Explaining the respiratory system for kids may seem easy yet challenging at the same time. Did you know, several organs form the respiratory system, from the nose to the lungs. Lungs take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide while breathing. Oxygen is needed to perform everyday activities such as moving hands, opening eyes, and digesting food (1). Humans can survive without water and food for some days, but it is impossible to live more than a few minutes without oxygen. Help your child learn more about the functions and parts of the respiratory system and common illnesses about breathing.
The Respiratory Tract
The respiratory tract is divided into two sections, namely, upper and lower. The part above the voice box or larynx is upper respiratory tract and the one below it is lower respiratory tract. The respiratory tract is lined by respiratory mucosa or respiratory epithelium (2). The tract moistens and provides protection from pathogens and foreign bodies. Respiratory mucosa helps prevent infection and tissue injury through mucus secretion and the mucociliary clearance action. The respiratory epithelial layer is replaced with the stratified squamous cell layer in the vocal cords of the larynx.
Parts Of The Respiratory System
Upper respiratory tract
The upper respiratory tract constitutes:
Lower respiratory tract
The lower respiratory tract constitutes:
Lungs
Lungs are a pair of pyramid-shaped organs inside your chest. The primary function of the lungs is to add oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide. This process is called gas exchange or respiration. The various parts of the lungs are:
Other parts of the respiratory system
Functions Of The Respiratory System
How Does The Respiratory System Work?
Each inhalation fills the millions of alveoli inside the lungs. Oxygen is diffused into the blood through capillaries. Oxygen gets attached to the hemoglobin, forming oxyhemoglobin in the red blood cells. This oxygen-rich blood flows to the left atrium of the heart. The heart pumps this oxygenated blood, and the arteries carry it to every cell of the body. The cells produce carbon dioxide as a waste product, and it must be expelled from the body. The carbon dioxide dissolves into the blood that flows through the veins and reaches the right atrium of the heart. From the heart, this deoxygenated blood is pumped to the alveoli of the lungs. The gaseous form of carbon dioxide diffuses from the bloodstream into the alveoli from where it is exhaled out of the body (4).
Common Respiratory Diseases
The following are some of the diseases that affect the respiratory system (5).
Allergic reactions Infections Pollution
Viral infections Bacterial infections Fungal infections
30 Respiratory Fun Facts For Kids
Here are some fascinating facts about our respiratory system and respiration.
