Introduction to Respiration
Respiratory system:
The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing [2]. Five Steps of Respiration 1. Ventilation or Breathing 2. Alveolar Gas Exchange from Lungs to Blood 3. Gas Transport from Blood to Tissues 4. Systemic Gas Exchange 5. Regulation of the System |
Evolutionary Significance
Mammals have developed a very specialized respiratory system that works closely with the circulatory system in order to keep organs and tissues well supplied with oxygen. This system has been fine tuned for millenia from the fermentation of prokaryotes to the budding variety of respiratory mechanisms that are now present across the earth. From the microscopic cellular pathways such as glycolysis to the macroscopic vital organs such as the lungs, respiration is one of the pivotal evolutionary advantages that helped shape the variety of flora and fauna we see today. |
The following video gives a good overview of the human respiratory system.
Many other animals have similar systems.
Many other animals have similar systems.