Science Common Sense

147 - How does the respiratory system work?

The respiratory system is like a team that helps you breathe. Here's how it works:

1. Air comes in: You take a breath through your nose or mouth.
2. Air goes down: The air goes down your throat (pharynx) into your windpipe (trachea).
3. Air reaches lungs: The air then reaches your lungs through two tubes called bronchi.
4. Oxygen gets in: Inside your lungs, tiny air sacs called alveoli help transfer oxygen into your blood.
5. Carbon dioxide gets out: At the same time, the bad stuff (carbon dioxide) is carried away from your body.
6. The process repeats: You breathe out, and the air with carbon dioxide goes back up and out of your body.

Your diaphragm, a muscle under your lungs, helps you breathe in and out by moving up and down. It's like a big, invisible pump!