Gas Exchange
Oxygen is of utmost importance in animals alike. Oxygen is used in the process of breathing as it travels down the respiratory system of it's host and comes out as carbon dioxide it also allows humans and other types of animals to engage in sounds or speech. Oxygen also is part of a process that creates energy called cellular respiration. All animals perform some type of cellular respiration usually using ATP and taking place in the mitochondria. In the process of cellular respiration glucose and oxygen are combined to create energy, carbon dioxide waste (then filtered out of the body) and water.
The Human Respiratory System
The human respiratory system is very similar to a snake's respiratory system.
The Nasal Cavity
Human's breathe in through their nose and mouths in order to obtain oxygen. When the air enters the nose and mouth is moves into an area of space called the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity has cilia or little hairs that move the oxygen through the cavity into the larynx, cleaning it as it moves.
The Larynx
The larynx is the part of the respiration system that allows humans to form words. Known as the voice box, the larynx uses the oxygen that filters through in order to create vibrations that make sound. This is why, when one is eating and the food "goes down the wrong tube" one cannot speak or breathe, and this is really dangerous. The food has probably blocked the larynx so oxygen cannot move through it and down the trachea.
The Trachea
The trachea is a long tube much like the esophagus however instead of food traveling down it, oxygen travels down the trachea.
The Lungs: Bronchi
The bronchi (right and left bronchi) connect to the trachea and are two "tubes" that branch off from the trachea and then each tube branches off into smaller tubes and connect to the alveoli.
The Lungs: Alveoli
The alveoli are air sacks located at the end of each bronchial "tube" that help diffuse oxygen into the blood. Basically, veins containing red blood cells wrap themselves around the alveoli sacks (they are called capillaries) and diffuse out carbon dioxide and in oxygen. Once the carbon dioxide is diffused into the alveoli sacks it travels out of the body (the same way oxygen travels in) causing the diaphragm to exhale and your mouth or nose to release air containing carbon dioxide. The oxygen has been diffused into the blood stream and then into the cell and then into the part of the cell named the mitochondria.
The Nasal Cavity
Human's breathe in through their nose and mouths in order to obtain oxygen. When the air enters the nose and mouth is moves into an area of space called the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity has cilia or little hairs that move the oxygen through the cavity into the larynx, cleaning it as it moves.
The Larynx
The larynx is the part of the respiration system that allows humans to form words. Known as the voice box, the larynx uses the oxygen that filters through in order to create vibrations that make sound. This is why, when one is eating and the food "goes down the wrong tube" one cannot speak or breathe, and this is really dangerous. The food has probably blocked the larynx so oxygen cannot move through it and down the trachea.
The Trachea
The trachea is a long tube much like the esophagus however instead of food traveling down it, oxygen travels down the trachea.
The Lungs: Bronchi
The bronchi (right and left bronchi) connect to the trachea and are two "tubes" that branch off from the trachea and then each tube branches off into smaller tubes and connect to the alveoli.
The Lungs: Alveoli
The alveoli are air sacks located at the end of each bronchial "tube" that help diffuse oxygen into the blood. Basically, veins containing red blood cells wrap themselves around the alveoli sacks (they are called capillaries) and diffuse out carbon dioxide and in oxygen. Once the carbon dioxide is diffused into the alveoli sacks it travels out of the body (the same way oxygen travels in) causing the diaphragm to exhale and your mouth or nose to release air containing carbon dioxide. The oxygen has been diffused into the blood stream and then into the cell and then into the part of the cell named the mitochondria.
The Respiratory System of a Snake
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/6/7/26675537/5948822.gif?379)
The respiratory system of a snake is much simpler than a human. Snakes breath through their nostrils, like humans, and the oxygen goes straight down their trachea and into their right or left lung where the oxygen diffuses into the blood stream and then into the mitochondria in the cells.