Getting to Know the Human Respiratory Organs – Breathing as a process of inhaling air containing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide from the lungs. The respiratory system is a collection of organ tissues that help your body breathe.
Did you know that adult humans breathe 12-16 times per minute while resting? One series of inhaling and exhaling is counted as 1 breath. This process is also known as the human respiratory system. With the support of oxygen, all organs can then function normally. Let’s get to know the following human respiratory system:
A. How the Human Respiratory System Works
The working process of the human respiratory system is often also called the respiratory system. As explained by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the process of respiration begins when you take in air through your nose and into your throat.
After that, the air will descend through the larynx and into the trachea. At the same time you inhale, the diaphragm and the muscles between the ribs contract to create empty space in the chest cavity. This is so that the lungs can draw in the air you breathe.
After the incoming air moves up to the end of the trachea, the air will pass through the bronchi and into the two lungs. After that, air flows into the bronchioles, which continue to narrow until the air reaches the ends of the forks. At the end of the bronchioles are small air sacs or alveoli. When air reaches the alveoli, oxygen passes through the membrane into tiny blood vessels called capillaries.
Instead, carbon dioxide from the blood in the capillaries leaves and enters the alveoli. After oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange places in the alveoli, the chest cavity will relax the diaphragm muscle so that the diaphragm loosens. This allows carbon dioxide to move up and then be expelled through the lungs and then exhaled through the nose.
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B. Respiratory System Organs in Humans
Breathing is a very important activity for humans. Humans have been equipped with a device that is able to breathe air, so that the need for oxygen is met, because without oxygen the activities in the bodies of living things cannot take place.
The definition of the respiratory system in humans can be interpreted as follows: The activity of taking in air (inspiration) and expelling air (expiration) through the respiratory apparatus. Exchange of gases between cells and the environment (external respiration). Enzymatic reactions, utilization of oxygen require respiratory enzymes (cytochromes).
1. Nose
The nose is the main gate for air to enter and exit when breathing. The inner wall of the nose is covered with fine hairs that function to filter impurities from the air we breathe. Apart from the nose, air can also enter and leave the mouth.
2. Tonsils
Tonsils are another name for tonsils. The tonsils are lymph nodes that are in the wall of the pharynx (throat). The tonsils are actually not an important part of the human immune or respiratory system. If the tonsils become infected and inflamed, the doctor can remove them or remove them surgically.
3. Pharynx
The pharynx or upper throat is a tube behind the mouth and nasal cavity that connects them to another respiratory tract, namely the trachea. As part of the human respiratory system, the pharynx functions to channel air from the nose and mouth to the trachea (windpipe).
4. Sinuses
Sinuses are air cavities in the skull. These cavities are located on either side of the nose near the cheekbones, behind the bridge of the nose, between the eyes, and in the middle of the forehead. In the human respiratory system, the sinuses function to help regulate the temperature and humidity of the air you breathe from your nose.
5. Adenoids
Adenoids are lymph node tissue in the throat. Inside the adenoids are knots of cells and connecting blood vessels that carry fluid throughout the body. Adenoids help the body fight infection by filtering foreign matter such as germs, and producing lymphocyte cells to kill them.
6. Epiglottis
The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap of cartilage located behind the tongue, above the larynx (voice box). During breathing, the epiglottis opens and allows air to enter the larynx and into the lungs. However, the epiglottis will close while we eat to prevent food and drink from being accidentally inhaled and causing choking.
6. Lungs
The lungs are a pair of organs located within the rib cage. Each lung is on either side of the chest. The main role of the lungs in the respiratory system is to accommodate the oxygenated air that we breathe from the nose and to channel this oxygen into the blood vessels to be distributed throughout the body.
7. Pleura
The lungs are covered by a thin membrane called the pleura. The pleural lining acts as a lubricant that allows the lungs to expand and contract smoothly with each breath. The pleural lining also separates the lungs from the chest wall.
8. Bronchioles
Bronchioles are branches of the bronchi that function to carry air from the bronchi to the alveoli. In addition, the bronchioles also function to control the amount of air that enters and leaves during the breathing process.
9. Larynx
The larynx or voice box houses the vocal cords. It is located just below the junction of the pharynx which divides into the trachea and esophagus. The larynx has two vocal cords that open when we breathe and close to produce sound. When we breathe, air will flow through the two vocal cords that coincide to produce vibrations. It is these vibrations that produce sound.
10. Trachea
The trachea or windpipe is an integral part of the airways and has a vital function of moving air to and from the lungs for breathing. The trachea or windpipe is a wide, hollow tube that connects the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi of the lungs.
It is about 10 cm long and less than 2.5 cm in diameter. The trachea extends from the larynx down to the breastbone (sternum), and then divides into two small tubes called bronchi. Each side of the lung has one bronchus.
11. Ribs
The ribs are the bones that support the chest cavity and protect the internal organs of the chest, such as the heart and lungs from impact or shock. The ribs will expand and contract following the movement of the lungs when taking in and exhaling.
12. Alveoli
Alveoli or alveoli are small sacs in the lungs that are located at the ends of the bronchioles. In the respiratory system, alveoli serve as a site for exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
There are also capillaries in the alveoli. Later, the blood will pass through the capillaries and be carried by the veins and arteries. The alveoli then absorb oxygen from the air carried by the bronchioles and pass it into the blood. After that, carbon dioxide from the body’s cells flows with the blood to the alveoli to be exhaled.
13. Bronchial Tubes
In the bronchial tubes of the lungs, there are cilia in the form of small hairs that move like waves. The wave movement of the cilia will bring mucus (phlegm/mucus/fluid) up to the outside of the throat.
