Respiratory system of insects

An insect's respiratory system is the system with which it introduces respiratory gases to its interior and performs gas exchange.

Air enters the respiratory systems of insects through a series of external openings called spiracles. These external openings, which act as muscular valves in some insects, lead to the internal respiratory system, a densely networked array of tubes called tracheae. This network of transverse and longitudinal tracheae equalizes pressure throughout the system.

It is responsible for delivering sufficient oxygen (O₂) to all cells of the body and for removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) that is produced as a waste product of cellular respiration. The respiratory system of insects (and many other arthropods) is separate from the circulatory system.