Start with this short video, then scroll down for the full guide.
Why This Matters for Nursing: Every breath matters. Understanding respiration helps you assess breathing, recognize respiratory distress, administer oxygen therapy, and manage conditions like asthma and COPD.
The respiratory system brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide. It works closely with the cardiovascular system for gas exchange.
Pathway of air: "Nose Picks Lunch Before Tasting Broccoli And Laughing"
Nose/Mouth → Pharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli → Lungs (gas exchange)
Inhalation = In (O₂ enters) Exhalation = Exit (CO₂ leaves)
| Structure | Function |
|---|---|
| Nose/Nasal cavity | Warms, moistens, filters air |
| Pharynx (throat) | Passageway for air and food |
| Larynx (voice box) | Contains vocal cords; protects airway |
| Epiglottis | Flap that covers trachea during swallowing |
| Structure | Function |
|---|---|
| Trachea (windpipe) | Carries air to bronchi |
| Bronchi | Two branches from trachea to each lung |
| Bronchioles | Smaller branches within lungs |
| Alveoli | Tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs |
| Lungs | Right lung (3 lobes); Left lung (2 lobes) |
Occurs at the alveoli through diffusion:
| Gas | Movement | Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen (O₂) | Alveoli → Blood | High in alveoli → Low in blood |
| Carbon dioxide (CO₂) | Blood → Alveoli | High in blood → Low in alveoli |
Diffusion: Gases move from HIGH to LOW concentration (no energy required)
Key: The diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration.
| Term | Definition | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Tidal volume | Normal breath volume | ~500 mL |
| Vital capacity | Max air exhaled after max inhalation | ~4,800 mL |
| Residual volume | Air remaining after forceful exhale | ~1,200 mL |
| Total lung capacity | Max air lungs can hold | ~6,000 mL |
Question: Air enters through the nose and travels to the alveoli. What is the correct order of structures?
Step 1 — Anchor yourself at the start and end. You know it starts at the nose (or mouth) and ends at the alveoli. Now fill in the middle.
Step 2 — Think of it as a funnel. The airway gets progressively smaller: big tube → smaller tubes → tiny air sacs. Trachea (windpipe) → bronchi (two main branches) → bronchioles (tiny branches) → alveoli (the end).
Step 3 — Add the upper structures. Before air reaches the trachea, it passes through the pharynx (throat — the common passage for air AND food) and the larynx (voice box — also where the epiglottis is).
Complete pathway: Nose/Mouth → Pharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli
Memory trick: "Nose Picks Lunch Before Tasting Broccoli And Laughing" Nose → Pharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli
🏥 Nursing connection: When you're suctioning a patient or managing a tracheostomy, you're working directly with this pathway. A trach tube bypasses the nose, pharynx, and larynx — going straight into the trachea. Understanding the anatomy helps you know what you're managing.
The worked examples and practice problems are the part that actually prepares you for the TEAS.
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