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http://www.buzzle.com/articles/human-respiratory-system-funct...
the pharynx. The pharynx is a pathway that is common for both air and food and is continuous with the esophagus. Pharynx function is to facilitate passage of air to the trachea. However, the pharynx opens up to the wind pipe or trachea, in order to facilitate breathing. The flap-like structure (called epiglottis) located just above the opening, closes this orifice, when food is swallowed. This structure ensures that food particles do not enter the trachea. It is near this opening that the voice box or the larynx is situated. This structure performs the function of protecting the trachea and also for production of sound. The air enters the trachea or windpipe, which is a tube-like structure with tough covering. Trachea functions include facilitating air passage and moistening of the air. The trachea branches into two tube-like structures called bronchi. Each bronchus travels into the left and right lungs respectively. Lungs is the spongy structures that house the bronchi, which divide into numerous tubes called bronchioles. Each bronchiole ends with numerous circular sacs called alveoli. The alveoli are the basic functional units that facilitates gaseous exchange, which is the most important among the human respiratory system functions. The carbon dioxide expelled by the cells are carried by the venous blood to the alveoli. The alveoli contain numerous thin-walled capillaries through which blood passes. Inside the alveoli, the carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is drawn inside the capillaries. The oxygenated blood is carried to the heart, which pumps it to the different parts of the body. So, during inhalation, oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is expelled during exhalation that is caused by relaxation of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles. By Sonia Nair Last Updated: 9/20/2011 About Buzzle | Privacy Policy
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