What can be called the main indicator of the viability of people? Of course, we are talking about breathing. A person can go without food and water for a while. Without air, life is not possible at all.
General information
What is breathing? It is the link between the environment and people. If the flow of air is difficult for any reason, then the heart and respiratory organs of a person begin to function in an enhanced mode. This is due to the need to provide sufficient oxygen. The organs of the respiratory system are able to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Interesting facts
Scientists were able to establish that the air entering the human respiratory system forms two streams (conditionally). One of them penetrates the left side of the nose. Examination of the respiratory organs shows that the second passes on the right side. Experts also proved that the arteries of the brain are divided into two streams of receiving air. Thus, the breathing process must be correct. This is very important for maintaining the normal life of people. Consider the structure of the human respiratory organs.
Important Features
When talking about breathing, we are talking about a set of processes that are aimed at ensuring a continuous supply of all tissues and organs with oxygen. At the same time, substances that are formed during the exchange of carbon dioxide are removed from the body. Breathing is a very complex process. It goes through several stages. The stages of air entry and exit into the body are as follows:
- Ventilation of the lungs. We are talking about gas exchange between atmospheric air and the alveoli. This stage is considered external breathing.
- The exchange of gases carried out in the lungs. It occurs between blood and alveolar air.
- Two processes: the delivery of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, as well as the transport of carbon dioxide from the latter to the former. That is, we are talking about the movement of gases with the help of blood flow.
- The next stage of gas exchange. It involves tissue cells and capillary blood.
- Finally, inner breathing. This refers to biological oxidation that occurs in the mitochondria of cells.
Main Tasks
The human respiratory organs ensure the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood. Their task also includes its saturation with oxygen. If you list the functions of the respiratory system, then this is the most important.
Additional purpose
There are other functions of the human respiratory organs, among them are the following:
- Taking part in thermoregulation processes. The point is that the temperatureinhaled air has an effect on a similar parameter of the human body. During exhalation, the body releases heat to the environment. At the same time, it is cooled, if possible.
- Taking part in excretory processes. During exhalation, along with air from the body (except carbon dioxide), water vapor is eliminated. This also applies to some other substances. For example, ethyl alcohol while intoxicated.
- Taking part in immune responses. Thanks to this function of the human respiratory organs, it becomes possible to neutralize some pathologically dangerous elements. These include, in particular, pathogenic viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. This ability is endowed with certain cells of the lungs. In this regard, they can be attributed to the elements of the immune system.
Special tasks
There are very narrow functions of the respiratory system. In particular, specific tasks are performed by the bronchi, trachea, larynx, and nasopharynx. Among such narrowly focused functions, the following can be distinguished:
- Cooling and warming the incoming air. This task is performed according to the ambient temperature.
- Humidifies the air (inhaled), which prevents the lungs from drying out.
- Cleansing the incoming air. In particular, this applies to foreign particles. For example, to airborne dust.
The structure of the human respiratory system
All elements are connected by special channels. They enter and exitair. Also included in this system are the lungs - organs where gas exchange occurs. The device of the whole complex and the principle of its operation are quite complex. Consider the human respiratory organs (pictures below) in more detail.
Information about the nasal cavity
The airways begin with her. The nasal cavity is separated from the oral cavity. The front is the hard palate, and the back is the soft palate. The nasal cavity has a cartilaginous and bony framework. It is divided into left and right parts thanks to a solid partition. Three turbinates are also present. Thanks to them, the cavity is divided into passages:
- Lower.
- Medium.
- Top.
Exhaled and inhaled air passes through them.
Features of the mucosa
She has a number of devices that are designed to process the air she breathes. First of all, it is covered with ciliated epithelium. Its cilia form a continuous carpet. Due to the fact that the cilia flicker, dust is easily removed from the nasal cavity. The hairs that are located at the outer edge of the holes also contribute to the retention of foreign elements. The mucous membrane contains special glands. Their secret envelops the dust and helps to eliminate it. In addition, the air is humidified.
The mucus in the nasal cavity has bactericidal properties. It contains lysozyme. This substance helps to reduce the ability of bacteria to reproduce. It also kills them. In the mucosathe shell contains many venous vessels. Under various conditions, they can swell. If they are damaged, then nosebleeds begin. The purpose of these formations is to heat the air stream passing through the nose. Leukocytes leave the blood vessels and end up on the surface of the mucosa. They also perform protective functions. In the process of phagocytosis, leukocytes die. Thus, in the mucus that is discharged from the nose, there are many dead "protectors". Then the air passes into the nasopharynx, and from there to other organs of the respiratory system.
Larynx
It is located in the anterior laryngeal part of the pharynx. This is the level of the 4th-6th cervical vertebrae. The larynx is formed by cartilage. The latter are divided into paired (wedge-shaped, corniculate, arytenoid) and unpaired (cricoid, thyroid). In this case, the epiglottis is attached to the upper edge of the last cartilage. During swallowing, it closes the entrance to the larynx. Thus, it prevents food from getting into it.
Two vocal cords run from the thyroid to the arytenoid cartilage. The glottis is the space that forms between them.
Introduction to the trachea
It is an extension of the larynx. It is divided into two bronchi: left and right. A bifurcation is where the trachea branches. It is characterized by the following length: 9-12 centimeters. On average, the transverse diameter reaches eighteen millimeters.
