For any human to live, let alone function properly, the cells within their bodies require oxygen. Luckily for humans oxygen is present in the atmosphere around the Earth, however it is not the only gas present. 78% of the atmosphere is nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon and 0.03% carbon dioxide. These figures mean that 4/5th’s of the gas in the atmosphere is unusable by the human body. Therefore the body must separate them before the desired gas can be delivered to the cells. Once the oxygen is delivered to the cells it can be used to release energy for compulsory (heartbeat) and voluntary (walking / running) actions and movements.

The process the body undertakes to get the air into the body and separate in accordingly is known as breathing and is overseen and controlled by the respiratory system. The function of breathing can be split into two phases; inhaling and exhaling. During the inhaling phase the body brings air in, separates the oxygen and delivers it to the cells, while during the exhaling phase the used (now carbon dioxide) and unwanted (nitrogen) air is removed from the body. For the body to complete both phases of the breathing process the body requires 3 separate but related parts of the respiratory system; the air passages, the lungs and the diaphragm.

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