The Human Body - 1.2 The respiratory system

The Human Body -

1.2 The respiratory system

​

by kath Ho

​Parts of the respiratory system

The human respiratory system contains these parts :

• ​two lungs

• ​air tubes leading from the mouth and nose to the lungs.

• ​muscles in the chest that allow air to move in and out of the lungs.

​The lungs and breathing

• ​​We use our lungs for breathing.

• The lungs are the center of the respiratory (breathing) system.

• Every cell of the body needs oxygen to stay alive and healthy.

• Your body also needs to get rid of carbon dioxide.

• ​The lungs are in the chest. They are protected by the ribs.

• ​The lungs are like stretchy sponges that fill up with air.

• This gas is a waste product that is made by the cells during their normal, everyday functions.

Breathing

• We need oxygen to live.

• When we breathe in, oxygen gas from the air moves into the blood vessels in the lungs. Blood carries the oxygen to the heart and then to the other parts of the body.

• ​As our body uses up oxygen, it makes carbon dioxide.

• ​The blood carries the carbon dioxide back to the lungs. We get rid of carbon dioxide in the air we breather out.

​Questions :

When you breathe in, does your chest get bigger or smaller? Why do you think this is so?

As you breath in you take air into your lungs and your chest expands, so to answer your question 'Your chest gets bigger'.

​

​When you breathe out, does your chest get bigger or smaller? Why do you think this is so?

​When we breathe out, the diaphragm moves upward, forcing the chest cavity to get smaller and pushing the gases in the lungs up and out of the nose and mouth.

​

Explain how we are able to blow up a balloon.

​Take a deep breath and “kiss” the balloon. Blow air from your lungs into the balloon.