Digging Deeper into the Respiratory System

Yesterday, we scratched the surface about the respiratory system and how it works. Today, we are going into depth about the respiratory system. We are going to define every vocabulary word in the respiratory system.

First of all, we know that the nasal cavity is the nose and the oral cavity is the mouth. Our nostrils have hair-like structures, also known as cilia. Cilia protects the nasal passageways and filters out dust and other particles that enter the nose ("The Respiratory System"). The mouth and nose meets at the pharynx, which is located at the back of the throat. Pharynx carries air and food and is the membrane-lined cavity behind the nose and mouth, which connects to the esophagus, which is the pathway for food ("The Respiratory System"). 

To me, the most interesting part about the respiratory system would be the small flap of tissue called the epiglottis. This small flap covers the "air only" passage when we swallow, which stops food and liquid from going into the lungs ("The Respiratory System").

After the epiglottis is the larynx, also known as the voice box. This is located at the top of the trachea where all of the vocal cords are. The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is the pathway for air. The windpipe is also lined with tiny hairs that sweep foreign particles and fluids out of the airway ("The Respiratory System").

When the air passes the trachea, it then divides into two branches, also known as the bronchi ("The Respiratory System"). Each branch enters one of the two lungs of the body. Each branch resembles the limbs of a tree, dividing into smaller, finer branches known as the bronchioles ("The Respiratory System"). At the end of the bronchioles, there are tiny air sacs that looks like grapes, also known as the alveoli. Alveoli are air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place ("The Respiratory System"). The alveoli are surrounded by capillaries, also known as tiny blood vessels.

Something that the Hawaiian Islands can relate to would be the alveoli. Like I said before, the alveoli is where the exchanging of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. We get our food from the mainland. The mainland people ship the food to the Hawaiian Islands and in return, we give them money for the food. In simple terms, they give us food, we give them money. It is an exchange! Just like the alveoli.

Now that we went into depth about the respiratory system, do you understand how this system works? Can you relate to one of the vocabulary words? If you can, then which one? Leave your questions and/or comments below and I will get to it as soon as I can!

Works Cited:

"The Respiratory System ." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. 

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc1YtXc_84A>.