The Respiratory System: Function & Anatomy 

The respiratory system is the organs and other structures in the body that allow us to breathe. This system includes the lungs, airways, pharynx, larynx, nose, mouth, and diaphragm. There are muscles and blood vessels that support and protect the respiratory system as well. Together, they bring oxygen into the body and move out carbon dioxide. When we inhale, air enters the lungs, and oxygen moves into the blood. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, or waste gas, is moved from the blood to the lungs and is exhaled out. This is an essential process called gas exchange. The respiratory system also warms and adds moisture to the air breathed to match body temperature and bring it to the necessary humidity for the body. It protects the body from particles breathed in, blocking potentially harmful bacteria, germs, and irritants. It allows the body to talk by air vibrations on the vocal cords. It helps the body use the sense of smell by moving molecules past the olfactory nerve. It also balances levels of acidity in the body. When there is too much carbon dioxide, the pH of the blood lowers, making it acidic. The respiratory system helps maintain the body’s acid balance by removing carbon dioxide. What an important, essential, and fascinating system!  

Anatomy

The main organs of the respiratory system are the lungs, but it has many different working parts, which include:

The Nose & Trachea: The air is warmed and humidified in the nasal cavity. Nose hairs also help to trap any dust particles. The air then enters the windpipe and trachea. The trachea is a hollow tube surrounded by rings of cartilage that help keep it from collapsing. Check out The Sinus System here.

The Mouth: Like the nose, the mouth brings air into the lungs; however, unlike the nose, it does not have a filtration system. It acts as a secondary pathway for air exchange and allows a large air volume to move. 

The Airways: This series of passageways allows air to travel and move into and out of the lungs. The main purpose is to provide structure and protect the body from harmful particles. It is also considered the respiratory tract. This system is divided into sections. The upper airways include the nasal cavities, sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. The pharynx is the hollow, muscular tube inside the neck. It starts behind the nose and opens into the larynx and esophagus. It is broken up into three parts: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx. It supports the respiratory and digestive systems. The larynx, or voice box, connects the throat to the windpipe, or trachea, and helps to protect airways, produces sounds, and helps with swallowing. They are located in the face, head, and neck and are primarily responsible for bringing air into the body. The lower airways include the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. They are in the neck and chest, leading to the lungs.

The Lungs: Located inside the chest and protected by the ribcage, the lungs look like giant sponges. The bronchi are the central airways into the lungs. These branch out and are filled with thousands of tiny tubes that branch out smaller and smaller. The smallest of these are the air sacs or alveoli. Each one has a fine mesh of capillaries. This is where gas exchange takes place.

 
Breathing Muscles: The lungs rely on a vacuum inside the chest to stay inflated. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscles beneath the lungs. It contracts and relaxes when we breathe to change air pressure, suck air into the lungs, and push air out of the lungs. The intercostal muscles between the ribs help to change the internal pressure by lifting or relaxing the ribcage with the diaphragm.

Many blood vessels in the respiratory system help to carry blood into and out of the lungs to be oxygenated. The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. The pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart's left atrium. They are the only veins that carry oxygenated blood. The inferior and superior vena cava carry oxygen-rich blood from the body to the heart’s right atrium. The aorta receives oxygen-rich blood from the heart’s left ventricle and distributes it to the rest of the body. There are also capillaries, or blood vessels, in the walls of the alveoli. 

Speech: The respiratory system allows the body to talk. Exhaled air goes over the vocal cords inside the throat allowing for sound. 

The brain controls the breathing rate by sensing the body’s need for oxygen and to move carbon dioxide. 

Other Systems Affected & Involved: 

Many other body systems are involved with the respiratory system. The circulatory system is the primary body system that works closely with the respiratory system. The heart and blood vessels are heavily engaged in oxygen exchange. The liver is also connected to the respiratory system through the circulatory system. The muscular system helps with breathing movements, the nervous system controls the breathing rate, and the skeletal system provides structure for the lungs to expand and contract.  

