Respiratory System and the Lungs
What is the respiratory system?
The respiratory system is a living system that is made up of specific organs and tissues which are used for gas exchange in both animals and plants. The respiratory system is what helps us breathe. It starts from the nose and mouth and continues through the airways and the lungs
The Lungs
The lungs are baglike organs, or body parts, they are the main organs of our breathing system (respiratory system). All animals that breathe air (inhale) have lungs. The air we breathe in (inhale) that flows into the lungs contains oxygen, and when an animal breathes out (exhales) air a gas called carbon dioxide flows from the lungs.
The structure of the lungs
The human body has two lungs, one on either side of the chest cavity. The heart is found between the lungs slightly to the left of your breastbone. The right lung is slightly bigger than the left lung and has three rounded parts called lobes. The left lung is smaller in size and has two lobes. They are pink in colour and soft like a sponge. The base of each lung rests on a strong sheet of muscle called the diaphragm.
How do the lungs work?
When we inhale, the oxygen in the air passes through the walls of the alveoli into tiny blood vessels called capillaries. The red blood cells in the blood vessels then pick up the oxygen and take it to cells throughout the body. Wastes such as carbon dioxide and water vapor are carried in the blood back to the lungs. The lungs send the wastes out of the body when the animal breathes out.
Watch the video to learn more about the respiratory system and the lungs.
Very informative and interactive blog. The information given was very beneficial to me. Thanks for publishing.
ReplyDeleteYes Tasha, it is very beneficial
DeleteHi Tennecha. Congratulations on posting this blog. This is awesome. There is a lot to learn from this blog. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteVery informative blog. My response to your discussion question on how smoking affects the respiratory system is that smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs (alveoli) found in your lungs.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the blog! To answer your question, smoking damages your airways and the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs, which can lead to lung disease. Chronic bronchitis and lung cancer are two lung problems caused by smoking. The majority of lung cancer cases are caused by cigarette smoking. If you have asthma, tobacco smoke can either cause or exacerbate an attack. Smokers are 12 to 13 times more likely than nonsmokers to die from respiratory diseases.
ReplyDeleteSmoking destroys the tiny air sacs, or alveoli, in the lungs that allows oxygen exchange. When you smoke, you damage some of those air sacs. Alveoli do not grow back, so when you destroy them, you have permanently destroyed part of your lungs.
ReplyDelete