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Respiratory system: our way of gas exchange
The respiratory system is the oxygen we breathe and the carbon dioxide we exchange. The human respiratory system is a series of organs responsible for absorbing oxygen and discharging carbon dioxide. The main organ of the respiratory system is the lung. When we breathe, the lung exchanges gas. Together with the circulatory system, the lungs pump oxygen-enriched blood to all cells in the body. Then, the blood collects carbon dioxide and other wastes and sends them back to the lungs. When we exhale, they are excreted. According to the American Lung Association, the human body needs oxygen to sustain itself. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, brain cells begin to die within about 5 minutes of hypoxia, which may lead to brain damage and eventually death. [panting! The amazing facts about the human respiratory system,

The average breathing or breathing frequency mainly depends on age. According to the data of Stanford Children's Health Center, the normal breathing frequency of newborns is about 40 to 60 times per minute, and the baby may slow down to 30 to 40 times per minute when sleeping. According to the data of the European Respiratory Society, the average resting breathing frequency of adults is 12 to 16 times per minute, and it is 40 to 60 times per minute during exercise. This is a cavity in the skull, which helps to regulate the temperature and humidity of the air we breathe.

Air from the sinuses passes through the trachea, also known as trachea, and enters the bronchi, which are two tubes that deliver air to each lung (each tube is called a bronchus). The bronchi are lined with tiny hairs called cilia, which move back and forth and carry mucus up and down. Mucus is a viscous liquid, which collects dust, bacteria and other substances that invade the lungs and excretes them when we sneeze and cough.

The bronchi split again, delivering air to each lobe. According to the American Lung Association, the right lung has three lobes and the left lung has only two lobes to accommodate the heart. The lobes of the brain are filled with small spongy sacs called alveoli, where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Air enters the bronchus, which branches off and enters three lobes of the right lung and two lobes of the left lung.

The alveolar wall is very thin (about 0.2 micron) and consists of a layer of tissue called epithelial cells and tissue called small blood vessels. Blood in capillaries absorbs oxygen and expels carbon dioxide. Oxygenated blood then enters the pulmonary veins. This vein carries oxygen-enriched blood to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped to all parts of the body. The remaining carbon dioxide enters the alveoli and is discharged in the exhaled air. Diaphragm "KDSP" and "KDSP" are dome-shaped muscles at the bottom of the lung, which control breathing and separate the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. When air is inhaled, the diaphragm will tighten and move downward, leaving more room for the lungs to inflate and expand. When exhaling, the diaphragm expands and compresses the lungs, forcing the air out. respiratory

Infographic. Click on the picture to enlarge. (Ross Toro, writer of Livescience) Respiratory diseases Respiratory diseases and diseases can be divided into two categories: infection, such as influenza, bacterial pneumonia and enterovirus respiratory virus; Chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to Dr. Neil Chason, a lung surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, there are not many ways to treat R virus infection, but let them run on their own. Dr Matthew Ekslin, a lung doctor and intensive care specialist at Wechs Medical Center of Ohio State University, believes that antibiotics are ineffective in treating viruses, and the best way is to rest. For most healthy people, the most common respiratory disease they may face is infection. Cough is the first symptom and may be accompanied by fever. [Common sense of coughing and sneezing]

"However, cough may be a sign of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema," he said. Among chronic lung diseases, most respiratory diseases are characterized by shortness of breath and fatigue at first, such as walking a long distance or climbing several stairs.

Tonya Winders, chairman of the Allergy and Asthma Network, said that asthma is a chronic lung inflammation that can lead to cough, asthma, chest tightness or shortness of breath. When a person touches their trigger, these signs and symptoms may be worse. These triggers may include air pollution, tobacco smoke, factory smoke, cleaning agents, infection, pollen, food, cold air, exercise, chemicals and drugs. According to the CDC, more than 25 million people (13 adults 1, 12 children 1) in the United States suffer from asthma.

Cough is usually the first sign of respiratory infection. Type B chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sometimes called chronic bronchitis or emphysema, is a chronic progressive disease, with reduced airflow in and out of the lungs and difficulty breathing. According to the American Lung Association, over time, the airways in the lungs will become inflamed and thickened, making it difficult to remove carbon dioxide from exhaust gas. With the development of the disease, patients will have shortness of breath and will limit their activities. According to the CDC, more than150,000 Americans suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Lung cancer is usually associated with smoking, but it can also affect non-smokers. It is the second most common cancer in men and women, after prostate cancer and breast cancer respectively. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 20 19 years, there will be about 228 150 new cases of lung cancer in the United States (male 1 16440 cases, female 165438 cases) and female 10 cases.

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Read more about the University of Rochester Medical Center. Watch "Meet the Lung" by Khan Academy. Look at this useful breathing chart of the lung association. This article was updated on August 23rd, 20 19 by Sarra drew Yin, a domain science writer.