THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM is responsible for gas exchange in your
body. It moves air into and out of the lungs and controls gas exchange
between the blood and lungs.
The Function of the Respiratory System:
Air moves from one organ to the next in the respiratory system. As you breathe in,
you breathe oxygen into the blood. As you breathe out, you breathe Carbon
Dioxide out of the body.
There are 3 functions of the respiratory
system:
1) Taking in oxygen: The oxygen your
body needs has to come from the air a mixture of many gasses. Oxygen is
needed by your cells to make energy.
The process in which your cells use
oxygen and sugars to make energy is
called respiration. Respiration
allows your cells to release energy that fuels growth and other cell processes.
2) Getting rid of Carbon Dioxide and Water: In addition to energy,
respiration makes carbon dioxide and water. Too much carbon dioxide in
your body is toxic. Your respiratory system gets rid of carbon dioxide and
some water through your lungs.
3) Helping systems working together: The respiratory system is just one of
your body systems that makes respiration possible. Respiration could not
happen without the digestive and circulatory systems. Your respiratory
system brings oxygen into your lungs. Meanwhile, your digestive system
absorbs sugars from food. Then, your circulatory system carries both oxygen
and sugars to your cells, where respiration happens.
The Structure of the Respiratory System:
As Air goes from the outside environment into the lung,
it passes through these organ structures:
(1) Nasal cavity (nose) -> (2) Pharynx (throat) -> (3)
Trachea (windpipe) -> (4) Bronchi (passages that move
air into the lungs) -> (5) Lungs -> (6) Bronchioles ->
(7) Alveoli (tiny sacs that move gasses such as oxygen
and Carbon Dioxide between air and the blood)
Major Organs: Lungs, mouth, nose, trachea, bronchi,
bronchioles, alveoli, diaphragm muscle
Mastery Questions: The Respiratory System
Directions: Read and ANNOTATE The Respiratory System and answer the question below on the next
blank page of your SCIENCE NOTEBOOK.
1. What are the 3 main functions of the respiratory system?
2. Why do your cells need oxygen? How would respiration in your body cells be affected if your respiratory
system did not bring in enough oxygen?
3. Why does your respiratory system need to get rid of Carbon Dioxide?
4. Explain how the respiratory system works with the digestive and circulatory systems to make cellular
respiration happen.
Mastery Questions: The Respiratory System
Directions: Read and ANNOTATE The Respiratory System and answer the question below on the next
blank page of your SCIENCE NOTEBOOK.
1. What are the 3 main functions of the respiratory system?
2. Why do your cells need oxygen? How would respiration in your body cells be affected if your respiratory
system did not bring in enough oxygen?
3. Why does your respiratory system need to get rid of Carbon Dioxide?
4. Explain how the respiratory system works with the digestive and circulatory systems to make cellular
respiration happen.
Mastery Questions: The Respiratory System
Directions: Read and ANNOTATE The Respiratory System and answer the question below on the next
blank page of your SCIENCE NOTEBOOK.
1. What are the 3 main functions of the respiratory system?
2. Why do your cells need oxygen? How would respiration in your body cells be affected if your respiratory
system did not bring in enough oxygen?
3. Why does your respiratory system need to get rid of Carbon Dioxide?
4. Explain how the respiratory system works with the digestive and circulatory systems to make cellular
respiration happen.
Mastery Questions: The Respiratory System
Directions: Read and ANNOTATE The Respiratory System and answer the question below on the next
blank page of your SCIENCE NOTEBOOK.
1. What are the 3 main functions of the respiratory system?
2. Why do your cells need oxygen? How would respiration in your body cells be affected if your respiratory
system did not bring in enough oxygen?
3. Why does your respiratory system need to get rid of Carbon Dioxide?
4. Explain how the respiratory system works with the digestive and circulatory systems to make cellular
respiration happen.
Mastery Questions: The Respiratory System
Directions: Read and ANNOTATE The Respiratory System and answer the question below on the next
blank page of your SCIENCE NOTEBOOK.
1. What are the 3 main functions of the respiratory system?
2. Why do your cells need oxygen? How would respiration in your body cells be affected if your respiratory
system did not bring in enough oxygen?
3. Why does your respiratory system need to get rid of Carbon Dioxide?
4. Explain how the respiratory system works with the digestive and circulatory systems to make cellular
respiration happen.