Hengitysteitään

Hengitysteitään refers to the anatomical structures responsible for the passage of air into and out of the lungs in the body. These pathways begin with the nasal cavity and oral cavity, which warm, humidify, and filter inhaled air. From here, air travels through the pharynx, a shared passage for both air and food, and then the larynx, also known as the voice box, which contains the vocal cords.

Below the larynx lies the trachea, or windpipe, a cartilaginous tube that extends into the chest cavity. The trachea then bifurcates into two main bronchi, one for each lung. These bronchi further divide into smaller and smaller tubes called bronchioles, creating an extensive branching network within the lungs. The bronchioles eventually terminate in tiny air sacs called alveoli.

It is within the alveoli that the crucial process of gas exchange takes place. Oxygen from inhaled air diffuses across the thin walls of the alveoli into the surrounding capillaries, where it binds to red blood cells. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled. The entire system is designed for efficient oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal, essential for cellular respiration and overall bodily function. Any obstruction or inflammation within these pathways can significantly impair breathing and lead to various respiratory conditions.