The trachea can include up to twenty incomplete cartilaginous rings. They are connectedwith fibrous ligaments. Thanks to the cartilaginous half-rings, the airways become elastic. In addition, they are made cascading, therefore, easily passable for air.
The membranous posterior wall of the trachea is flattened. It contains smooth muscle tissue (bundles that run longitudinally and transversely). This ensures the active movement of the trachea when coughing, breathing, and so on. As for the mucous membrane, it is covered with ciliated epithelium. In this case, the exception is part of the epiglottis and vocal cords. She also has mucous glands and lymphoid tissue.
Bronchi
This is a pair element. The two bronchi into which the trachea divides enter the left and right lungs. There they branch in a tree-like manner into smaller elements, which are included in the lung lobules. Thus, bronchioles are formed. We are talking about even smaller respiratory branches. The diameter of the respiratory bronchioles can be 0.5 mm. They, in turn, form the alveolar passages. The latter end with matching pouches.
What are alveoli? These are protrusions that look like bubbles, which are located on the walls of the corresponding sacs and passages. Their diameter reaches 0.3 mm, and the number can reach up to 400 million. This makes it possible to create a large respiratory surface. This factor significantly affects the volume of the lungs. The latter can be increased.
The most important human respiratory organs
They are considered lungs. Serious illness associated withthem can be life threatening. The lungs (photos are presented in the article) are located in the chest cavity, which is hermetically sealed. Its back wall is formed by the corresponding section of the spine and ribs, which are movably attached. Between them are the internal and external muscles.
The chest cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity from below. This involves the abdominal obstruction, or diaphragm. The anatomy of the lungs is not simple. A person has two. The right lung has three lobes. At the same time, the left one consists of two. The top of the lungs is their narrowed upper part, and the expanded lower part is considered the base. The gates are different. They are represented by depressions on the inner surface of the lungs. Blood vessels, bronchi, nerves, and lymphatic vessels pass through them. The root is represented by a combination of the above formations.
Lungs (the photo illustrates their location), or rather their tissue, consist of small structures. They are called slices. We are talking about small areas that have a pyramidal shape. The bronchi that enter the corresponding lobule are subdivided into respiratory bronchioles. There is an alveolar passage at the end of each of them. This whole system is a functional unit of the lungs. It's called an acinus.
The lungs are covered with pleura. It is a shell consisting of two elements. We are talking about the outer (parietal) and inner (visceral) petals (the scheme of the lungs is attached below). The latter covers them and at the same time is the outer shell. It makes a transition to the outer pleura along the root and representsinner lining of the thoracic cavity. This leads to the formation of a geometrically closed smallest capillary space. We are talking about the pleural cavity. It contains a small amount of the corresponding liquid. She wets the leaves of the pleura. This makes it easier for them to slide between each other. Change of air in the lungs occurs for many reasons. One of the main ones is a change in the size of the pleural and chest cavities. This is the anatomy of the lungs.
Features of the air inlet and outlet mechanism
As mentioned earlier, there is an exchange between the gas that is in the alveoli and the atmospheric one. This is due to the rhythmic alternation of inhalations and exhalations. The lungs do not have muscle tissue. For this reason, their intensive reduction is impossible. In this case, the most active role is given to the respiratory muscles. With their paralysis, it is not possible to take a breath. In this case, the respiratory organs are not affected.
Inspiration is the act of inhaling. This is an active process, during which an increase in the chest is provided. Expiration is the act of exhaling. This process is passive. It happens because the chest cavity shrinks.
The respiratory cycle is represented by the phases of inhalation and subsequent exhalation. The diaphragm and external oblique muscles take part in the process of air entry. When they contract, the ribs begin to rise. At the same time, there is an increase in the chest cavity. The diaphragm contracts. At the same time, it takes a flatter position.
As for the incompressible organs of the abdominal cavity, during the process under consideration, they are pushed aside and down. The dome of the diaphragm with a calm breath drops by about one and a half centimeters. Thus, there is an increase in the vertical size of the chest cavity. In the case of very deep breathing, auxiliary muscles take part in the act of inhalation, among which the following stand out:
- Diamond-shaped (which raise the shoulder blade).
- Trapezoid.
- Small and large breasts.
- Front gear.
The wall of the chest cavity and the lungs are covered with a serous membrane. The pleural cavity is represented by a narrow gap between the sheets. It contains serous fluid. The lungs are always in a stretched state. This is due to the fact that the pressure in the pleural cavity is negative. It's about elasticity. The fact is that the volume of the lungs constantly tends to decrease. At the end of a quiet expiration, almost every respiratory muscle relaxes. In this case, the pressure in the pleural cavity is below atmospheric pressure. In different people, the main role in the act of inhalation is played by the diaphragm or intercostal muscles. In accordance with this, we can talk about different types of breathing:
- Rib.
- Aperture.
- Abdomen.
- Baby.
It is now known that the latter type of breathing prevails in women. In men, in most cases, abdominal pain is observed. During quiet breathing, exhalation occurs due to elastic energy. It accumulates during the previous breath. When the muscles relaxthe ribs can passively return to their original position. If the contractions of the diaphragm decrease, then it will return to its previous domed position. This is due to the fact that the abdominal organs act on it. Thus, the pressure in it decreases.
All of the above processes lead to compression of the lungs. Air comes out of them (passive). Forced exhalation is an active process. It involves the internal intercostal muscles. At the same time, their fibers go in the opposite direction, if compared with the outer ones. They contract and the ribs drop down. There is also a reduction in the chest cavity.
