respiratory system: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, Academic, Medical
Quick answer
What does “respiratory system” mean?
The organs and tissues involved in breathing, including the lungs, airways, and muscles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The organs and tissues involved in breathing, including the lungs, airways, and muscles.
The integrated physiological network responsible for gas exchange (intake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide) in an organism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both use the term identically in medical and educational contexts.
Connotations
None beyond its technical medical meaning.
Frequency
Equally common in UK and US medical/academic English.
Grammar
How to Use “respiratory system” in a Sentence
The respiratory system consists of...The respiratory system is responsible for...Damage to the respiratory system can cause...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “respiratory system” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Respiratory-system function is vital.
- A respiratory-system specialist.
American English
- Respiratory system function is vital.
- A respiratory system specialist.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical or healthcare industry contexts.
Academic
Common in biology, medicine, anatomy, and physiology texts.
Everyday
Used in general discussions about health, illness, or biology education.
Technical
Core term in medical and life sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “respiratory system”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “respiratory system”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “respiratory system”
- Misspelling as 'respiritory system' or 'resperatory system'.
- Using plural 'systems' when referring to one organism's system.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The lungs are a major organ within the system, but the respiratory system also includes the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and respiratory muscles.
Yes, when comparing the systems of different species or individuals, e.g., 'The respiratory systems of birds and fish are very different.'
People often misspell it as 'resperatory' by omitting the 'i' after the 'p'.
Primarily in medical, biological, and educational contexts. In everyday talk, people more often say 'lungs' or 'breathing'.
The organs and tissues involved in breathing, including the lungs, airways, and muscles.
Respiratory system is usually technical, academic, medical in register.
Respiratory system: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛsp(ə)rət(ə)ri ˈsɪstəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɛspərəˌtɔri ˈsɪstəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly, but related to 'second wind' (recovery of breath)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RESPIRATORY = RESPIRATION (breathing) + SYSTEM. Think: The SYSTEM you use for RESPIRATION.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualised as a tree (bronchial tree) or a network of pipes (airways).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically part of the human respiratory system?