• Nose and Nasal Cavity: Filters large particles through hairs; contains olfactory receptors for smell.

• Pharynx: Divided into nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx; helps with air passage and serves as a pathway for food.

• Larynx (Voice Box): where the vocal cords are; plays a role in sound production and prevents food from entering the trachea through epiglottis.

Lower Respiratory Tract

• Trachea (Windpipe): The cartilage rings keep it from collapsing; lined with ciliated epithelium to trap debris and mucus.

• Bronchi and Bronchioles: Branch into smaller airways; deliver air to alveoli while filtering.

• Alveoli: Where gas exchange occurs; thin walls allow oxygen to diffuse into blood and carbon dioxide to diffuse out.

Type II Pneumocytes: Secrete surfactant to reduce surface tension, preventing alveolar collapse.  

Macrophages: Engulf debris and pathogens within alveoli.  

The ozone - O3 can irritate the lungs and the airways and cause breathing difficulties. It can also cause the capacity within the lungs to decrease meaning less oxygen within the lungs therefore less oxygenated blood flows through the body.

Nitrogen oxide - NO2 can cause oxidative stress which means the lungs can be more prone to contracting disease and infection.

Chronic exposure - this could mean that the airways change which can result in COPD. It could also cause destruction within the tiny hairs in the lungs, the cilia. This would mean that they are less capable to clear pathogens out of the lungs and are less able to get rid of extra mucus. It could also allow for the increase in cardiovascular issues and cancers within the lungs.

Goblet Cells: Secrete mucus to trap foreign particles.  

Elastic Fibers: Provide recoil during exhalation, maintaining lung structure.  

Capillary Networks: Surround alveoli for efficient gas exchange.