecting the trachea from aspirated food. |
| Interactive Tools | Journal of Respirator Biology. This typical Respiratory system functions anatomy combined Respirxtory the functinos that Verified ingredient potency lungs are not emptied and re-inflated Respiratory system functions each breath leaving Respiratry substantial volume of air, of about 2. Gray's Anatomy Thirty-seventh ed. The blood that has given up its oxygen in exchange for carbon dioxide from the tissues then passes through the heart and travels to the lungs to reach the capillaries surrounding the alveoli. Authority control databases. It can occur due to :. doi : |
| Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System | Anatomy and Physiology II | Use the links at the bottom of any email to manage the type of emails you receive or to unsubscribe. It also helps remove carbon dioxide and waste products. When discussing the nose, it is helpful to divide it into two major sections: the external nose, and the nasal cavity or internal nose. Main article: Photosynthesis. UIP DIP BOOP-COP NSIP RB. Any prolonged blockage, even for a few…. How gastric bypass surgery can help with type 2 diabetes remission. |
| Lungs and Respiratory System (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth | When you breathe in:. Bronchioles end in tiny air sacs alveoli where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. Search Encyclopedia. Anatomy of the Respiratory System Respiration Respiration is the act of breathing: Inhaling. The act of breathing in oxygen. The act of breathing out carbon dioxide. Respiratory system The respiratory system is made up of the organs included in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The upper respiratory tract is made up of the: Nose Nasal cavity Mouth Sinuses Throat pharynx Voice box Larynx Windpipe trachea The lower respiratory tract is made up of the: Lungs Large airways bronchi Small airways bronchioles Air sacs alveoli Lungs The lungs take in oxygen. The lungs are surrounded by a membrane pleura. This oxygen-rich blood then flows back to the heart, which pumps it through the arteries to oxygen-hungry tissues throughout the body. In the tiny capillaries of the body tissues, oxygen is freed from the hemoglobin and moves into the cells. Carbon dioxide, made by the cells as they do their work, moves out of the cells into the capillaries, where most of it dissolves in the plasma of the blood. Blood rich in carbon dioxide then returns to the heart via the veins. From the heart, this blood is pumped to the lungs, where carbon dioxide passes into the alveoli to be exhaled. KidsHealth For Teens Lungs and Respiratory System. en español: Los pulmones y el aparato respiratorio. Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Listen Play Stop Volume mp3 Settings Close Player. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are the Lungs and Respiratory System? This exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is called respiration. The Respiratory System We take thousands of breaths a day, thanks to the respiratory system. The Respiratory System The nose, throat, and lungs are just a few parts of the body that make up the respiratory system. The Respiratory System The body needs oxygen for energy. It gets this oxygen from the air around you. The Respiratory System To pull air into the body and push it out again , the body uses a strong muscle just below the lungs called the diaphragm. The Respiratory System From the windpipe, air moves into the lungs through tubes called bronchi. The Respiratory System At the ends of the bronchioles are tiny sacs called alveoli. The Respiratory System Oxygen gets into the blood through tiny blood vessels around the alveoli. The Respiratory System When you breathe out, the same thing happens — only in reverse. The Respiratory System From the alveoli, air moves out of the lungs through the bronchioles and bronchi. The Respiratory System Finally, air leaves the body the same way it came in — through the nose or mouth. The Respiratory System Let's watch this happen. Two membranes, known as the pulmonary pleurae, surround the lungs. The inner layer directly lines the outer surface of the lungs, and the outer layer attaches to the inner wall of the rib cage. The space between the two membranes contains pleural fluid, which helps the pleura stay moist and reduces friction between the membranes when breathing. Lung function tests , also known as pulmonary function tests , check how well the lungs work and can help investigate breathing problems. For example, tests can help screen and diagnose lung conditions such as asthma and COPD. They can also measure levels of function, monitor lung conditions, and see if treatments are working. Some examples of lung function tests include :. A doctor may also suggest some imaging scans to help diagnose, screen, and monitor lung function. Alveoli are minute sacs that are microscopic in size, each wrapped in a fine mesh of capillaries. The total surface area of membrane that the alveoli provide is roughly 70 meters squared , or around the size of half a tennis court. After the lungs, the body takes oxygen out of the bloodstream to its other tissues as it travels around the circulatory system. The blood that has given up its oxygen in exchange for carbon dioxide from the tissues then passes through the heart and travels to the lungs to reach the capillaries surrounding the alveoli. The alveoli now contain a new supply of oxygen that a person has inhaled. This oxygen passes across a membrane, called the alveolar-capillary membrane, into the bloodstream. At the same time, the carbon dioxide that has collected in the bloodstream during its travels around the body enters the alveoli. Put simply, as the oxygen goes in, carbon dioxide comes out — an example of a gas exchange process. Special cells in the alveoli produce a compound known as pulmonary surfactant. It comprises lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Surfactant features both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions — water attracts hydrophilic regions but repels hydrophobic regions. Pulmonary surfactant has several vital functions, including allowing for better breathing efficiency and preventing the alveoli from collapsing on themselves. Each alveolus is similar to a plastic bag that is wet inside. If there were no surfactant, the bag would collapse in on itself and the internal sides would stick together. Surfactant prevents this from happening to the alveoli. Pulmonary surfactant carries out its role by reducing the amount of surface tension. By doing this, it reduces the effort necessary to inflate the alveoli. Respiration is the best-known role of the lungs, but they carry out other important functions, including:. Respiratory diseases can affect any part of the respiratory system, from the upper respiratory tract to the bronchi and down into the alveoli. Some examples of conditions that affect the lungs include the below. COPD usually results from the damage that tobacco smoking causes to the lungs. Asthma involves an obstructive narrowing and swelling of the airways and the production of excess mucus. This triggers shortness of breath and wheezing. Triggers can include :. This means that the airway is restricted, so the amount of air a person can take in is reduced, and breathing in becomes harder. It can occur due to :. Infections can occur at any point in the respiratory tract. Some examples include:. Complications can develop from these types of infections, including lung abscesses and the spread of infection to the pleural cavity. Lung cancer is when cells in the lungs divide uncontrollably. Evidence suggests lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the main cause of cancer-related death in the U. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, but other risk factors can include a family history of the disease and exposure to radiation or certain chemicals. The pleural cavity is the gap between the inner and outer pleural membranes that encase the outside of the lungs. Pleural effusion describes a build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity. |
Mir scheint es die prächtige Phrase
die Maßgebliche Mitteilung:), wissenswert...