Functions of the Lungs:
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Gas Exchange: The main job of the lungs is to help our bodies get the oxygen we need and get rid of carbon dioxide. When we breathe in, oxygen goes into tiny air sacs called alveoli in our lungs, and it passes into our blood. At the same time, carbon dioxide, which our bodies don’t need, moves from the blood into the alveoli so we can breathe it out.
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Regulating Blood pH: The lungs help keep the right balance of acids and bases in our blood. They do this by controlling how much carbon dioxide is in our blood. If there’s too much, it can make our blood too acidic.
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Protective Functions: Our lungs help keep us safe by trapping and getting rid of dust, germs, and other bad stuff we might breathe in. If something irritates our lungs, we might cough to clear it out.
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Sound Production: The lungs are also important for talking! They create the airflow that allows our vocal cords to make sounds when we speak.
Functions of the Esophagus:
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Transport of Food and Liquids: The esophagus is a tube that connects our throat to our stomach. Its main job is to move food and drinks from our mouth down to our stomach. It does this using muscle contractions called peristalsis that push the food along.
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Preventing Aspiration: The esophagus also helps keep food and liquids from going down the wrong pipe (the trachea, or windpipe). When we swallow, a flap called the epiglottis helps guide food into the esophagus instead of the trachea.
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Secretion of Mucus: The esophagus makes mucus, which helps smooth the way for food to move down without getting stuck.
In Summary: The lungs are mostly about breathing and getting oxygen, while the esophagus is all about moving food from our mouth to our stomach.