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17.1: Introduction to Respiration

  • Page ID
    125471
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    Learning Objectives

    After completing this lab report, you should be able to:

    • Identify the major structures in the respiratory system microscopically and on the models.
    • Describe inspiration and expiration.
    • Use a spirometer to measure lung capacity.
    • Describe lung volumes and capacities.

    Pulmonary ventilation brings oxygen into our lungs and removes carbon dioxide from our lungs. The heart pumps deoxygenated blood into pulmonary circulation. Once this blood reaches the lungs, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood vessels into the lungs, and oxygen in the lungs diffuses into the blood. The now oxygenated blood returns to the heart and is pumped into systemic circulation to supply oxygen to the body's tissues.

    The respiratory system can be divided by its functions into the conducting zone and the respiratory zone. Structures within the conducting zone conduct air into and out the lungs. These structures include the nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea, bronchial tree and bronchioles up until the terminal bronchioles. The respiratory zone begins with the respiratory bronchioles and also includes the alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs and alveoli.

    Illustration of the human respiratory system, labeled with parts including the trachea, larynx, and lungs.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) Major Structures of the Respiratory System. (Image credit: "Major Respiratory Structures" by OpenStax is licensed under CC BY 4.0)

    This page titled 17.1: Introduction to Respiration is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .