Lab 5

Anatomy &
Physiology of
Respiratory System

Anatomy of Respiratory System

-Body cells require a continuous and a plentiful supply of oxygen
-As cells use oxygen they release carbon dioxide as a waster product
-The role of the respiratory system is to supply the cells with O 2 and dispose
of the CO2
4 Distinct Processes
1) Pulmonary Ventilation (breathing) movement of air in and out of the
lungs so that gases can be continuously exchanged
2) External Respiration Gas exchange between the blood and the airfilled chambers of the lungs (oxygen loading & carbon dioxide unloading)
3) Transport of Respiratory Gases Transport of respiratory gases (O2
and CO2) between the lungs and tissues cells via the blood
4) Internal Respiration Exchange of gases between systemic blood and
tissues cells (oxygen loading & carbon dioxide unloading)
-Only the first two processes above are exclusive to the respiratory
system, but all four must occur for the respiratory system to function
correctly.
-Respiratory & cardiovascular systems are irreversibly linked. If either
one fails, cells begin to die from O2 starvation and excess CO2

Upper Respiratory Structures

Nose

Pharynx

Olfactory bulb

Larynx

Cribiform plate

Upper Respiratory Structures Nasal Cavity

-Air passes into the respiratory tract through the nose and mouth.
-As air enters the nasal cavity, it passes lobe-like structures called
conchae (inferior, superior and middle). These conchae (aka turbinates)
create air turbulence, forcing inhaled to flow in a steady pattern over the
largest possible surface of cilia and climate-controlling tissue.
-Rapidly dilating arterial vessels in the conchae in response to acute
cooling (eating ice cream too fast) leads to the sharp pain known as brain
freeze
-Cilia and mucus along the inside wall of the nasal cavity trap and remove
dust and pathogens from the air as it flows through. Cilia moves the mucus
down the nasal cavity to the pharynx, where it is swallowed.
-The air that flows directly below the superior part of the nasal cavity
can stimulate the olfactory receptors located in the mucosa of that region.
-Nasal cavity is surround by sinuses called paranasal sinuses in the
frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid and maxillary bones, and serve as resonance
chambers in speech. These sinuses also warm and moisten incoming air.
-Nasal passages are separated from oral cavity below by a partition
composed anteriorly of the hard palate and posteriorly by the soft palate

Turbulent air created by nasal conchae

*Sphenoid sinus
not visible in this
anterior view
Sinuses are a
connected system of
air-filled cavities
named for the facial
bones in which they
are located.
Functions:
-decrease weight of
skull
-voice resonance
-warming inhaled
air
Vocal Resonance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isyy3tvmUS4

Upper Respiratory Structures Pharynx

-Commonly called the throat, the pharynx is funnel-shaped and connects
the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and the esophagus
Three Parts
1) Nasopharynx posterior to nasal cavity. It
lies above the soft palate, serving only as
an air passage. Contains a pharyngeal tonsil
(aka adenoids) high on its posterior wall,
which is a mass of lymphatic tissue that
helps protect respiratory passages from
invading pathogens
2) Oropharynx continuous posteriorly with
oral cavity. Extends from soft palate to
epiglottis (of the larynx) and serves as a
common passage for both food and air.
Palatine tonsils line its lateral walls. Lingual
tonsil covers base of tongue.
3) Laryngopharynx also serves as a common
passage for both food and air. Lies directly
posterior to the upright epiglottis and
extends to the larynx

Upper Respiratory Structures Larynx

-Consists of 9 cartilages. 3 unpaired (thyroid, cricoid, epiglottis)
and 3 paired (arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform).
3 most prominent:
A) Thyroid cartilage (shaped like a shield) largest of the
9 cartilages and serves to protect vocal cords lying just
behind it. Laryngeal prominence (Adams Apple).
B) Cricoid cartilage ring of cartilage around trachea serves
as attachment site for muscles that open & close airways
and in speech production
C) Epiglottis - forms a lid over the larynx during swallowing.
This closes off respiratory passages to food and drink,
which is routed instead into the posterior esophagus
-All laryngeal cartilages are composed of hyaline cartilage except
the flap-like epiglottis, which is a flexible elastic cartilage located
superior to the opening of the larynx.

Lower Respiratory Structures

-Air entering the trachea (windpipe) from larynx travels down its
length to the level of the disc between the 4th & 5th thoracic
vertebra where is divides into the right & left primary bronchi.

Right Primary
Bronchus

Trachea
Bronchioles

3 Right Lobes

Left Primary
Bronchus
Bronchi

2 Left lobes
Pleura
Pleural
Fluid
Diaphragm

What space is this?

