respiratory system: Meaning and Definition of

res'piratory sys"tem

Pronunciation: [key]
— Anat. Anat.
  1. the system by which oxygen is taken into the body and an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place; in mammals the system includes the nasal passages, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.