Structure of the Human Respiratory System

The human respiratory system is composed of the nasal passage, the pharynx, larynx, the trachea, bronchi and lungs. It is responsible for the process of respiration that is vital to the survival of living beings. Respiration is the process of obtaining and using oxygen, while eliminating carbon dioxide. It is the process by which human beings take in the oxygen from their environment and give out the carbon dioxide that is produced as a result of chemical reactions within the cells. The specialized system that brings about this critical process of respiration in human beings is known as the human respiratory system. Let us look at the structure of this important system of the human body.

Structure of the Human Respiratory System

The respiratory system in human beings can be divided into the upper respiratory tract that consists of the nasal passages, pharynx and the larynx and the lower respiratory tract that is composed of the trachea, the primary bronchi and the lungs.

Nasal passages: Air entering from the nostrils is led to the nasal passages. The nasal cavity that is located behind the nose comprises the nasal passages that form an important part of the respiratory system in human beings. The nasal cavity is responsible for conditioning the air that is received by the nose. The process of conditioning involves warming or cooling the air received by the nose, removing dust particles from it and also moistening it, before it enters the pharynx.

Pharynx: It is located behind the nasal cavity and above the larynx. It is also a part of the digestive system of the human body. Food as well as air passes through the pharynx.

Larynx: It is associated with the production of sound. It consists of two pairs of membranes. Air causes the vocal cords to vibrate, thus producing sound. The larynx is situated in the neck of mammals and plays a vital role in the protection of the trachea.

Trachea: The term refers to the airway through which respiratory air travels. The rings of cartilage within its walls keep the trachea open.

Bronchi: The trachea divided into two main bronchi. The bronchi extend into the lungs spreading in a tree-like manner as bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes subdivide and with each subdivision, their walls get thinner. This dividing of the bronchi into thin-walled tubes results in the formation of bronchioles. The bronchioles terminate in small air chambers, each of which contains cavities known as alveoli. Alveoli have thin walls, which form the respiratory surface. The exchange of gases between the blood and the air takes place through these walls.

Lungs: Lungs form the most vital component of the human respiratory system. They are located on the two sides of the heart. They are responsible for transporting oxygen from the atmosphere into blood and releasing carbon dioxide from blood to the atmosphere.

This was a brief description of the structure of the human respiratory system. It is that vital system in our body, which enables us to, literally ‘breathe new life’ at every instant of time.