Journey Through Respiratory System

Journey through the Respiratory System

An oxygen molecule has one of the most important and vital roles. It is needed in order for each and every one of our body cells to produce energy.

When oxygen molecules have entered through the mouth and nose, these molecules began their journey through the respiratory system.

To begin with the oxygen travels down the trachea or can also be known as the windpipe along with more oxygen molecules. The trachea is a hollow, boney tube allowing respiratory air to pass through. The trachea connects our nose to the mouth and then down to the lungs, it is located in front of our neck. While the oxygen molecules are going down the trachea, they will quickly brushes against the cilia. The cilia are a short, hair like vibrating structure. It is responsible for preventing bacteria or dirt from

The bronchus is the major air passage of the lungs, it looks like branches. It is then divided into two, and further the molecules went, the bronchus divided into more tiny and narrowed bronchus called 'bronchioles'.

After the molecules traveled down bronchioles, the oxygen molecules find themselves at a dead end. Although, at the end of each bronchioles, there are tiny air sacs called Alveoli. The molecules now entered the Alveoli. (Singular: Alveolus) The Alveolus is shaped like group of grapes and is where the gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

The oxygen molecules passes through the wall of the capillary, the capillary absorbs the oxygen molecules and transport them to the blood stream. The oxygen molecule reaches the red blood cells. The red blood cells are red in color because they contain a chemical called 'Hemoglobin.' The oxygen poor blood (de-oxygenated blood) was being pumped to the heart through the pulmonary artery. As soon as the oxygen molecule attaches to the Red Blood Cells, it transform into oxygen