Study GuideBiology–Gas Exchange1. Human Respiratory SystemThehuman respiratory systemis responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and removingcarbon dioxide. Oxygen is essential for releasing energy in our cells, while carbon dioxide is a wastegas that must be removed.This system is made up of several organs that work together smoothly. The main parts include thenose, pharynx, trachea, and lungs. Let’s follow the path of air and see what each part does.1.1 Nose: Where Air Enters and Gets PreparedBreathing begins at thenose.•As air enters, it iswarmed and moistened,making it safer for the lungs.•Inside the nose,bony partitionsdivide the nasal cavity into chambers.•Air swirls through these chambers, which helps trap dust.•Nose hairs and tiny hairlike structures called ciliacatch dust and other particles, cleaningthe air before it moves deeper into the body.This process helps protect the lungs from damage.1.2 Pharynx: The Shared AirwayFrom the nose, air moves into thepharynx, also known as the throat.•The pharynx is located at the back of the mouth.•TwoEustachian tubesopen from the pharynx to the middle ear. Their job is toequalize airpressureon both sides of the eardrum.•The pharynx also containstonsils and adenoids, which are made of lymphatic tissue.•These structures helptrap and filter microorganisms, supporting the immune system.Preview Mode
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