RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The Respiratory System carries oxygen to the cells for use in aerobic respiration and
that eliminate the carbon dioxide.

The respiratory tract is the path of air from the nose to the lungs. It is divided into two
sections: 1) Upper Respiratory Tract and the 2) Lower Respiratory Tract.

Included in the upper respiratory tract are the Nostrils, Nasal Cavities, Pharynx,
Epiglottis, and the Larynx.

The lower respiratory tract consists of the Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles, and the
Lungs.

As air moves along the respiratory tract it is warmed, moistened and filtered.

I. Functions
1. BREATHING or Ventilation

Breathing the entrance and exit of air into and from the lungs.
Ventilation - is the exchange of air between the external environment and the alveoli
2. EXTERNAL RESPIRATION - the exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between
inhaled air (atmosphere) and the blood.
3. INTERNAL RESPIRATION - the exchange of gases between the blood and the cells of the
body.
4. CELLULAR RESPIRATION - involves the use of oxygen to break down glucose in the cell.

In addition to these main processes, the respiratory system serves for: REGULATION OF
BLOOD pH, which occurs in coordination with the kidneys, and as a DEFENSE AGAINST
MICROBES

II. The Pathway of Air

When one breathes air in at sea level, the inhalation is composed of different gases.
These gases and their quantities are Oxygen which makes up 21%, Nitrogen which is 78%,
Carbon Dioxide with 0.04% and others with significantly smaller portions.

A. Air enters into the NASAL CAVITY through the NOSTRILS and is filtered by coarse HAIRS
(vibrissae) and MUCOUS that are found there.
The vibrissae filter macroparticles, which are particles of large size.
Dust, pollen, smoke, and fine particles are trapped in the mucous that lines the nasal
cavities (hollow spaces within the bones of the skull that warm, moisten, and filter the
air).

B. Air then travels past the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx, which are the three
portions that make up the PHARYNX.

The pharynx is a funnel-shaped tube located at the back of the mouth and serves as air
and food passageway.
 When food is swallowed, a flap of cartilage called the EPIGLOTTIS presses down and
covers the opening to the air passage.
It connects our nasal and oral cavities to the larynx.

C. Then the air travels through the LARYNX.

The larynx closes at the epiglottis to prevent the passage of food or drink as a protection
to our trachea and lungs.
The larynx is also our VOICEBOX.
It contains vocal cords, in which it produces sound.
Sound is produced from the vibration of the vocal cords when air passes through
them.

D. The TRACHEA, which is also known as our windpipe

Has ciliated cells and mucous secreting cells lining it, and is held open by C-shaped
cartilage rings.

One of its functions is similar to the larynx and nasal cavity, by way of protection from
dust and other particles.

The dust will adhere to the sticky mucous and the cilia helps propel it back up the trachea,
to where it is either swallowed or coughed up.

Through the trachea, the air is now able to pass into the bronchi.

E. There is a point at the inferior portion of the trachea where it branches into two directions
that form the right and left primary bronchus. This point is called the Carina which is the
keel-like cartilage plate at the division point.
Bronchial Tree - a series of respiratory tubes that branch off into smaller and
smaller tubes as they run throughout the lungs.

F. Right and Left Lungs

The LUNGS are the site of gas exchange between the atmosphere and the blood.

The RIGHT LUNG has three divisions or lobes and is slightly larger than the two lobed-
left lung.
The lungs are inside the thoracic cavity, bounded by the rib cage and diaphragm.
Lining the entire cavity and encasing the lungs are PLEURA MEMBRANE which secrete
mucus that decreases friction from the movement of the lungs during breathing.

Smaller branches of bronchial tree are called BRONCHIOLES.

G. Bronchioles continue to subdivide until they finally end in clusters of tiny hallow air sacs called
ALVEOLI.

Alveoli looks like bunch of grapes.

The alveoli consist of thin, flexible membranes that contain an extensive network of
capillaries.
 The membrane separates a gas from liquid. The gas is the air we take in and the liquid
is blood.

II. Gas Exchange

There are about 350 million alveoli in a healthy lung providing a wide surface area for gas
exchange.

Oxygen dissolves in the moisture on the inner surface of the alveoli. Then the
oxygen diffuses across the thin-walled capillaries into the blood.

Carbon dioxide in the blood stream diffuses in the opposite direction: across the
membrane of an alveolus and into the air inside.

G Gas exchange in the lungs is very efficient.

The air we inhale usually contains 21% oxygen and 0.04% carbon dioxide.
Exhaled air usually contains less than 15% oxygen and 4% carbon dioxide.

G Hemoglobin in the blood binds with so much oxygen that the oxygen-carrying capacity of
blood is increased 60 times.

IV. Breathing
BREATHING is the movement of air in and out of the lungs. The lungs are sealed in
2 sacs called the pleural membranes inside the chest cavity. At the bottom of the cavity in a
large flat muscle known as the diaphragm.

A. Inhalation
When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts and the rib cage rises.
The chest cavity expands increasing the volume.
A partial vacuum takes place in the cavity and air rushes in.
The atmospheric pressure moves the air through the air passages into the lungs which
expand.

B. Exhalation
When the diaphragm expands and the chest cavity contracts, the rib cage descends and
the air is pushed out due to the greater air pressure in the cavity.

C. Stimulation of Breathing

G The brain controls breathing in a center in the medulla oblongata.

As the level of carbon dioxide in the blood rises, nerve impulses from the breathing
center cause the diaphragm to contract, bringing air to the lungs.

The higher the carbon dioxide level the stronger the impulses.
If the carbon dioxide level reaches a critical level, the impulses become so powerful that
we cannot keep from breathing.
 Under certain normal conditions, we can control our breathing but not for long. Eventually
our body takes over. It forces us to breathe, that is when the nervous system takes over.