RT Book, Section A1 Huang, Howard J. A2 Janson, Lee W. A2 Tischler, Marc E. SR Print(0) ID 1152118924 T1 THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM T2 The Big Picture: Medical Biochemistry YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071637916 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1152118924 RD 2024/03/28 AB The respiratory system facilitates the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the external environment and the human body. The airways (trachea and bronchi), lungs, and alveoli and pulmonary surfactant provide the biochemical and biophysical basis for this exchange. Acid–base balance in the body also relies on these tissues as well as on the carbonic anhydrase and other enzyme systems. Various diseases of the respiratory system affect either the structure or the biochemistry of the lungs; medications and treatments for these diseases rely on knowing their biochemical basis.