Final answer:
The autonomic nervous system innervates the lungs, bronchi, and blood vessels within the lungs, with the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches controlling airway dilation and constriction. The diaphragm, although essential for breathing, is innervated by the phrenic nerve and is not controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The autonomic nervous system innervates several structures in the respiratory system to control respiration. The three respiratory system structures innervated by the autonomic nervous system are the lungs, the bronchi, and the blood vessels within the lungs. The autonomic nervous system regulates the dilation and constriction of airways, which is achieved by the parasympathetic nervous system causing bronchoconstriction and the sympathetic nervous system stimulating bronchodilation. This control allows for reflex actions such as coughing, and for the lungs to regulate oxygen and carbon dioxide levels effectively. The diaphragm, however, while crucial for the respiratory process, is primarily innervated by the phrenic nerve, which arises from motor neurons in the neck and is not considered part of the autonomic nervous system.