Hormones not only play a role in breathing, but breathing can also affect hormones. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect breathing during sleep. Progesterone and thyroxine stimulate respiration. Somatostatin, dopamine, and neuropeptide Y depress breathing. Breathing exercises can decrease cortisol and epinephrine levels. Hormonal changes can affect airways and lung responses. 

 

Fun Body System Facts: 

• No matter how hard we exhale, the lungs always retain 1 liter of air. This makes the lungs the only organ that can float in water.
• 70% of waste is eliminated through your lungs by breathing. 
• The left lung is smaller than the right lung to accommodate the heart. 
• Humans exhale up to 17.5 milliliters of water an hour.

What is necessary for optimal Respiratory health?  

The respiratory system functions optimally by using crucial nutrients like vitamins A, C, D, and E, carotenoids, beta carotene, zinc, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. These all support healthy lung tissue, and immune function, and help protect the lungs. 

Nutrition Support:  

Fruits & Vegetables	Berries	Apples	Red Cabbage	Lentils
Protein	Dark Leafy Greens	Pumpkin	Olive Oil	Potassium
Healthy Fats	Tomatoes	Turmeric	Oysters	Magnesium
High Fiber	Beets	Blueberries	Yogurt	Selenium
Organic Whole Grains	Peppers	Green Tea	Barley	Vitamins: A, C, D, E

Recipe 

Oxymels are a delightful blend of sweet and sour, combining honey, vinegar, and herbs in a tonic that has been cherished for centuries. The Greek word 'oxymeli' means 'acid and honey,' reflecting its core ingredients. This traditional remedy unites the immune-boosting power of apple cider vinegar, the soothing sweetness of raw honey, and the healing properties of herbs to support respiratory health, immune health, and overall wellness.

Traditional oxymel recipes use a higher amount of honey to vinegar at five parts honey, to one part vinegar. Depending on your taste you may find this too sweet. Recipes may be adjusted for taste.

Lung Oxymel 

Ingredients

• Raw apple cider vinegar, with “the mother” (raw & unrefined)
• Raw local honey
• Mullein, dried
• Wild Cherry Bark, dried
• Rosemary, dried
• Sage, dried
• Elecampane, dried 
• Ginger, dried

Supplies 

• Sterilized jar with lid
• Cheesecloth or strainer
• Labels
• Dropper bottles, either amber or cobalt

Directions

Fill a sterilized glass jar 1/4 full with equal parts of each herb. Pour vinegar over herbs until the jar is half full. Fill the remainder of the jar with honey and stir until combined well. Wipe any liquid off the rim and secure it with a plastic or metal lid with parchment paper underneath. This keeps the vinegar from corroding the metal. Shake well. 

Store in a cool, dark place for two weeks, and shake every 2- 3 days. 

After two weeks, strain the herbs, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. 

Pour liquid into a dropper bottle. Label and date. Store in a cool, dark place until ready to use. 

*Shelf life is approximately 6 months

*Children under 1 year of age should not consume raw honey

 

Lifestyle Support:  

• Use a humidifier at night
• Practice breath work & breathing exercises
• Swim for lung strength 
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a nutrient-rich diet
• Limit smoking, exposure to outdoor air pollution, and secondhand smoke
• Improve indoor air quality
• Practice good posture
• Stay hydrated

 

Herbal Friends of the Respiratory System: 

Dong Quai	Ophiopogon	Poria	Chinese Asparagus	Chinese Skullcap
Gardenia	Luo Han Guo	Platycodon	Tangerine Peel	White Mulberry
Zhejian Fritillary	Schisandra	Chinese Licorice	Mullein	Marshmallow
Plantain	Eucalyptus	Thyme	Nettle	Elecampane

 

Supporting Supplements: 

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Magnesium 
• Bromelain
• Quercetin
• Probiotics
• Vitamin complexes containing A, C, D, & E