Here's a breakdown of how their respiratory system works:
* Inhaling: Air is drawn into the nostrils and travels down the trachea (windpipe).
* Bronchi: The trachea branches into two bronchi, which lead to the lungs.
* Alveoli: The bronchi further divide into smaller airways that end in tiny air sacs called alveoli. These are where gas exchange occurs.
* Oxygen uptake: Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses across the thin walls of the alveoli into the surrounding capillaries (tiny blood vessels).
* Carbon dioxide release: Carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, moves from the blood into the alveoli and is exhaled.
This process of breathing allows the Canada lynx to get the oxygen it needs for its cells to function and to get rid of the carbon dioxide produced as a byproduct.