The Respiratory System
What is the Respiratory System?
The Respiratory system is a tube opening to the outside world on one end, and along the
way it divides and ends up in tiny, grape-like sacs, which interface with the blood. The
structures of the system are; nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, lungs, bronchi,
bronchioles, and alveolus.
Why study the Respiratory System?
The primary function of the respiratory system is to provide a place for gas (oxygen and carbon
dioxide) exchange to occur in the body. Our bodies are so complex, and our cells are so far
away from where the air is, we need a system devoted to bringing the air inside the body.
Once inside the body oxygen can be delivered by the Cardiovascular System to wherever the
cells live. The added bonus is herbal constituents and essential oils are small enough to “tag
along” with the air molecules on their journey into the body via the Respiratory System. This
system is yet another entry point into the body for the herbal constituents. It is more
immediate than the skin and is a good entry point when essential oils are needed throughout
the whole body system. When the respiratory system is affected and in need of treatment,
inhalation of essential oils is the preferred method of introduction. While the skin had a
surface area of 22 square feet, the Respiratory system has a surface area of 750 square feet!
The herbal constituents only need to go through 2 cells to get to the blood rather than the
40-50 cells of the skin before they get to the bloodstream.
What does the Respiratory System do for us?
1. Provides the mechanism to bring the air into the body, and move it out again.
2. Warms, moistens and filters the air as it comes in.
3. Provides a place for the olfactory receptors (sense of smell) to live.
4. Is involved in sound production
5. Elimination of waste products (carbon dioxide mostly)
6. Regulates blood pH (how acidic or basic the blood is…without this regulation we would
die).
Let’s talk anatomy, what are the different parts of the system, and what do they do?
Nose
The nose is the preferred point of entry for air over the mouth, because it contains course
hair to filter out debris from the air (and bugs too!), and it warms and moistens the air as
well. The nasal cavity is the space within the nose, from the openings at the nostrils
(external nares), to the rear of the cavity at the internal nares. The cavity is divided into
two chambers by the nasal septum, a mucous covered bony divider. The nasal cavity is
specially designed to warm and moisten the air as it comes in, and cool and dehydrate the air
as it leaves. The design is a series of shelves called conchae that are covered in a mucous
membrane. (Mucous membranes line the entire respiratory system by the way.) Air travels in,
is moistened by the mucus as it travels by the shelves and in the grooves, and is warmed by
the blood found circulating under the mucous membrane. The top (superior) conchae, is
the place where the olfactory receptors are found. We’ll talk about them in the next chapter.
Some essential oils could be absorbed here, but the majority will travel on in the system, and
be absorbed in the lungs.
The nasal cavity has openings for the paranasal sinuses (“sinuses”) and
the lacrimal ducts (tears).
© 2013 Tammi Sweet
What is the Respiratory System?
The Respiratory system is a tube opening to the outside world on one end, and along the
way it divides and ends up in tiny, grape-like sacs, which interface with the blood. The
structures of the system are; nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, lungs, bronchi,
bronchioles, and alveolus.
Why study the Respiratory System?
The primary function of the respiratory system is to provide a place for gas (oxygen and carbon
dioxide) exchange to occur in the body. Our bodies are so complex, and our cells are so far
away from where the air is, we need a system devoted to bringing the air inside the body.
Once inside the body oxygen can be delivered by the Cardiovascular System to wherever the
cells live. The added bonus is herbal constituents and essential oils are small enough to “tag
along” with the air molecules on their journey into the body via the Respiratory System. This
system is yet another entry point into the body for the herbal constituents. It is more
immediate than the skin and is a good entry point when essential oils are needed throughout
the whole body system. When the respiratory system is affected and in need of treatment,
inhalation of essential oils is the preferred method of introduction. While the skin had a
surface area of 22 square feet, the Respiratory system has a surface area of 750 square feet!
The herbal constituents only need to go through 2 cells to get to the blood rather than the
40-50 cells of the skin before they get to the bloodstream.
What does the Respiratory System do for us?
1. Provides the mechanism to bring the air into the body, and move it out again.
2. Warms, moistens and filters the air as it comes in.
3. Provides a place for the olfactory receptors (sense of smell) to live.
4. Is involved in sound production
5. Elimination of waste products (carbon dioxide mostly)
6. Regulates blood pH (how acidic or basic the blood is…without this regulation we would
die).
Let’s talk anatomy, what are the different parts of the system, and what do they do?
Nose
The nose is the preferred point of entry for air over the mouth, because it contains course
hair to filter out debris from the air (and bugs too!), and it warms and moistens the air as
well. The nasal cavity is the space within the nose, from the openings at the nostrils
(external nares), to the rear of the cavity at the internal nares. The cavity is divided into
two chambers by the nasal septum, a mucous covered bony divider. The nasal cavity is
specially designed to warm and moisten the air as it comes in, and cool and dehydrate the air
as it leaves. The design is a series of shelves called conchae that are covered in a mucous
membrane. (Mucous membranes line the entire respiratory system by the way.) Air travels in,
is moistened by the mucus as it travels by the shelves and in the grooves, and is warmed by
the blood found circulating under the mucous membrane. The top (superior) conchae, is
the place where the olfactory receptors are found. We’ll talk about them in the next chapter.
Some essential oils could be absorbed here, but the majority will travel on in the system, and
be absorbed in the lungs.
The nasal cavity has openings for the paranasal sinuses (“sinuses”) and
the lacrimal ducts (tears).
© 2013 Tammi Sweet
