The respiratory system is responsible for the exchange of gases in the body. It is made up of the lungs, airways, and the muscles that help move air into and out of the body.
Parts of the Respiratory System
The respiratory system consists of the following parts:
Nose and nasal cavity: Warms, moistens, and filters the air as it is inhaled.
The process of respiration involves inhalation and exhalation:
Inhalation: The diaphragm contracts and moves downward, while the rib muscles contract, causing the chest cavity to expand. This creates a vacuum, and air is drawn into the lungs.
Exhalation: The diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, while the rib muscles relax, causing the chest cavity to contract. This increases the pressure in the lungs, and air is forced out.
Some common disorders of the respiratory system include asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and lung cancer.
Study Tips
When studying the respiratory system, it's important to focus on the functions of each part and their roles in the process of respiration. You can also create diagrams to help visualize the pathway of air through the respiratory system.
Physics: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the interactions of matter and energy and the energy transformations that occur.
Thermodynamics: Identify and explain that heat energy is a product of the conversion of one form of energy to another.
Identify and describe the various forms of energy that are transformed in order for systems (living and non-living) to operate: Chemical - Flashlight-Light; Mechanical - Pulleys-Motion; Solar/Radiant - Solar calculator; Chemical - Plant cells.