The Need for and Purpose of the Respiratory System

The respiratory system is critical for sustaining life as it facilitates respiration - the process by which energy is produced in the body’s cells.
It is primarily composed of the nose, mouth, trachea (windpipe), bronchi, lungs, and diaphragm, all of which work synergistically to carry out their functions.
Inhalation is the process in which air, rich in oxygen, travels from the external environment into the nose or mouth, then through the trachea and bronchi into the lungs.
In the lungs, oxygen is transferred from tiny air sacs called alveoli into the blood, traversing thin-walled capillaries via a process known as diffusion.
Oxygenated blood then travels from the lungs through the bloodstream to every cell in the body.
Conversely, the waste product of respiration, carbon dioxide, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli and is expelled from the body through exhalation.
The diaphragm and the intercostal muscles (located between the ribs) cushion the lungs and drive the process of inhalation and exhalation through muscular contractions and relaxations.
The purpose of the respiratory system is to provide oxygen, a vital substrate for the process of respiration, to the body’s cells. Simultaneously, it expels carbon dioxide, a by-product of respiration, from the body.
In respiration, glucose and oxygen react together to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy. This energy is used to fuel all processes in the body, from muscular movement to protein synthesis.
The respiratory system, therefore, plays an essential role in maintaining the body’s energy balance and keeping cells functioning properly.
Without the respiratory system, cells would not receive the oxygen they need to carry out respiration, leading to a lack of energy and, ultimately, cellular death.
In addition, the build-up of carbon dioxide within cells would create a hazardous environment, disrupting the pH balance within cells and leading to potential cellular damage and malfunction.
Overall, the respiratory system is fundamental for life, serving to deliver oxygen to and remove waste products from our cells.