Cilia are also present in the nostrils. The function of mucus or phlegm in the bronchial tubes is to prevent dust, germs, or other foreign objects from entering the lungs. Coughing can also be a way for the human respiratory system to prevent foreign objects from entering the lungs.
14. Diaphragm
The diaphragm is a strong muscular wall that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. When doing belly breathing, the diaphragm will move down and create an empty cavity to draw in air. It can also help expand the lungs.
C. How to Keep the Respiratory System Healthy
Various conditions can affect the respiratory organs of the human body. Among them due to irritation of bacteria or viruses that cause germs. It can also be due to inflammation, irritation, and pain due to various diseases. Various diseases that attack the respiratory organs include: asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, tuberculosis.
In addition, there are also lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, pleural effusion, and sarcoidosis. The way to keep the respiratory organs healthy can be done in various ways. Among them:
- Avoid pollutants that can damage airways, including smoke, chemicals and radioactive gases
- Wear a mask outdoors so as not to be exposed to smoke, dust or other types of pollutants
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
- Consume a healthy intake that contains lots of fruits and vegetables
- Drink enough water to keep the body hydrated
- Exercise regularly
- Prevent infection by washing your hands frequently
- Get vaccinated regularly
D. Diseases of the Human Respiratory System
The respiratory system is one of the most important systems in the human body. The lungs that enter this system have an important function in distributing oxygen. Oxygen that enters the lungs will later be carried by the blood and distributed throughout the body. If lung function is disturbed, the body will also slowly weaken due to reduced oxygen levels.
Disorders of the respiratory system can be caused by lifestyle, such as smoking to viral infections such as Covid-19. Therefore, you must be careful in maintaining lung health so that the body remains healthy. Here are some diseases that commonly attack the respiratory system in humans:
1. Asthma
The first is asthma. One of the diseases that causes the respiratory tract to narrow so that the sufferer has difficulty breathing. This narrowing can be caused by several things, such as dust, smoke, animal hair, exercise, cold air. Or also because of heredity. If one of your family members has a history of this disease, then one of their offspring must suffer too.
Asthma can attack parents, adults, teenagers, and children. To reduce asthma, you can take beta adrenergic receptor agonists. Is one of the best asthma medicine. Don’t forget to bring inhalers or asthma inhalers when you are on the move, so that your activities continue to run smoothly.
2. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a condition in which the lungs become infected due to dust ingress. Then resulting in the appearance of black spots in the lungs. Apart from dust, viral infections such as Covid-19 can be a forerunner of respiratory problems because this virus directly attacks the respiratory tract.
Pneumonia is divided into two levels, namely mild and severe with different symptoms for each person. It can be like fever, chills, cough with phlegm, and a chest that feels tight. Check with your doctor immediately so you can get further treatment to prevent unwanted things.
3. Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a disease that triggers inflammation of the bronchi, the airways connected to the lungs. The main causes are viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma pneumoniae, and chlamydia (small organisms that look like bacteria).
Bronchitis is a disease that can be cured over time. But for sufferers who are chronic (lungs and heart) and are old, it can be a serious illness. It is recommended for sufferers to take medicines recommended by doctors, get lots of rest, and drink water.
4. Emphysema
The next disease that can attack the respiratory system is emphysema. Can cause damage to the air sacs in the lungs. The damage that occurs initially is small, but over time it will increase in size. When the area of the lungs gets narrower, the amount of oxygen pumped into the lungs decreases, consequently disrupting the respiratory system.
Reporting from WebMD, a common cause of emphysema is due to smoking or inhaling cigarette smoke. Some of the symptoms for people with emphysema are coughing, shortness of breath, decreased body weight, tired easily, and heart palpitations.
5. Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is one of the more specific diseases of high blood pressure, which includes the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. This disease occurs when the small arteries and capillaries become blocked or narrowed. This condition causes blood flow to the lungs to be disrupted.
When pulmonary hypertension recurs, the right side of the heart has to work harder to pump blood to all organs of the body. When blood flow enters the lungs for a long time, the heart’s performance will weaken and eventually cause heart failure. This disease can affect anyone. But it is more common in people with lung or heart disease.
6. Whooping Cough
Whooping cough or hundred-day cough is a contagious disease that affects the human respiratory tract. According to data from WHO, the number of people with whooping cough is around 30-50 million cases each year and the number of deaths that occur is 300 thousand people each year.
Symptoms that arise such as sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion. Whooping cough can be prevented by giving a vaccine to the sufferer. Or it could be by getting enough rest and avoiding foods that contain oil such as fried foods.
7. Lung Cancer
This cancer is a type of severe respiratory disease. Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs develop abnormally which then causes tumors. The tumor, which was originally small, will slowly grow and become more numerous. This causes lung function to be hampered. Nicotine in cigarettes is touted as the main cause of lung cancer. Besides smoking, frequent exposure to air polluted with chemicals can cause lung cancer.
8. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
This disorder is caused by injury to the lungs due to serious illness. Patients with ARDS mostly need the help of a breathing apparatus called a ventilator until they recover. One of the diseases that can cause ARDS is the Covid-19 virus.
9. Tuberculosis (TB)
The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the main cause of TB disease. This respiratory disease is one of several dangerous diseases in the world. Sourced from the WHO website, there were as many as 1.4 million people died due to TB in 2019. To prevent this disease, children will be given a TB prevention vaccine at certain ages. Treatment for TB patients takes a long time until they are declared completely cured. If not treated immediately, this respiratory system disease can attack other organs in the body.
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