Respiratory System
The respiratory system helps our body breathe, providing the oxygen we need to
live and getting rid of waste gases like carbon dioxide.
Here are the most important parts and functions of the respiratory system:
1. Nose and Mouth:
This is where air enters the body. When you breathe in, air flows through your nose
or mouth. The nose has tiny hairs that filter out dust and germs, and it also warms
the air.
2. Trachea (Windpipe):
The trachea is like a tube that connects your nose and mouth to the lungs. Air
travels down the trachea to get into the lungs. It stays open and protected by the
ribs.
3. Bronchi and Bronchioles:
The trachea splits into two tubes called bronchi, one going into each lung. Inside
the lungs, the bronchi branch into smaller tubes called bronchioles, like tree
branches. The bronchi have tiny hair called cilia that filters the remaining dust and
germs.
4. Lungs:
The lungs are the main organs of the respiratory system. They are spongy and fill
up with air when you breathe. Inside the lungs, there are millions of tiny air sacs
called alveoli where the exchange of gases happens between the oxygen and the
carbon dioxide.
5. Alveoli:
The alveoli are tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles. Oxygen from the air
passes through the walls of the alveoli into the blood, and carbon dioxide from the
blood is transferred into the alveoli to be exhaled.
6. Diaphragm:
The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located below the lungs. When it
contracts, it pulls downward, helping your lungs expand to take in air. When it
relaxes, it pushes upward, forcing air out of the lungs.
How the Respiratory System Works:
1. Inhaling (Breathing In): When you inhale, air enters through the nose or
mouth, goes down the trachea, into the bronchi, and spreads throughout the
lungs into the alveoli.
2. Gas Exchange: Oxygen from the air enters the alveoli, moves into the
blood, and travels to the rest of the body. At the same time, carbon dioxide, a
waste gas, moves from the blood into the alveoli.
3. Exhaling (Breathing Out): The carbon dioxide is pushed out of the alveoli,
through the bronchi, up the trachea, and out of your nose or mouth when you
exhale.
Circulatory System
The circulatory system is responsible for moving blood, oxygen, and nutrients
around your body.
Here are the most important parts and functions of the circulatory system:
1. Heart:
The heart is a strong, muscular organ that acts like a pump. It beats constantly to
pump blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients and removing
waste products like carbon dioxide.
The heart has four chambers: two at the top called atria and two at the bottom
called ventricles.
2. Blood Vessels:
Blood vessels are like roads or highways that carry blood to all parts of the body.
There are three main types of blood vessels:
Arteries: These blood vessels carry oxygen-rich blood and nutrients away
from the heart to the rest of the body.
Veins: These blood vessels carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart to get
fresh oxygen.
Capillaries: These are tiny blood vessels that connect arteries and veins to
exchange oxygen, nutrients, and waste.
3. Blood:
Blood is the liquid that travels through your blood vessels. Blood delivers oxygen
and nutrients to cells and removes waste products like carbon dioxide.
How the Circulatory System Works:
1. Oxygenation: Blood travels from the heart to the lungs to pick up oxygen
and release carbon dioxide to be exhaled.
2. Pumping Blood: The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood through the arteries to
different parts of the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients.
3. Exchange at Capillaries: In the capillaries, oxygen and nutrients are
delivered to the body, and waste products like carbon dioxide are picked up.
4. Return to the Heart: The blood with carbon dioxide returns to the heart
through the veins.
5. Repeat: The cycle continues as the heart pumps the blood with carbon
dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled. That’s why it is called circulatory
system.
Connection between the respiratory and circulatory systems
While the lungs are part of the respiratory system, they work closely with
the circulatory system. Blood from the heart picks up oxygen in the lungs
and releases carbon dioxide to be exhaled.
