The Respiratory System
The respiratory system can be divided into upper and lower respiratory tracts. The upper tract consists of the nasal cavities and pharynx, and is sometimes referred to as the collecting or conducting portion, as it conducts and filters air. The lower tract, also known as the respiratory portion, consists of the areas of the respiratory tract that are within the thoracic cavity. It begins at the larynx, and includes the trachea, bronchi, the lungs and all of the functional portion, in which gaseous exchange between the vascular system and airways occurs. The lower respiratory tract can also be considered to include the structures that support the breathing process; the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles.
The development and origins of the upper and lower respiratory system differ in several ways. For this reason, the focus of this website will be on the development of all the structures that compose the lower respiratory tract, including the diaphragm.
The development and origins of the upper and lower respiratory system differ in several ways. For this reason, the focus of this website will be on the development of all the structures that compose the lower respiratory tract, including the diaphragm.
Produced by: Mohammed Al-Onaizi