ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Consists of the external nose, the nasal cavity, the pharynx,

the larynx, the trachea, the bronchi and the lungs.

The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood.

I. UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT external nose, nasal cavity, pharynx and associated structures.

1. NOSE consists of the external nose and nasal cavity. External nose visible structure that forms a prominent feature of the face. - composed of hyaline cartilage and bone in bridge of the external nose that covered by connective tissue and skin. Nasal cavity extends from the nares to the choane, divided by nasal septum. nares external openings of the nose which air enters into nasal cavity. - inside it is epithelial lining that composed of stratified squamous epithelium. containing coarse hairs that traps some of the large particles of dust suspended in the air. choane openings into the pharynx. paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces within bone. - open into the nasal cavity are lined with a mucous membrane. - produce mucus. pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells lined the rest of nasal cavity. - it contains cilia and many mucus-producing goblet cells and it traps debris in the air. cilia- sweep the mucus posteriorly to the pharynx where it is swallowed.

2. PHARYNX throat -common passageway of both the respiratory and digestive systems. - receives air from the nasal cavity and leads to the rest of respiratory system.

- divided into 3 regions: the nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngolarynx. Nasopharynx- superior part, located posterior to the choane and superior to the soft palate, which is an incomplete muscle and connective tissue partition separating the nasopharynx from the oropharynx. - lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. -its posterior part contains the pharyngeal tonsil which aids in defending the body against infection. Oropharynx extends from the uvula to the epiglottis. - where oral cavity opens. - lined with stratified squamous epithelium, protects against abrasion. - air pass through it.

3. LARYNX located in the anterior throat; continuous superiorly with the pharynx and inferiorly with the trachea. - consist of an outer casing of 9 cartilages that are connected to one another by muscles and ligaments. II. LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT 1 .LUNGS The lungs are the main organs of the respiratory system. In the lungs oxygen is taken into the body and carbon dioxide is breathed out. The red blood cells are responsible for picking up the oxygen in the lungs and carrying the oxygen to all the body cells that need it. The red blood cells drop off the oxygen to the body cells, then pick up the carbon dioxide which is a waste gas product produced by our cells. The red blood cells transport the carbon dioxide back to the lungs and we breathe it out when we exhale.

The left lower lobe is similar in structure to the right lower lobe except that it has two segments combined- because the anterior and medial basal segments .share a common bronchial supply, these two segments are characteristically combined, forming an anterior medial basal segment.

2. TRACHEA The trachea is sometimes called the windpipe. The trachea filters the air we breathe and branches into the bronchi.

3. BRONCHI The bronchi are two air tubes that branch off of the trachea and carry air directly into the lungs.

4. DIAPHRAGM Breathing starts with a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the lungs called the diaphragm. When you breathe in, the diaphragm contracts. When it contracts it flattens out and pulls downward. This movement enlarges the space that the lungs are in. This larger space pulls air into the lungs. When you breathe out, the diaphragm expands reducing the amount of space for the lungs and forcing air out. The diaphragm is the main muscle used in breathing.

PHYSIOLOGY OF RESPIRATION The respiratory primarily supplies oxygen to the body and disposes of carbon dioxide through exhalation. Four events chronologically occur, for respiration to take place. 1. Pulmonary ventilation this process is commonly termed as breathing. With pulmonary ventilation, air must move out into and out of the lungs so that the alveoli of the lungs are continuously drained and filled with air. 2. External respiration this is the exchange of gases or the loading of oxygen and the unloading of carbon dioxide between the pulmonary blood and alveoli. 3. Respiratory gas transport this is the process where the oxygen and carbon dioxide is transported to the and from the lungs and tissue cells of the body through the bloodstream. 4. Internal respiration in internal respiration the exchange of gases is taking place between the blood and tissue cells. Mechanics of Breathing Breathing, also called pulmonary ventilation is a mechanical process that completely depends on the volume changes occurring in the thoracic cavity. Thus, a when volume changes pressure also changes, and this would lead to the flow of gases equalizing with the pressure.

Inspiration also called inhalation. This is the act of allowing air to enter the body. Air is flowing into the lungs with this process. Inspiratory muscles are involved with inspiration which includes: 1. The diaphragm 2. External intercostals These muscles contract when air is flowing in and thoracic cavity increases. When the diaphragm contracts it slides inferiorly and is depressed. As a result the thoracic cavity increases. The contraction of the external intercostal muscles lifts the rib cage and thrusts the sternum forward. This increases the anteroposterior and lateral dimensions of the thorax. Expiration also called expiration. It the process of breathing out air as it leaves the lungs. This process causes the gases to flow out to equalize the pressure inside and outside the lungs. Under normal circumstances, the process of expiration is effortless.