News tagged with respiratory tract

Earliest known evidence of 1918 influenza pandemic found

Examination of lung tissue and other autopsy material from 68 American soldiers who died of respiratory infections in 1918 has revealed that the influenza virus that eventually killed 50 million people worldwide was circulating ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Sep 19, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Stealthy leprosy pathogen evades critical vitamin D-dependent immune response

A team of UCLA scientists has found that the pathogen that causes leprosy has a remarkable ability to avoid the human immune system by inhibiting the antimicrobial responses important to our defenses.

Immunology created Jan 29, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Scientists identify gene crucial to normal development of lungs and brain

Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified a gene that tells cells to develop multiple cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move fluids through the lungs and brain. The finding ...

Medical research created Jan 12, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Parallel evolution - cystic fibrosis

(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at the University of Liverpool are examining the evolution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa over time in the lungs of ten people with cystic fibrosis to understand why it persists ...

Medical research created Mar 06, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New bird flu strain seen adapting to mammals, humans

A genetic analysis of the avian flu virus responsible for at least nine human deaths in China portrays a virus evolving to adapt to human cells, raising concern about its potential to spark a new global flu pandemic.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 12, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Pneumonia wonder drug: Zinc saves lives

Respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, are the most common cause of death in children under the age of five. In a study looking at children given standard antibiotic therapy, new research published in BioMed Central's ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Feb 08, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Dog-associated house dust protects against respiratory infection linked to asthma

House dust from homes with dogs appears to protect against infection with a common respiratory virus that is associated with the development of asthma in children. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, ...

Immunology created Jun 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

What did we learn from the 2010 California whooping cough epidemic?

Because whooping cough (pertussis) is almost as contagious as measles (affecting ~12-17 individuals with each case), clinicians are required to report cases of this bacterial respiratory tract infection to the state's department ...

Pediatrics created Jul 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Bitter taste receptors regulate the upper respiratory defense system, research shows

A new study from a team of researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the Monell Chemical Senses Center, and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, reveals that a person's ability to taste ...

Medical research created Oct 08, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

FDA approves 3 new drugs for type 2 diabetes

(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration late Friday approved three new medications to help people battle type 2 diabetes.

Medications created Jan 26, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Honey a sweet treatment for kids' night-time cough

(HealthDay) -- Instead of reaching for a commercial medicine when your child is coughing through the night because of a common cold, Israeli researchers suggest giving honey a try.

Pediatrics created Aug 06, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Black children less likely to be prescribed antibiotics

(HealthDay)—Black children are less likely to be prescribed antibiotics and to be diagnosed with conditions that require antibiotics, even when treated by the same doctor, according to research published ...

Pediatrics created Mar 18, 2013 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Circulating levels of a lung protein found to be 'strongly predictive' of cardiovascular disease

A blood protein known as surfactant protein-D (SP-D), which is mainly synthesised in the lungs, has been described as "a good predictor" of cardiovascular disease following a large study in North America. Reporting the study ...

Cardiology created Jun 08, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study discovers new genes for rare inherited diseases

An international team of researchers has identified two new genes connected with hereditary renal diseases.

Genetics created Sep 06, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Probiotics have slight preventive effect on colds

Taking probiotics seems to provide both children and adults with a mild degree of protection against many upper respiratory tract infections including the common cold, according to a new systematic review. ...

Health created Sep 16, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Respiratory tract

In humans the respiratory tract is the part of the anatomy that has to do with the process of respiration.

The respiratory tract is divided into 3 segments:

The respiratory tract is a common site for infections. Upper respiratory tract infections are probably the most common infections in the world.

Most of the respiratory tract exists merely as a piping system for air to travel in the lungs; alveoli are the only part of the lung that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood.

Moving down the respiratory tract starting at the trachea, the tubes get smaller and divide more and more. There are estimated to be about 20 to 23 divisions, ending up at an alveolus.

Even though the cross-sectional area of each bronchus or bronchiole is smaller, because there are so many, the total surface area is larger. This means there is less resistance at the terminal bronchioles. (Most resistance is around the 3-4 division from the trachea due to turbulence.)

For more information about Respiratory tract, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.