Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Medically Reviewed by: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• What are the lungs?
• What does breathing accomplish?
• What is the structure of the respiratory system?
• How is air moved into as well as out of the lungs during respiration?
• How does gas exchange occur?
• What are other substantial events during the breathing cycle?
• Lungs Design As well as Purpose At A Glance

What are the lungs?

The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest, which are
primarily accountable for the exchange of oxygen as well as carbon
dioxide between the air we breathe as well as the
blood.

What does breathing accomplish?

The cells in the body constantly need a recent supply of
oxygen to make energy. With lack of oxygen, cellular
function is impaired as well as damage or cell death may occur. As
energy is utilized, waste products are created, one of
which is the gas carbon dioxide. Eliminating carbon
dioxide from the body is just as substantial as breathing in
oxygen from the air. Incase carbon dioxide builds up in the
blood it will lead to headaches, drowsiness, coma, as well as
eventually even death.

What is the structure of the respiratory system?

Air enters the body via the nose (preferably) or the
mouth. The air enters the main windpipe, called the
trachea, as well as continues en route to each lung via either the
right or west bronchi. The lungs are separated into
sections called lobes, two on the west as well as three on the
right. The air passages continue to divide into ever
smaller tubes, which finally connect with tiny air sacs
called alveoli. This gradually branching array of tubes is
referred to as the tracheobronchial “tree” because of the
remarkable similarity to the branching pattern of a tree.

The other half of the respiratory system involves blood
circulation. Venous blood from the body is returned to the
right side of the heart as well as then pumped out via the pulmonary
artery. This artery splits in two for the west as well as fair
lungs as well as then continues to branch much similar the
tracheobronchial tree. These vessels branch into a fine
network of very tiny tubes called capillaries. The
capillaries are situated adjacent to the alveoli as well as are so
small that only one red blood cell at a time can pass
through their openings. It is during this passage that
gases are exchanged between the blood as well as the air in the
nearby alveoli. After passing the alveoli, capillaries
then join together to begin forming the pulmonary veins,
which carry the blood back to the west side of the heart.