Respiratory system
Simply put, the respiratory system is the anatomy involved in gas exchange
Simple organisms can simply diffuse gases:
More complex organisms need some way to get gases inside:
See the little holes in their exoskeleton called "spiracles?"
Some organisms breathe oxygen (like you), others breathe carbon dioxide (like a tree):
They have little holes:
Humans breathe like this:
Notice it is the diaphragm muscle that forces air in and out of the lungs.
Humans look like this:
Where it all (should) begin: The nose:
The nose filters, warms, and moistens the air, as well as allowing smell.
We breathe in through our nose for many reasons, such as:
to filter the air, moisten the air, warm the air, and smell.
The pharynx is the part of the throat shared by both digestive and respiratory systems.
The larynx is the voice box.
The trachea is held open by rings of cartilage.
The branching is call bronchi and bronchioles.
At the end of those bronchioles are grape-like clusters called alveoli where all the gas exchange actually happens.
All of this gas exchange is driven by the muscle known as the diaphragm: 
This is the alveoli.
We are going to do a data analysis with this unit. We will collect data on holding breath and vital capacity of the lungs (maximum exhalation). You will then look over the data and look for trends and patterns.
Looking at disorders of the respiratory system will help you understand the system better, so here are some diseases / disorders of the human respiratory system:
These will be explained in more depth in class and we will act out some examples.
Collapsed lung: 
Punctured lung:
Emphysema: 
Pneumonia: 
Asthma: 