HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Larynx Contains vocal cords.

Lungs - Main organ of the respiratory system

- Containing surfaces where gas
exchange takes place.

Trachea - Connects the throat to the bronchi,

- C-shaped cartilage rings to provide
structural strength keeping the
trachea open so air can pass through
it.

Bronchi - Hollow tubes

- Composed of cartilage rings that carry
air from the trachea to the lungs.
- Splits into two tubes for right and left.

Bronchioles - Smaller tubes which branch off from

the bronchi to the lungs.

Alveoli - Where gas exchange occurs

- Contain tiny air sacs with capillary
network.
- Oxygen from air diffuses into the
capillary and carbon dioxide diffuses
out.

Diaphragm - Sheet of connective tissue and

muscle.
- Change the volume of the throat to
allow respiration.
 Ribs and Intercostal muscle - Intercostal muscles are found
between the ribs
External intercostal muscle
→ outside the rib cage
Internal intercostal muscle
→ inside the ribcage
- They work antagonistically in pairs to
expand and contract the rib cage
during breathing.
Ribs
→ protect the lungs and heart.

FEATURES OF GAS EXCHANGE SURFACES

large surface area
→ allow faster diffusion of gasses across the
surface. 80-100 square metres

Thin walls
→ to ensure diffusion distances remain short. And
exchanges occur more rapidly.

Good ventilation with air

→ so diffusion gradients can be maintained.

Good blood supply

→ maintain a high concentration gradient so
diffusion occurs faster.

Moist → allows gasses to dissolve b4 diffusing

CILIA AND MUCUS

→ CILIA
Cells with tiny hairs at the end to beat and push mucus up the passages towards the nose and
throat where it can be removed.

→ MUCUS
Made by special mucus producing cells called goblet cells because they are shaped like goblet,
→ they trap particles, pathogens and dust and prevent them from getting into the lungs and
damaging the cell there.
VENTILATION OF THE LUNGS
→ the act of moving air into and out of the lungs to allow gas exchange to occur.

BREATHING IN
→ internal intercostal muscles relax while the external intercostal muscles contract.
→ pulling the ribs up and out while the diaphragm flattens pushing the abdominal muscles
downwards.

The volume in the thorax increases, so air enters the lungs.

Air diffuses into the lungs, this is because when the volume of the chest increases, there is a
lower concentration of air inside the lungs compared to outside.

BREATHING OUT
→ internal intercostal muscles contract while the external intercostal muscles relax.
→ pulling the ribs down and in while the diaphragm relaxes and becomes dome shaped.

The volume of the thorax decreases, so air is forced out.

This is passive (does not require muscles contraction) except when forcibly breathing out where
the internal muscles contract.

COMPOSITION OF AIR
→ OXYGEN
Inspired air 21% and expired air 16%, as oxygen is absorbed into the blood in the alveoli
instead of being exhaled. Oxygen is used for respiration and carbon dioxide is produced as a
waste product.

→ CARBON DIOXIDE
Inspired air 0.04% and expired air 4%, carbon dioxide is released from the blood at the alveoli
and diffuses out into the lungs before being exhaled, thus more CO2 exhaled.

→ WATER VAPOUR
Inspired air is lower than expired air, water evaporates from the moist lining of the alveoli into
the expired air as a result of the warmth of the body.

→ NITROGEN
Both inspired and expired is 78%, nitrogen gas is very stable and so cannot be used by the
body, its concentration doesn’t change.

TESTING CO2 IN EXHALED AIR

→ using lime water when we breathe in, the air is drawn in tube A while breathe out
tube B.
- Lime water is clear but becomes cloudy when CO2 bubbled through it
- The lime water in tube A will remain clear and tube B cloudy.
- This shows the percentage of CO2 is higher than inhaled
EXERCISE AND BREATHING
→ during physical activity the rate and depth of breathing increases.

WHY?
When exercise is carried out, muscles increase the rate of respiration to produce energy for
muscle contraction. Aerobic respiration requires oxygen so a greater amount of oxygen is
needed. If they cannot meet the energy demand they will respire anaerobically producing lactic
acid.

Anaerobically → after exercising, the lactic acid that builds up needs to be removed as it lowers
the pH of cells and can denature enzymes, removed bgt repaying oxygen debt.
The longer it takes, the more lactic acid produced during exercise and the greater oxygen debt.

CO2 CONCENTRATION AND THE BRAIN

→ as respiration rates increase, more carbon dioxide is produced and enters the blood,
CO2 is an acidic gas in solution and so it can affect the working of enzymes in the cells and
needs to be removed as quickly as possible.

As blood flows through the brain, the increase in carbon dioxide concentration stimulates
receptor cells. These send impulses to the muscles of the lungs causing them to contract faster
and more strongly → frequency and depth of breathing increases.