Overview on Anatomy of Human Respiratory System

Abstract

The respiratory system is composed of a conducting portion that brings oxygen to the lungs and the respiratory portion that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide gases with the blood stream. Air contains many microbes and viruses carried on dust and droplet nuclei; therefore, respiratory system is the most common portal of entry for these infectious agents. The respiratory system starting from the nose up to lungs can be differentiated into an upper and a lower respiratory tract. The former includes nose, pharynx, and associated structures while the latter refers to larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. The nose is the only visible part of the respiratory system, protruding from the face, and lying in between the forehead and the upper lip. The internal part of nose has a large cavity in the skull below the cranium that posteriorly connects with the pharynx through a pair of internal nares. © 2014 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor and Francis Group, an Informa business.