The Respiratory System
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The Respiratory System is responsible for the inhalation of oxygen (O2) into the body and the exhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body.
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This system is composed of the nose, mouth, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea), bronchial tubes, and lungs.
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The process of breathing involves the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the lungs, which contracts and relaxes to allow air in and out.
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Oxygen enters the bloodstream from the lungs and is transported to the cells, where it is needed for cellular respiration, which is the process of making energy.
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Carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, is carried back to the lungs to be expelled from the body.
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The rate of breathing will increase during physical activity to meet the increased demand for oxygen and to eliminate more carbon dioxide.
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Alveoli are tiny sacs within the lungs where the gas exchange happens. They contain a rich supply of capillaries, which allows for efficient and fast diffusion of gases.
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Exercise can have a positive impact on the respiratory system by strengthening respiratory muscles and improving lung capacity, which can increase the efficiency of the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.
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Issues can arise in the respiratory system from smoking, air pollution or diseases like asthma and bronchitis which restricts airflow and hampers the process of gas exchange.
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The medulla oblongata in the brain controls the involuntary action of breathing, it monitors the level of carbon dioxide in the blood and responds when the levels are too high by increasing the breathing rate.
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Amazingly, a human being at rest breathes around 12 - 20 times per minute, meaning the respiratory system works ceaselessly, day and night, to keep our cells supplied with oxygen.
It is advisable to have a deep understanding of the functioning, structure, and importance of the respiratory system, as well as factors that can impact its function, within a physical education and well-being context.