The respiratory system is divided into a conducting zone and a respiratory zone. Explain what make them different.
Answer
The respiratory system is responsible for taking in oxygen from the environment and releasing carbon dioxide. The structures of the respiratory system include the nose, mouth, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. The nose is the external opening of the respiratory system. The nostrils lead into the nasal cavity, which is divided into two sections by the septum. The mouth and throat are also part of the respiratory system. The throat, or pharynx, is a tube that starts behind the nose and goes down to the esophagus. The larynx, or voice box, is located at the top of the trachea. The trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that goes from the larynx to the bronchi. The bronchi are the two main tubes that lead from the trachea to the lungs. The bronchioles are the smaller tubes that branch off the bronchi and lead to the alveoli. Transporation of air from the outside environment down to this point in the respiratory tree is commonly referred to as the CONDUCTING ZONE. It is also known as the "Anatomical Dead Space" since no gas exchange occurs in this area.
The alveoli are tiny sacs where gas exchange first takes place. These are small, single-cell structures (or simple squamous epithelium) that group together in clusters like grapes. This is referred to as the RESPIRATORY ZONE, these are structures in the lungs where gas exchange take place.