The principles
Breathing is one of the body's vital functions. Without breathing, there is no life. Without breathing, the muscles, brain, heart... cannot be oxygenated, and the body can no longer function.
Breathing is life, and it is easy to see why. Just block it for a few moments and you will notice that it does not take long to feel the first signs of complexity.
Therespiratory system includes the respiratory tract (i.e. upper airways - nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx - trachea and bronchi) and the lungs, enveloped by the pleura. The thorax, with its bony cage, nerves and muscles, also plays a part.
Human beings breathe through two lungs. Each lung has several lobes: two on the left side and three on the right.
crédit image © : Freepik
So how does breathing work?
Air breathed in through the nose or mouth travels to the lungs via the respiratory tract: the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and pulmonary alveoli, where gas exchanges take place.
Gas exchange takes place between the millions of pulmonary alveoli and the capillaries that surround them. As illustrated below, inhaled oxygen passes from the alveoli to the blood in the capillaries, and carbon dioxide from the blood in the capillaries to the air in the alveoli.
crédit image © : Freepik
This article is part of a series of articles about breathing and breathlessness. Visit here for other articles.