Many of us have hundreds of things on our minds at any moment, often struggling to keep track of everything we need to do. But fortunately, there is one important thing we don’t have to worry about remembering: breathing. Breathing is a crucial and complex task that keeps our body alive. In this lesson, we will explore the respiratory system and how it works to keep us breathing without even thinking about it.
The respiratory system is made up of specialized components that work together to transport oxygen to the body’s cells and clear our system of the carbon dioxide that this work generates. The components include the structures and tissues making up the lungs, as well as the various other respiratory organs connected to them.
The autonomic nervous system is our brain’s unconscious control center for the vital functions. It triggers the muscles around the lungs to flatten the diaphragm and contract the intercostal muscles between the ribs to create more space for the lungs to expand. This system prepares the body to take in oxygen-rich air.
Air whooshes into the nose and mouth, through the trachea, and into the bronchi that split at the trachea’s base, with one entering each lung. These tubes divide into thousands of tinier passages called bronchioles. At the end of each bronchiole is a little air sack called an alveolus, wrapped in capillaries full of red blood cells containing special proteins called hemoglobin.
At this point, the capillaries are packed with carbon dioxide, and the air sacks are full of oxygen. But due to the basic process of diffusion, the oxygen molecules are drawn out of the alveoli and into the capillaries, while the carbon dioxide molecules travel in the opposite direction, from the capillaries into the air sacks.
The autonomic nervous system causes the diaphragm to ball up, and the intercostal muscles to relax, making the chest cavities smaller and forcing the lungs to compress. The carbon dioxide-rich air is expelled, and the cycle begins again.
Lungs inhale and exhale between 15 and 25 times a minute, which amounts to an incredible 10,000 liters of air each day. That’s a lot of work, but don’t sweat it. Your lungs and your autonomic nervous system have got it covered.
Draw a diagram of the respiratory system on a piece of paper. Label the different parts such as the lungs, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. This will help you understand the structure of the respiratory system and how it works to keep us breathing.
Write a short paragraph describing the process of breathing. Start from the moment air enters the nose and mouth, and end with the exhalation of carbon dioxide-rich air. This will help you understand the steps involved in the process of breathing.
Research and write a brief report on the role of the autonomic nervous system in controlling the process of breathing. This will help you understand how our body unconsciously controls this vital function.
Create a visual representation (like a flowchart or a diagram) of the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli. This will help you understand the process of diffusion and how it aids in the exchange of gases.
Calculate how much air your lungs can inhale and exhale in a day, based on the average rate of 15 to 25 breaths per minute. This will help you appreciate the incredible work your lungs do every day to keep you alive.
breathing – the process of inhaling air into the lungs and exhaling it out of the body – She took a deep breath and began to sing.
respiratory system – the organs and tissues involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between an organism and its environment – The respiratory system includes the lungs, trachea, and bronchi.
oxygen – a gas that is essential for respiration and is necessary for most living organisms – We need oxygen to survive.
carbon dioxide – a gas that is produced when organisms breathe out and is necessary for photosynthesis in plants – The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing.
autonomic nervous system – the part of the nervous system responsible for regulating involuntary functions such as breathing and heart rate – The autonomic nervous system controls the contractions of the diaphragm.
diaphragm – a muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and contracts and relaxes to facilitate breathing – The diaphragm moves up and down as we breathe.
bronchioles – small air passages in the lungs that lead to the alveoli – The bronchioles are responsible for distributing air to the alveoli.
alveolus – a tiny air sac in the lungs where gas exchange occurs – Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the alveoli.
diffusion – the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration – The movement of oxygen from the alveoli into the bloodstream occurs through diffusion.
exhaling – the process of breathing out air from the lungs – She exhaled slowly and steadily.
lungs – the primary organs of the respiratory system responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide – The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity of the body.
vital exchange – the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide necessary for survival – The vital exchange of gases occurs in the alveoli of the lungs.
