Final answer:
When air is drawn through the nose, it is warmed, humidified, and filtered by nasal hairs and mucus. These processes protect the respiratory system by adjusting the air closer to body conditions and trapping potentially harmful particles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physicians often recommend that people breath through their noses rather than their mouths. Nasal breathing is advantageous as it includes a process where the air is drawn through the nose and several things occur:
- The air is warmed to body temperature, reducing the risk of cold air causing damage to the lungs.
- The inhaled air is humidified by moisture from mucous membranes, preventing dry air from irritating delicate lung tissues.
- Particles in the air are trapped by mucus and hairs in the nasal passages, which offer preliminary filtration before the air enters deeper into the respiratory tract.
These mechanisms are part of the body's protective measures to ensure that the air reaching the lungs is as clean, warm, and moist as possible, which is essential for healthy respiratory function.