Page 11 - EMS CPR Manual V1

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
The human body consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. The
respiratory system is
designed to exchange
carbon dioxide accumulated in the blood for oxygen in the airways, which enters the lungs as air from the atmosphere. This air is breathed into the airways via the nose, pharynx, trachea and bronchi.
How we Breathe
The lungs are protected three dimensionally by the ribs, with the diaphragm muscle sitting underneath and separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
During inhalation, the diaphragm muscle presses down, creating a vertical space and low-pressure environment in the lungs. Fresh air/oxygen is then sucked down the airway, filling the lungs and equalizing the air pressure.
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ANATOMY