Respiratory System Anatomy Parts Function

Respiratory system consist of nose, trachea and lung which inhale air at alveoli performing respiration and gas exchange take place. It is also called as body ventilatory system.

Respiratory system consist of upper respiratory tract and lower respiratory tack. Upper respiratory organs are nose, nasal cavity, sinuses, upper pharynx part and lower respiratory tract include lower pharynx, trache, bronchi and alveoli.

Respiration is a process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide from the body. Gas exchange is complex process oxygen absorption by body cells and carbon dioxide excretion from blood.

Major organs of Respiratory system:-

• Nose 

Nose is protruding outside over mouth. It is first organ of respiratory system inhaling air by two nostrils. Inner layer of nose consist of mucosal area which moisten the air and prevent inhaling of various particles in lungs. It obstruct them and drain out from body. The separating part of nose is called as nasal septum separating two nostrils. The olfactory epithelium layer in top ceiling of nose help in getting sensation of smell.

• Pharynx

Pharynx is located behind the nose carrying both air and food particles (oropharynx) and end with trachea and esophagus respectively. There are three kind of pharyx, nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx etc. It is of 13 cm long having funnel like structure.


There are three part of pharynx :-

• Nasopharynx is nasal cavity carry inspired air, 

Nasopharynx is located behind nosal area carrying air into the trachea.

• The oropharynx 

Oropharynx is located behind the mouth area carrying both air and food. It consist of back of tongue and
soft palate of mouth.

• Laryngopharynx opening to the larynx. 

It is lowered part of pharynx located below the mouth, it is point where pharynx is anteriorly turn into larynx and posteriorly by esophagus. 

• Larynx

Larynx is called as vocal cord, located at top of the neck. It carry air from pharynx and send it to trachea. Larynx is center house for producing sound, breathing and preventing food aspiration. In upper section of larynx, epiglottis is present. When food enter in it, Epiglottis goes down and close opening of larynx so that food is not go into trachea. It also prevents aspiration of food from lungs. Larynx ends with trachea. 

Larynx contin v shaped vocal cord, which closes while speaking, vibrations out from crashes produces sound with the help of tongue. It also protect the trachea from external blows and food aspiration. 

• Trachea

Trachea carries air from the larynx and pour into the bronchial tree. It is a tube of 12 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, internally made of the ciliated mucous membrane, which trapped foreign particles. The trachea is externally surrounded by c shaped elastic fibers that promote the airflow. It is also called as windpipe. 

• Bronchial  tree

Bronchial tree start with bronchi consist of network of bronchioles and alveoli. Bronchi subdivide in bronchiole then in a small unit called alveoli. Alveoli is functional unit of respiratory system. It is rich in blood supply microspocally involve gas exchange process. There are 350 million of alveoli present in each lung. Each alveoli consist of single endothelium layer allowing for gas exchange.

• Lungs

See:- Structure & Function of Lungs

There are 2 lung consist of cone shape structure having broad base and concave at the upper area. Lung is main structural unit of respiratory system. It is of spongy material filled with air sacs weight of 1.3 kg approx. It is protected by pleural visceral and parietal fluid.

Functions of Respiratory System 

Respiratory system carries multiple function such as breathing, maitaining ventilation, performing gas exchange and providing oxygen to body cells. Presence of vocal cord in the larynx produce sound with the help of tongue.

It helps in moisturising body tissues via mucous secretions. It aid in draining out various infection from body trapped in mucosal membrane.

• Breathing 

The important function is breathing. Through nose, air is inhale in body and carbon dioxide is sent out from lung thorugh complex respiration and gas exchange process.

• Deliver oxygen to body cells by internal respiration 

Internal respiration is process of fusing oxygen molecule from blood to enter in ody cells and tissues. It is called as internal respiration.

• External respiration 

External respiration involve exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide by blood and alveoli. It is also called as gas exchange.

• Smell sensation 

Nose upper layer is made up of olfactory epithelium layer which get stimulated for smell as chemical sensation. 

• Production of sound 

Sound is produced in larynx via vocal cord. Vocal cord is a v shaped structure which closes during speech and via crushing vibrations sound is produced. Tongue help in producing sound.

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