Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BREATHING SYSTEM
This system is found in most multicellular organisms. The smaller, less complex organisms do not have it, gases
rather diffuse directly across to and from their environments.
Breathing is also called External respiration; because O2 (a gaseous reactant) enters through this system and CO 2
(a gaseous waste product) is excreted through it.
Functions of parts;
1. Nostril – Air enters and leaves through this opening.
2. Nasal cavity – air is warmed, moistened, filtered by hair and the dust in the air is trapped by mucus here
in the nasal cavity.
3. Soft palate and Epiglottis – shut off the nose and trachea respectively during swallowing.
4. Larynx – (the voice box), contains vocal cords made of fine filaments and it vibrates when air passes
through it to produce sound.
5. Glottis – A ring opening into the trachea.
6. Trachea – A tube strengthened with a ring of cartilages to it from collapsing. The inner walls of trachea is
lined with;
cells which produce mucus
Hair called cilia – which “beats” / moves to force the mucus towards the pharynx where it can be
swallowed voluntarily.
7. Bronchus – a tube branching from the trachea, and is similar in structure to the trachea. It directs air to
the lungs.
Bronchus branch into smaller microscopic tubes called bronchioles which lead to a sac like
structure called the Alveolus.
8. Alveolus – Is a collapsible air sac found all over the lung. Alveoli increase the surface area for the
exchange of gases. Each alveolus is surrounded by a network of blood capillaries. Cells in the alveoli are
very thin.
9. Intercostal muscles – These are two sets of muscles found between the ribs. The external intercostal
muscles contract to raise the ribcage during inspiration in order to increase the lung capacity whilst the
internal intercostal muscles contract lower the ribcage during expiration in order to squeeze air out of the
lungs.
10. Pleural membrane and Pleural fluids – Lubricates ribs and lungs to prevent damage during movement.
11. Diaphragm – a muscle sheet at the lower end of the chest cavity which can contract / relax to alter the
volume of the hest cavity.
Structure Of An Alveolus
The proportions of gases in inhaled (inspired) and exhaled (expired) air is summarized in the table below.
Absorption of O2
From the inhaled air O2 diffuses into moisture film
O2 then diffuses through the walls of alveoli and capillaries into the blood.
Low concentration of O2 in the blood causes O2 to diffuse into blood
O2 then diffuses into the red blood cells and then where it combines with haemoglobin to form a complex
called oxyhaemoglobin
At body cells where there is low concentration of O2 the oxyhaemoglobin dissociates to release O2
Removal of CO2
From the body cells CO2 dissolve into the blood and it is converted to hydrogen carbonate ions by
enzymes.
At the alveoli the enzymes (carbonic anhydrase) converts the hydrogen carbonate into CO 2
CO2 then diffuses down its concentration gradient from the blood plasma across the capillaries walls into
the alveoli.
4. There is a thin film of moisture that wets the gases as they diffuse across
1. External intercostal muscles contract 1. Internal intercostal muscles contract and this
And this pulls ribcage upwards & outwards pushes the ribcage inwards & upwards
2. The diaphragm muscle contract to flatten the 2. The diaphragm muscle relax to push it
diaphragm thus increasing the volume of the chest upwards into dome shape thus decreasing the
cavity (lungs) volume of the chest cavity (lungs)
3. As a result air rushes into the lings 3. As a result air is forced out of the lungs
VITAL CAPACITY
This is the maximum volume of air that can be exchanged during breathing in and out.
In an adult human being, the maximum volume of the lungs when fully inflated is 5litres.
Only 500cm3 of air can be exchanged at normal breathing
The normal breathing rate of a person at rest is 16 breaths per minute.
During exercise, the breathing rate can rise to 20 or 30 breaths per minute. This increase in depth and
rate of breathing ensures that there is adequate supply of O 2 to active muscles and fast removal of CO2
from the body.
1. Lung cancer
2. heart disease
3. Emphysema
4. Chronic bronchitis
The diseases mentioned above are caused by substances contained in cigarette smoke, namely;
- Tar
- Nicotine
- Carbon monoxide
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1. Lung Cancer;
Tar contains substances known as carcinogens which promote the abnormal multiplication of cells in the lungs
leading to a condition known as lung cancer
2. Heart disease;
The nicotine and carbon monoxide increase the tendency of the blood to clot, which blocks the coronary artery.
The heart muscles will therefore receive little or no oxygen which leads to heart failure.
3. Emphysema
This is the breakdown of the alveoli. The irritant substance in tobacco smoke weakens the walls of the alveoli
such that when the person coughs the weakened alveoli breaks. Tar usually accumulates in the air passages and
this irritates a person and thus triggering coughing / sneezing.
4. Chronic Bronchitis;
The smoke stops the cilia from beating and leads to excessive production of mucus in the air passages. The
accumulation of mucus leads to inflammation, a condition known as bronchitis.
Nicotine & carbon monoxide can pass across the placenta to the foetus. This can cause serious harm to the baby
such as;
Miscarriage
Still born
Underweight babies
On account of the above, cigarette smokers usually perform poorly in physical activities like sports.
Ventilation
It is the free movement of air in and out of the lungs.
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Note;
Vigorous physical activities like running, swimming & cycling can increase the breathing rate and
depth. i.e. during such exercises you breathe faster and deeper.
A relaxed adult makes 16 breaths per minute and draws 500cm3 of air into & out of the lungs per
breath.
During a vigorous activity, the adult makes 30 breaths per minute and draws 3500cm 3 of air per
breath.