This page will go deeper into how the respiratory system operates and what is involved in it.
Function
The function of the respiratory system is to replace the carbon dioxide produced by cells with oxygen.
What type of cells does it have?
The epithelium is a lining that covers the nose, mouth, throat, and trachea. This lining blocks air from getting into the inner tissues of the respiratory area. It also moistens and cleans air before it gets to the lungs. There are three main cells in the epithelium: ciliated, goblet, and basal. Cilated cells produce cilia. Cilia seizes and removes pollutants from our body. Goblet cells clean out all of the mucus from our airways. Basal cells can change into other cells when a certain type of cell is needed. Type 1 and Type 2 pneumocytes are located in alveoli. Type 1 can be found where gas exchanges and Type 2 found where surfactant is produced. Surfactant is a substance that reduces surface tension of a liquid when it is dissolved. Type 2 can also divide and become Type 1. Clara cells clean, or filter, the air that enters our body. There also are cells called alveolar that absorb oxygen and filter it through the blood and take to the lungs where it will enrich them with oxygen.
How does it work?
When we breathe through our nose or mouth, air moves down our throat and into the trachea, or windpipe. Here, the trachea separates into the bronchial tubes, which are passages for air. When the bronchial tubes reach the lungs, they split into smaller channels called bronchioles. The ends of the bronchioles are tiny balloon-like sacs called alveoli. There are a lot of alveoli in your body. Over 300 million to be exact! Capillaries are little blood vessels that border alveoli. Inhaled air containing oxygen will pass through alveoli walls and then into the blood. The blood that now contains oxygen will leave the lungs and carry the oxygen to your heart. Since your body needs oxygen, the heart will pump it to the cells of tissues and organs of your body. After the cells use up the oxygen, carbon dioxide is made and then goes into the blood. The carbon dioxide is carried to your lungs by the blood so it can leave your body by exhaling. The diaphragm has a big role in breathing as well. When you inhale, the diaphragm becomes smaller and pushes downward. This allows a lot of air to enter the lungs. There is an opposite affect when you exhale. The diaphragm pushes upward toward the lungs causing them to become smaller, or deflate.
are there any chemical reactions?
When we breathe, we take in and breathe out a mixture of gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor and some rare gases. There is a chemical reaction in respiration. It is when glucose, or sugar, reacts with oxygen to produce energy we need and wastes like carbon dioxide and water.