How does air enter the respiratory system?

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Air enters the respiratory system primarily through the nose or mouth. When a person inhales, the process of breathing initiates with air traveling through the nasal cavity or oral cavity. The nose serves to filter, warm, and humidify the air, while the mouth allows for a more considerable volume of air to enter when needed, such as during vigorous physical activity.

Once the air is inside the nasal or oral cavity, it proceeds into the pharynx and then into the larynx before reaching the trachea, which leads into the lungs. This pathway is essential as it prepares the air for gas exchange that occurs in the alveoli of the lungs, ensuring that oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream while carbon dioxide is expelled.

Other options, like air entering through the lungs directly, through the skin, or through the bloodstream, do not accurately describe the process of inhalation in mammals, as they are not viable pathways for air to reach the respiratory system.

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