The respiratory system is the most important system of the human body. You can live without breathing for several minutes. Through the inhalation of air, a gas exchange process takes place. During the day, an adult takes more than 20,000 breaths and the same number of exhalations.
Building
The human respiratory system consists of the upper and lower airways. Symbolically, they can be divided in the region of the trachea. The upper part consists of the nose and oropharynx. The lower ones include the trachea, larynx, bronchi and lungs.
The breathing process starts from the nose. This organ is responsible for warming the air. Mucus helps fight infectious diseases, 500 ml is produced daily, and during illness the amount increases.
The pharynx connects the nasal cavity and the larynx, performs the function of conducting air. The trachea is a tube up to 12 cm long. The trachea is similar in characteristics to the bronchi and conducts air to the lungs. The inside is covered with a mucous membrane that fights infections.
Bronchi consists of 2 parts: left and right. They arerequired for air exchange in the lungs. The bronchi are divided into tubes of smaller diameter - the bronchioles, at the end of which are the alveoli.
Gas exchange takes place directly in the lungs. The surface of the organs is lined with a membrane called the pleura.
System functions
The main function of the respiratory system is air and gas exchange. Also, the respiratory organs are responsible for thermoregulation, smell and voice. The body continuously consumes oxygen, which is required by all cells, and emits carbon dioxide. Oxygen is required for the oxidation of products that are formed as a result of the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
When the ambient temperature drops, a person's breathing quickens. The same happens after protein intake and exercise.
During the day, 19-20 thousand liters of air pass through the lungs, this figure increases to 7 million liters per year. Ventilation of the lungs occurs due to the alternation of inhalation and exhalation.
Breathing process
The organs of the human respiratory system cannot contract. Inhalation and exhalation occurs due to the muscles: diaphragm, oblique intercostal and internal intercartilaginous muscles. The diaphragm separates the abdominal and thoracic cavities. With calm breathing, it shifts by 2-3 cm and increases the volume of the chest. During deep breathing, the diaphragm moves up to 10 cm.
When you inhale, the chest expands, and due to this, the volume of the lungs increases. The pressure drops below atmospheric pressure and air enters the lungs. When passingThe air is warmed and humidified through the nose. Breathing through the nose brings in cleaner air than breathing through the mouth.
Air entering the larynx passes through it, then enters the trachea and bronchi. The epiglottis protects the respiratory system from foreign bodies and food particles.
From the larynx, air enters the trachea and bronchi, which consist of cartilage rings. Gas exchange is continuous.
When you exhale, the chest muscles press on the lungs, the pressure increases, and the air comes out. With a deep breath, the abdominal muscles are included in the process.
Upper Respiratory Diseases
The respiratory department of the respiratory system is subject to attack by bacteria and viruses. Diseases are transmitted by airborne droplets. Diseases that occur in the upper respiratory tract:
- rhinitis;
- sinusitis;
- laryngitis;
- angina;
- tonsillitis;
- pharyngitis;
- adenoiditis.
With rhinitis, the inflammatory process begins in the nasal mucosa. The main signs are swelling and difficulty breathing.
Characteristic symptoms of sinusitis are headaches, fever and mucous discharge from the nose.
Adenoids appear due to the growth of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. At the same time, breathing is difficult, hearing is reduced, sleep is disturbed, and mucous discharge from the nose occurs.
Tonsillitis causes inflammation of the tonsils, usually caused by a bacterial infection.
Pharyngitis is characterizedthroat inflammation. Temperature rise is not accompanied.
In laryngitis, inflammation spreads to the larynx.
Lower Respiratory Tract Diseases
Diseases of the respiratory system of the lower respiratory tract are called:
- tracheitis;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- alveolitis.
When tracheitis, the mucous membrane of the trachea becomes inflamed. There is a headache, weakness, dry cough, fever. The pain in the chest is aggravated by talking and breathing cold air. If the infection affects the vocal cords, then the voice becomes hoarse, it is difficult for a person to talk.
When bronchitis inflames the mucous membranes of the bronchi. Cough will be the main symptom. If a bacterial infection joins, an obstruction may occur. In this case, antibiotics are required.
If inflammation reaches the lungs, pneumonia develops. The disease requires timely treatment, as it is dangerous. The temperature rises, there is chills, weakness, chest pain when coughing and breathing. The doctor hears wheezing in the affected area of the lung. A chest x-ray is performed to confirm the diagnosis. Antibacterial drugs are used in the treatment.
Regulation of breathing
The body needs to maintain oxygen levels. If this indicator is violated, a person dies in a few minutes. Pneumonia and bronchitis are dangerous diseases, especially in children. Obstruction leads to deficiencyoxygen, which can cause cerebrovascular accident.
Receptors, which are located in the walls of blood vessels, react subtly to changes in the level of oxygen in the blood. This changes the frequency, depth and rhythm of breathing.
The entire system is controlled by the nervous system, which consists of neurons.
There are three levels of the respiratory system:
- The spinal respiratory center is located in the spinal cord. Thanks to this, the diagram and muscles move, with the contraction of which breathing occurs.
- The central respiratory mechanism receives signals from the medulla oblongata. Breathing during sleep is regulated by the pons.
- The respiratory control center is located in the cerebral cortex and the hypothalamus. this function allows you to adjust the breath, change the frequency, depth, rhythm and hold the breath.
When deviating from the norm, changes occur in other organs and systems of the body. Heart rate changes and blood pressure drops.
Violations of activity
Rapid breathing is the first sign of an infection that has settled in the respiratory system. Newborns sometimes experience a delay in breathing, which disappears after a few seconds. This is not the norm, but it does not pose a danger to the child. However, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause of this phenomenon.
Respiratory failure - a violation of the system, in which gas exchange in the blood fails. Cardio-respiratorysystem delivers nutrition to every cell in the body. Oxygen starvation occurs when there is an excess of carbon dioxide in human tissues. This can occur as a result of a traumatic brain injury or a malfunction of the nervous system.
The main symptoms of oxygen starvation:
- slow breathing;
- blueness of the face or nasolabial triangle;
- weak pulse;
- stop breathing;
- weakness or lack of breathing.
Factors affecting the respiratory system
Under normal conditions, the respiratory system does not fail, but under certain factors, the immune system cannot cope with the load, which leads to diseases. Factors that affect the respiratory system:
- low ambient temperature;
- dry air;
- allergens;
- smoking;
- environmental situation.
For the prevention of diseases of the respiratory system, measures should be taken:
- ventilate the room regularly;
- avoid crowded places;
- carry out hardening activities;
- walk daily;
- seek medical attention promptly at the first sign of illness.
So, today we looked at what the respiratory system is.
