The Human Respiratory System
What is the
Human Respiratory System for?
The respiratory system is a set of organs that allows a person to breathe, exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. It performs external & internal respiration. Exchanging oxygen between the body and the outside environment bringing oxygen to the cells and removing carbon dioxide respectively.
Parts & Functions of the Respiratory System
Nose and Nasal Cavity
The nostrils, which are the apertures in our noses, allow air to enter the body.
Within the nose and skull lies a hollow area known as the nasal cavity.
Before they enter the body, dust, pollen, and other airborne pollutants are trapped by the hair and mucus.
To prevent the other respiratory organs from drying out, the mucus moistens the air.
A brief passageway joins the pharynx and windpipe. also referred to as the voice box. As air moves through the folds, it will vibrate, and you can create noises by moving your tongue and opening and closing your mouth.
The pitch can be changed by adjusting the tension and rate of the vocal folds' vibration. Low notes are produced by long, relaxed cords; high notes are produced by short, strained chords.
Larynx
Pharynx
A muscular tube that joins the nose, mouth, larynx, and esophagus is known as the throat.
The epiglottis is a tissue that functions as a switch to seal the esophagus, allowing food and air to enter the esophagus and air to enter the windpipe.
Trachea
It is 12.7 cm in length. Similar to the nasal cavity, it is lined with tissue that has cilia, hair, and mucus membrane. It stops dust and other irritants from getting into the lungs by trapping them.
The mucus of the trachea collects fine dust that was not captured by the nostrils.
When you cough or clear your throat, they are eliminated.
Bronchus (Bronchi)
The trachea has two branches that are referred to as bronchi. Each bronchus, which connects to the lungs, is further divided into numerous small tubes called bronchioles, each of which has an air sac at each end. The smooth muscles of the bronchi and bronchioles broaden to reduce resistance to airflow, which aids in controlling the amount of air that reaches the lungs.
While at rest, these muscles can constrict to prevent hyperventilation.
Lungs
The main respiratory system organ.
They are a pair of large, spongy organs located in the chest cavity.
Due to the heart's orientation to the left side of the body, the left lung is smaller than the right lung and has a somewhat different shape. Lungs contain alveoli.
Gas exchange takes place in the capillaries that surround these tissues.
Air enters and exits the lungs mechanically as a result of a variation in air pressure during breathing. The diaphragm, a robust muscle sheet that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and muscles between the ribs, acts to move air into and out of the lungs.
The Mechanism of Breathing
Diseases in the Respiratory System
Cystic Fibrosis
The lungs, digestive system, and other body organs are severely harmed by cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic condition. The cells that make mucus, perspiration, and digestive fluids are impacted by cystic fibrosis. It is brought on by a gene abnormality that causes the body to create mucus, an unusually thick and clingy fluid. The pancreas and the lungs' breathing tubes both become clogged with this mucus.
Symptoms: Rectal Prolapse, Pneumonia
Emphysema
​Breathlessness is a symptom of the lung disease emphysema. Alveoli, the lungs' air sacs, suffer damage in those with emphysema. The air sacs' inner walls deteriorate and tear over time, resulting in the creation of fewer, larger air gaps as opposed to more, smaller ones. The main causes include smoking and exposure to air pollution, which includes dust, chemical fumes, and other pollutants.
Pneumonia
A severe respiratory infection that damages the lungs is known as pneumonia. When a healthy person breathes, little sacs in their lungs called alveoli to fill with air. When someone gets pneumonia, their alveoli are stuffed with pus and fluid, which makes breathing difficult and restricts their ability to take in oxygen.
Symptoms: Cough, Shortness of breath, Pus
COVID - 19
Coronavirus / Covid-19 is a severe infectious vascular & respiratory disease thats roots in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The majority of COVID-19 patients will have mild to moderate symptoms and recover without medical assistance. However, some patients will develop serious medical conditions and will need to see a doctor. It is driven by a particular coronavirus variant that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS COV-2 ). A second outbreak, known as SARS, occurred between 2002 and 2004, and it was caused by a different coronavirus strain.
How would Covid - 19 affect our Respiratory System if infected?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is thought to occur in 3–17% of COVID-19 patients (ARDS). Patients with ARDS experience respiratory failure, which is the loss of normal breathing capacity brought on by severe lung inflammation. When cells are damaged, inflammation results, which infects and harms lung cells. Swelling is a result of inflammation and increased fluid flow to the area of injury or damage. Unfortunately, when fluid enters the lungs, the lungs are unable to carry out their typical task of absorbing oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.
Covid - 19 symptoms
Although COVID-19 symptoms might vary, minor instances frequently feature fever, coughing, and exhaustion. Mild pneumonia or respiratory difficulties may occur in moderate cases. While in severe situations, organ failure and/or acute pneumonia may result in death.
Anyone having breathing problems ought to contact a doctor right away. A COVID-19-infected person may not even show any symptoms while yet being able to spread the virus to others.
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