The respiratory systemA review of the system, its components and the diseases that can affect itWhat is the respiratory system? Why do we need to breathe? Can the process be changed or altered? The information in this document will help you discover how the respiratory system works, what components make it work, and the many diseases that can change or alter the process. The respiratory system is made up of organs and tissues in your body that help you breathe. The goal of breathing is to deliver oxygen to the body and carry away carbon dioxide, a waste product that can be deadly if allowed to build up. Cells in the human body require a constant flow of oxygen to stay alive. The body needs oxygen to provide energy and growth to the body's cells. The respiratory system resides in the upper abdomen and chest area where oxygen enters through the nose, through inhalation, and is processed by the lungs. After the air leaves the head, it travels down through the trachea. It divides into two branches, the left and right bronchus, which enter the lungs. There it enters a thin membrane that lines the walls of the lungs called the alveoli. “As a result, oxygen diffuses through microthin membranes into the blood from the alveoli, and carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli from the blood” (Petechuk, 2004, p. 20). So when you breathe in, oxygen goes into the blood and when you breathe out, carbon dioxide comes out of the blood. There are many components that make up the respiratory system. There is an upper respiratory system and a lower respiratory system. In the upper respiratory system you will find the nose, pharynx, and larynx. The lower respiratory tract consists of the trachea, the bronchial tree, the lungs and… the center of the paper… through medications, surgery or special breathing machines. The respiratory system is something we sometimes take for granted; because breathing is something we do without having to think about. It is a system made up of organs, tissues and blood circulation. It is a complex and fragile system that we must take care of if we want to live a healthy life. Works Cited Petechuk, David. The respiratory system. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. Print."Respiratory System: Facts, Functions, and Diseases." Livescience.com. Technology Media Network, 2013. Web. November 17, 2013. “Respiratory System.” Inner body. Howtomedia, Inc. and Web. November 17, 2013. Whittemore, Susan and Denton A. Cooley, MD The Respiratory System. Philadelphia [Pa.: Chelsea House, 2004. Print.