The respiratory system is the most important system of the human body. You can live a few minutes without breathing. Due to the inhalation of air, a gas exchange process takes place. An adult takes more than 20,000 breaths and as many exhalations per day.
Structure
The human respiratory system consists of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Symbolically, they can be divided in the trachea. The upper part consists of the nose and oropharynx. The lower include the trachea, larynx, bronchi and lungs.
The respiratory process begins with the nose. This body is responsible for warming the air. Mucus helps fight infectious diseases, it is produced daily 500 ml, and during the disease 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 into the lungs. The inside is covered with a mucous membrane that fights infections.
The bronchi consist of 2 parts: left and right. They are required for air exchange in the lungs. The bronchi are divided into tubes of a smaller diameter - bronchioles, at the end of which are the alveoli.
Directly in the lungs, gas exchange occurs. The surface of the organs is lined with a membrane called pleura.
System functions
The main function of the respiratory respiratory system is air and gas exchange. Respiratory organs are also 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 result from the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
With a decrease in ambient temperature, human breathing becomes more frequent. The same thing happens after eating protein and exercise.
During the day, 19-20 thousand liters of air passes through the lungs, this figure increases to 7 million liters per year. Ventilation of the lungs occurs due to the alternation of inspiration 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 interchondral muscles. The diaphragm delimits the abdominal and chest cavities. With calm breathing, it shifts by 2-3 cm and increases the volume of the chest. During deep breathing, the diaphragm shifts to 10 cm.
When inhaling, the chest expands, and due to this, the volume of the lungs increases. Pressure drops below atmospheric and air enters the lungs. When passing through the nose, the air warms and moistens. When breathing through the nose, air enters cleaner 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 occurs continuously.
When you exhale, the muscles of the chest press on the lungs, the pressure increases, and the air goes out. With a deep breath, abdominal muscles are included in the process.
Upper respiratory tract diseases
The respiratory system is susceptible 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 symptoms are swelling and difficulty breathing.
The characteristic symptoms of sinusitis are headaches, fever and mucous discharge from the nose.
Adenoids appear due to proliferation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. At the same time, breathing is difficult, hearing is reduced, sleep is disturbed and mucous discharge from the nose occurs.
With tonsillitis, tonsils become inflamed, the disease is caused, as a rule, by a bacterial infection.
Pharyngitis is characterized by inflammation of the pharynx. An increase in temperature is not accompanied.
With laryngitis, inflammation extends to the larynx.
Lower respiratory tract diseases
Diseases of the respiratory system of the lower respiratory tract are called:
- tracheitis;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- alveolitis.
With tracheitis, the mucous membrane of the trachea becomes inflamed. There is a headache, weakness, dry cough, fever. Chest pain intensifies when talking and inhaling cold air. If the infection affects the vocal cords, the voice becomes hoarse, it is difficult for a person to talk.
With bronchitis, the mucous membranes of the bronchi become inflamed. The main symptom will be a cough. If a bacterial infection joins, then obstruction may occur. In this case, taking antibiotics is required.
If the inflammation reaches the lungs, pneumonia develops. The disease requires timely treatment, as it is dangerous. The temperature rises, chills, weakness, chest pain with coughing and breathing. The doctor hears wheezing in the affected area of the lung. To confirm the diagnosis, an x-ray of the chest is performed. In the treatment of using antibacterial drugs.
Breath regulation
The body needs to maintain oxygen levels. In violation of this indicator, a person dies in a few minutes. Pneumonia and bronchitis are dangerous diseases, especially in children. Obstruction leads to oxygen deficiency, which can provoke a violation of cerebral circulation.
Receptors, which are located in the walls of blood vessels, subtly respond to changes in the level of oxygen in the blood. In this case, the frequency, depth and rhythm of breathing changes.
The whole system is controlled by the nervous system, consisting of neurons.
There are three levels of the respiratory system:
- The spinal respiratory center is located in the spinal cord. Due to this, the diagram and muscles move, during the reduction of which breathing occurs.
- The central respiratory mechanism receives signals from the medulla oblongata. Respiration during sleep is regulated by the pons.
- The center of regulation of respiration is located in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus. This function allows you to regulate breathing, change the frequency, depth, rhythm and hold the breath.
With a deviation from the norm, changes occur from other organs and systems of the body. The heart rate changes and blood pressure decreases.
Business disruptions
Rapid breathing is the first sign of an infection that has settled in the respiratory system. In newborns, respiratory arrest sometimes occurs, which disappears after a few seconds. This is not the norm, but it does not pose a danger to the child. Nevertheless, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause of this phenomenon.
Respiratory failure is a malfunction of the system in which gas exchange in the blood malfunctions. The cardio-respiratory system delivers nutrition to every cell in the body. Oxygen starvation occurs with an excess of carbon dioxide in human tissues. This can occur as a result of a traumatic brain injury or malfunction of the nervous system.
The main symptoms of oxygen starvation:
- slow breathing
- cyanosis 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 does not cope with the load, which leads to diseases. Factors that affect the respiratory system:
- low ambient temperature;
- dry air
- allergens
- smoking;
- ecological situation.
To prevent diseases of the respiratory system, the following measures should be taken:
- regularly ventilate the room;
- avoid crowded places;
- conduct hardening events;
- daily walk;
- promptly consult a doctor at the first sign of a disease.
So, today we looked at what the respiratory system is.