20.1: Introduction to the Respiratory System - Medicine LibreTexts
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Hold your breath. Really! See how long you can hold your breath as you continue reading…How long can you do it? Chances are you are feeling uncomfortable already. A typical human cannot survive without breathing for more than 3 minutes, and even if you wanted to hold your breath longer, your autonomic nervous system would take control. This is because every cell in the body needs to run the oxidative stages of cellular respiration, the process by which energy is produced in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). For oxidative phosphorylation to occur, oxygen is used as a reactant and carbon dioxide is released as a waste product.
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Mountain Climbers. The thin air at high elevations can strain the human respiratory system. (Image credit: "Aiguille du Midi, Mont-Blanc" by Cristian Bortes is licensed under CC BY 2.0)