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The respiratory system starts at the mouth and nose and ends with the alveoli in our lungs. When we breathe, the air enters our mouth or nose, passes through to the pharynx in the throat, down the larynx (voice box) and the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs. The trachea splits near the bottom into the primary bronchi, which enter the lungs. Each bronchus then divides into secondary bronchi, which divide more into bronchioles, which keep dividing into alveolar ducts, which finally contain the alveoli.
The alveoli are very small air sacs. Blood is brought to the alveoli from the heart by the pulmonary artery. (Read about "Vascular System") While in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli, the blood gives off carbon dioxide through the capillary wall into the alveoli and takes up oxygen from the air in the alveoli. The oxygenated blood is then carried away by the pulmonary veins, and brought back to the heart. From there, the blood is sent out to the rest of the body.
There are many medical conditions that can affect the respiratory system and how we breathe - from the common cold, all the way to lung cancer. Some are caused by microorganisms (Read about "Microorganisms") including common viral infections such as the flu or respiratory syncytial virus, which is known as RSV. Others are the result of chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies and cystic fibrosis. By following the links below you can learn more about many of these conditions.
Acute bronchitis: see Acute Bronchitis Acute respiratory distress syndrome: see Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Acute sinusitis: see Sinusitis & Rhinitis Allergic rhinitis: see Sinusitis & Rhinitis Allergies: see Allergies Allergies, animal dander: see Animal Dander Allergies, dust: see Dust Allergies Allergies, mold: see Mold Allergies Allergies, pollen: see Pollen Allergies Animal dander: see Animal Dander Apnea, sleep: see Sleep Asbestosis: see Occupational Respiratory Diseases Asthma: see Asthma Black lung: see Occupational Respiratory Diseases Bronchiolitis: see Bronchiolitis Bronchitis, acute: see Acute Bronchitis Bronchitis, chronic: see Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD): see BPD Byssinosis (brown lung): see Occupational Respiratory Diseases Chest tumors: see Chest Tumors Chronic bronchitis: see Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic sinusitis: see Sinusitis & Rhinitis Colds: see The Common Cold COPD: see Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Coronaviruses: see Coronaviruses Croup: see Croup Cystic fibrosis: see Cystic Fibrosis Dust allergies: see Dust Allergies Emphysema: see Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Flu: see Influenza Hay fever: see Pollen Allergies Hypopharyngeal cancer: see Head and Neck Cancers Influenza: see Influenza Laryngeal cancer: see Head and Neck Cancers Legionnaires' disease: see Legionnaires' Disease & Pontiac Fever Lung cancer: see Lung Cancer Lupus: see Lupus Mold allergies: see Mold Allergies Nasopharyngeal cancer: see Head and Neck Cancers Nonallergic rhinitis: see Sinusitis & Rhinitis Occupational lung disease: see Occupational Respiratory Diseases Oropharyngeal cancer: see Head and Neck Cancers Paranasal sinus cancer: see Head and Neck Cancers Pertussis (whooping cough): see Childhood Illnesses Pleurisy: see Pleurisy Pneumoconiosis: see Occupational Respiratory Diseases Pneumonia: see Pneumonia Pneumothorax: see Pneumothorax Pollen allergies: see Pollen Allergies Pontiac fever: see Legionnaires' Disease & Pontiac Fever Pulmonary embolism: see Pulmonary Embolism Pulmonary hypertension: see Pulmonary Hypertension Respiratory distress syndrome in infants (RDSI): see RDSI Respiratory distress syndrome, acute: see Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): see Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Rhinitis: see Sinusitis & Rhinitis Rose fever: see Pollen Allergies SARS: see Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Scleroderma: see Scleroderma Sinusitis: see Sinusitis & Rhinitis Sore throat, strep throat: see Sore Throat & Strep Throat Tracheal tumors: see Tracheal Tumors Tuberculosis: see Tuberculosis Whooping cough (pertussis): see Childhood Illnesses |
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