Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
The respiratory system plays a vital role in the body by facilitating the exchange of gases, allowing oxygen to enter and carbon dioxide to exit. This complex process begins with inhalation, where the diaphragm contracts, pulling downward, and chest muscles expand to create a vacuum effect, drawing air into the lungs. Also, the journey of air starts as it flows through the nostrils, entering the nasal cavity where specialized cells release mucus. And this mucus, containing lysozymes, helps trap bacteria and particles. Nasal hairs, coated with mucus, further filter out large particles, forming what we commonly know as boogers. And the nasal cavity is connected to four sinuses—frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, and maxillary—which assist in warming and moistening the inspired air. Interestingly, these sinuses also act as echo chambers, amplifying our voice; their congestion during a cold alters our speech.