UNIT 4 SEMINAR ALT ASSINMENTHUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2KAPLAN UNIVERSITYPROFESSOR ANDREW BUTZKETHOMISHA GOUARDNOVEMBER 14,2017THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEMWe breathe because oxygen is essential to burning fuel, sugar and fatty acids, in our cells inorder to produce energy. The oxygen we breath into the lungs is transported by red blood cellsto the entire body to be used to produce energy. Oxygen also has natural cleansingand healthsupporting abilities, it helps remove impurities and blockages. Oxygen isalso necessary for thehealing process in repair of injured tissues.Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs at the tissue level in the millions of alveoli in thelungs and capillaries that envelop them. The inhaled oxygen moves from the alveoli to the bloodinthe capillaries, and the carbon dioxide moves fromthe blood in the capillaties to the air in thealveoli. Peripheral gas exchange is known as the internal respiration, the process of respiratorygases being exchanged between the blood and the tissues of the body rather than the lungs. Thecapillaries of the cardiovascular system delever the oxygen enriched blood to the tissues of thebody. It then diffuses across thethin capillary walls from the high concentraation in the blood to
