Which organs are included in the Respiratory System?

• A. Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs
• B. Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra
• C. Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach
• D. Female: ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands

Answer: (A)

Breathing and gas exchange define what the respiratory system does. The organs listed form the air passage from the outside to the lungs, starting at the nose where air is filtered and humidified, then moving through the pharynx and larynx, down the trachea, into the bronchi, and finally reaching the lungs where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the air sacs. This sequence and the functions—air conduction, filtration, and gas exchange—are the hallmarks of the respiratory system.

The other options correspond to different body systems: kidneys and the urinary passages are the urinary system; the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and stomach belong to the digestive system; and the female reproductive organs are part of the reproductive system.