respiratory system

noun

, Anatomy.

1. the system by which oxygen is taken into the body and an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place; in mammals the system includes the nasal passages, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

respiratory system

noun

1. the specialized organs, collectively, concerned with external respiration: in humans and other mammals it includes the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, lungs, and diaphragm

respiratory system

1. The system of organs and structures in which gas exchange takes place, consisting of the lungs and airways in air-breathing vertebrates, gills in fish and many invertebrates, the outer covering of the body in worms, and specialized air ducts in insects.

respiratory system

1. The organs in the body involved in respiration . Air enters the body through the nose and mouth and travels down the trachea , through the bronchial tubes , and finally into the lungs . Once in the lungs, the air is drawn into an enormous number of thin-walled sacs richly supplied with capillaries . The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood takes place in these tiny sacs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of respiratory system¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

As a multisystemic vascular disease primarily transmitted through the respiratory system, masks — especially N95-style respirator masks, which use clever physics to filter particles as tiny as viruses — effectively prevent most transmission.

From Salon

"Fires emit dense and toxic smoke that harms the environment and human health, causing problems to the respiratory system and cardiovascular disorders," it added.

From BBC

In addition to the danger of the release of toxic sulphur dioxide gas, just being exposed to dust particles from the concentrate can damage a person’s respiratory system.

From BBC

That includes veterans suffering from cancer, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, hypertension, sinusitis and other conditions, often related to the respiratory system.

From New York Times

Like many whales and dolphins, sperm whales are highly social mammals and communicate by squeezing air through their respiratory systems to make strings of rapid clicks that can sound like an extremely loud zipper underwater.

From Seattle Times