Alveoli

Mediastinum
Heart
Great vessels
Thymus
Trachea
Esophagus

Lower Respiratory Structures

-Right Primary Bronchus is shorter, wider and more vertical than the left.
-Foreign objects more likely to get lodged in right primary bronchus
Right & left primary bronchi enter into their respective right & left sides
at an indented area called the hilum
-Trachea lined with ciliated, mucus-secreting pseudostratified columnar
epithelium. Cilia propel mucus (produced by goblet cells) laden with dust
particles, bacteria, and other debris away from lungs and toward the
throat where it can be expectorated or swallowed.
-Walls of trachea are reinforced with C-shaped cartilaginous rings, with
the incomplete part located posteriorly. The incomplete ring allows the
esophagus to expand anteriorly when a large food bolus (round mass of
food formed in mouth after chewing) is swallowed. The solid portion
reinforces the trachea walls to maintain its open passageway regardless of
the pressure exerted during breathing

Lower Respiratory Structures

-The main bronchi divide into smaller and smaller branches called
secondary, tertiary, etc., finally becoming bronchioles, which have
terminal branches called respiratory bronchioles.
-All but the smallest branches have cartilaginous reinforcements in
their walls, usually in the form of small plates of hyaline cartilage
rather than cartilaginous rings
-As respiratory passages get smaller and smaller, the relative
amount of smooth muscle in the walls increases as the amount of
cartilage declines and finally disappears.
-Respiratory bronchioles in turn subdivide into several alveolar
ducts, which terminate in alveolar sacs that resemble clusters of
grapes
-Along the alveolar sacs are tiny balloon-like expansions called
alveoli. These alveoli are composed of a single layer of squamous
epithelium. The external surface are densely covered with
pulmonary capillaries and their fused basement membranes form
what is called the respiratory membrane (aka blood-air barrier).

Lower Respiratory Structures

-Gas exchange occurs by simple diffusion across the respiratory
membrane
-O2 passing from the alveolar air to the capillary blood and
CO2 leaving the capillary blood to enter the alveolar air
-Because gas exchange takes place across the respiratory
membrane, the alveolar sacs, alveolar ducts, and respiratory
bronchioles are all referred to as the respiratory zone structures.
-The other air passages (nasal cavity to the terminal bronchioles)
are referred to as conducting zone structrures because they only
serve as access or exit routes to and from the gas exchange
chambers.

Lungs and Their Pleural Coverings

-Lungs occupy the entire thoracic cavity except for the
mediastinum.
-Each lung is enclosed in a double-layered sac of serous membrane
called pleura.
-The outer pleural layer is called the parietal pleura and is
attached to the thoracic walls and the diaphragm
-The inner pleural layer is called the visceral pleura and covers the
lung tissue.
-The two pleural layers are separated by a pleural cavity, which
really just a potential space.
-Pleural layers produce a lubricating serous fluid that causes them
to adhere closely to one another, holding the lungs to the thoracic
walls and allowing easy movements during breathing

Respiratory System - Microscopic Anatomy

Trachea

Chondrocytes
in lacunae

Perichondrium
w/chondroblasts

The perichondrium (membrane

surrounding cartilage) produces
chondroblasts. These are cells that
secrete fibers and ground substance
of the cartilage matrix

Eventually the chondroblasts become

trapped in the matrix in small spaces
called lacunae and are then called
chondrocytes which produce and
maintain cartilaginous matrix (collagen)

Respiratory System - Microscopic Anatomy

Cilia

Trachea

psE: Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium

C: Cilia
DCT: Dense connective tissue
Ad: Adipose tissue
NB: Nerve bundle

Respiratory System - Microscopic Anatomy

Trachea

Magnification
100X

400X

Mucosa

Respiratory
epithelium

Mucosa
(cells, lamina propria, muscle)

&
Submucosa
(connective tissue)

Respiratory System - Microscopic Anatomy

Normal Lung

Respiratory System - Microscopic Anatomy

Normal Lung

Respiratory System - Microscopic Anatomy

Lung - Emphysema

Respiratory Physiology
Respiratory volumes and capacities refers to the volume of air associated with
different phases of the respiratory cycle
Respiratory volumes are measured and capacities are inferred from measured
volumes.
Respiratory volumes will vary with a persons size, age, sex and physical condition
and can be measured with a spirometer

Respiratory Physiology

IRV
VC
TV
ERV

RV

IRV = Inspiratory Reserve Volume

ERV = Expiratory Reserve Volume

TV= Tidal Volume

RV = Residual Volume

VC = Vital capacity

Respiratory Physiology