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What route does inhaled air follow from the nose to the alveoli?
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human respiratory system
The lungs serve as the gas-exchanging organ for the process of respiration.
Inhaled air follows a specific pathway through the human respiratory system to reach the gas-exchange regions of the lungs. The route is as follows:
- Upper Airway: Air enters through the nose (or oral cavity) and passes through the pharynx (throat).1
- Lower Airway: Air then moves through the larynx and into the trachea (windpipe).12
- Bronchial Tree: The trachea divides into the left and right stem bronchi, which further branch into smaller intrapulmonary bronchi and eventually into narrow bronchioles.31
- Gas Exchange: Finally, the air travels through the alveolar ducts to reach the alveoli, where gas exchange occurs.1