Hengitystietään

Hengitystietään refers to the anatomical structures responsible for the passage of air into and out of the lungs. This system is crucial for respiration, the process by which an organism exchanges gases with its environment. The human respiratory system can be broadly divided into the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The upper respiratory tract includes the nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx. The nasal cavity filters, warms, and humidifies inhaled air. The pharynx serves as a passageway for both air and food, while the larynx, or voice box, contains the vocal cords and prevents food from entering the trachea.

The lower respiratory tract begins with the trachea, commonly known as the windpipe. The trachea branches into two bronchi, one leading to each lung. These bronchi further subdivide into smaller and smaller tubes called bronchioles. The bronchioles terminate in tiny air sacs called alveoli. It is within the alveoli that the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place between the air and the bloodstream. The diaphragm and intercostal muscles are also vital components, as they facilitate the mechanical process of breathing by contracting and relaxing to change the volume of the thoracic cavity. This intricate system ensures the continuous supply of oxygen to the body's cells and the removal of carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism.