Bronchioles, Terminal. "Respiratory System." Respiratory System. Ambulance Technician Study, 20 Apr. 2009. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.ambulancetechnicianstudy.co.uk/respsystem.html>.

"Glendale Animal Hospital - The Family Veterinarian." Glendale Animal Hospital - The Family Veterinarian. Glendale Animal Hospital, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.familyvet.com/Dogs/dogs_respiratory_system.html>.

Kindly. "Suffolk Dog Day." Suffolk Dog Day RSS. Adnams Southwold, 20 July 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.suffolkdogday.com/>.

The Respiratory System

The respiratory system consists of the airways, the lungs and the respiratory muscles that mediate the movement of air into and out of the body. (Dulcinea, Para. 1) This system also exchanges oxygen for carbon dioxide, which is then pumped by the heart to other parts of the body. (Smith)

Organs and Their Functions

This system is made of many organs that make it function, the nose, which takes air inside through the nostrils and then warms it up and humidifies it inside. Then theres the mouth, which can as well intake air to breathe. These two openings of the airway (the nasal cavity and the mouth) meet at the pharynx, or throat, at the back of the nose and mouth. (Nemours, Para. 4) The pharynx makes part of two systems, the respiratory and the digestive. The reason for this is that at the bottom of this organ it gets divided into two tubes, the esophagus, which leads the food to the stomach, and one for air. The epiglottis, a small flap of tissue, covers the air-only passage when we swallow, keeping food and liquid from going into the lungs. (Nemours, Para. 4) There is also the windpipe, also known as the trachea, whose walls need to stay open so are strengthened by long cartilage rings. The trachea is actually located part in the neck and part in the chest cavity, and is lined with cilia. What the cilia does is that it gets the liquid or food particles out of the airway so that they dont get into the lungs. (Nemours, Para. 6) The trachea, at the bottom end of it, divides into two tubes that connect the lungs. These two tubes are the bronchi, which brake into even smaller tubes called bronchioles, which end in little tiny air sacs called alveoli. That is where the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is made. Each of the two lungs contains about 300-400 million alveoli. The lungs also contain elastic tissues that allow them to inflate and deflate without losing shape and are encased by a thin lining called the pleura. This network of alveoli, bronchioles, and bronchi is known as the bronchial tree. (Nemours, Para. 8)

Importance of This System

If an organism didnt have a respiratory system, oxygen wouldnt be able to enter the body and get to the cells and other parts of the body. Also, carbon dioxide wouldnt be able to go out of the body either, which would make your blood go acidic, and then you would go into a coma, and die. (Smith)

The lungs have an extremely large surface area. In fact when they spread out they would equal the size of a tennis court. The lungs are also wet, which helps dissolve oxygen so it can be absorbed easier. The lungs also have a really large blood supply so that they can take away the oxygen and bring the carbon dioxide. Finally, the surface of the lungs is very thin, which helps them absorb the oxygen and release the carbon dioxide easier. (Smith)

Respiratory System Adapted

Respiratory System Disease

Asthma is a is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning. (N.I.H., Para. 1)

Bronchioles, Terminal. "Respiratory System." Respiratory System. Ambulance Technician Study, 20 Apr. 2009. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.ambulancetechnicianstudy.co.uk/respsystem.html>. "Glendale Animal Hospital - The Family Veterinarian." Glendale Animal Hospital - The Family Veterinarian. Glendale Animal Hospital, 2013 Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.familyvet.com/Dogs/dogs_respiratory_system.html>. Kindly. "Suffolk Dog Day." Suffolk Dog Day RSS. Adnams Southwold, 20 July 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.suffolkdogday.com/>.

Picture Bib.

Foundation, The Nemours. "KidsHealth." Lungs and Respiratory System. The Nemours Foundation, 1995-2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/lungs.html>.

Info Bib.

Media, Dulcinea. "The Respiratory System." The Respiratory System. Dulcinea Media, 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Science/TheRespiratory-System.html>. National Institutes of Health. "What Is Asthma?" - NHLBI, NIH. National Institutes of Health, 15 June 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/>. Smith, Tracey J. "Respiratory System." Personal interview. 25 Oct. 2013.

Smith, Tracey J. "Respiratory System Adapted to Its Function." Personal interview. 28 Oct. 2013.
Studios, Andres Rader. "RESPIRATORY SYSTEM - ALL ABOUT BREATHING." Biology4Kids.com: Animal Systems: Respiratory System. Andrew Rader Studios, 1997-2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_respiratory.html>.