The Respiratory System Breathing is the process of exchanging air, obtaining oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide. The four parts of respiration include• Ventilation: Movement of air between the atmosphere and the alveoli.• Diffusion: Carbon dioxide and oxygen are transferred between the alveoli and the blood. • Regulation: respiratory muscles and nervous system. • Perfusion: blood flows through the lungs. The respiratory system consists of the nose, mainly lungs, trachea, larynx, pharynx, bronchi and bronchioles. And they are divided into an upper and a lower stretch. The main functions of the respiratory system are:1. Gas exchange2. Regulation of blood PH3. Produce sound4. Olfactory receptors5. Provide oxygen to the body and eliminate carbon dioxideThe upper respiratory tract consists of the nose, larynx, pharynx and trachea1. Nose: Provides airways for breathing and filters air. Detect odor2. Larynx: the voice box, the main functions are• Speech.• Breathing.• Closed during swallowing (prevents choking)• Open during breathing.3. Pharynx: passageway for food and air, other functions include• Vocalization.• Equalizing air pressure in the middle ear.• Work with our digestive system to prevent food from "going down the wrong tube"• Swallowing. • Contains the tonsils.• Normal function is to prevent infection.4. Trachea- “wind tube” (lined with hair cells and mucus)• Allows air to flow through the larynx and bronchi and divides the airflow between the lungs and bronchioles.• Also traps dust particles that enter the lungs • (Damage to the cilia can cause chronic cough) The lower respiratory tract consists mainly of the bronchi and bronchioles of the lungs.1. Lungs – the most vital part of the respiratory system is divided into two parts left and right • Right – has 3 lobes, an upper, middle and lower lobe which is a horizontal and oblique slit. (Located superiorly due to the liver on the right side) • Left: It has 2 lobes one upper and one lower which are just an oblique slit. (smaller than the right lung)2. Bronchi: small passages composed of hyaline cartilage• There are two bronchi in the body that branch from the trachea• They are lined with mucus and cilia to clear particles from the airways3. Bronchioles- passage through which air passes through the nose or mouth and reaches the lungs.• Works with gas exchange.• Transfers fresh air through our body.Cellular respiration – “is the set of reactions and metabolic processes that occur in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and thereby release waste products” (definition) • Cellular respiration is vital in the respiratory system since the body's cells will die if the respiratory system fails.