The human respiratory system is super important for breathing! It includes parts like the nose, pharynx (that’s the throat), larynx (which is the voice box), trachea (the windpipe), bronchi (the tubes that go into the lungs), and of course, the lungs themselves.
When we breathe in, air comes through our nose or mouth. Our body does some cool stuff to the air first, like filtering it, warming it up, and adding moisture so it’s just right for our lungs. Then, the air travels down the trachea and into the bronchial tubes that lead to the lungs. Inside our lungs, there are tiny tubes called bronchioles that lead to even tinier air sacs called alveoli. That’s where the magic happens! This is where our body swaps oxygen for carbon dioxide.
Breathing involves some muscles too! The diaphragm and intercostal muscles (the ones between our ribs) help pull and push air in and out of our lungs by changing the pressure in our chest cavity. It’s all pretty amazing how our body works to keep us breathing!