Question

What is respiratory system? What are its functions? Also, describe the parts of the respiratory system.
(8 Marks)

Answer 1

• The respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe.
• It includes your airways, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles that support the lungs.

(1 Mark)

The respiratory system has many functions. Besides helping you inhale and exhale, it:

• Allows you to talk and to smell.
• Warms air to match your body temperature and moisturises it to the humidity level your body needs.
• Delivers oxygen to the cells in your body.
• Removes waste gases, including carbon dioxide, from the body when you exhale.

(1 Mark)

Following are the parts of the respiratory system:

• Respiratory system is divided into 2 major parts, the upper respiratory tract, and the lower respiratory tract.
• Upper respiratory tract is composed of the nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx.
• Air enters through the nostrils of the nose. The nasal cavity traps the dust particles. Air passes to the lungs through the pharynx, and the larynx is essential for speech.
• Lower respiratory tract is composed of the trachea, the lungs, and bronchioles including alveoli.
• Trachea is the main air pathway to the lungs.
• Lungs are the primary respiratory organ, they give oxygen to capillaries and take carbon dioxide and release it out of the body.
• Bronchi supply the lungs with air
• Bronchioles are the branches of bronchi. They further divide into primary and secondary bronchioles. And they finally terminate into alveoli (air-sacs).
• Diaphragm contracts and relaxes to allow air into the lungs.

(6 Marks)