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Module Respiratory System
Module Respiratory System
Introduction
Oxygen is the most essential component to sustain life. Human body requires oxygen to
live. This is the prime role of the respiratory system. As discussed on the previous topics, oxygen
is further delivered or transported throughout the body by the cardiovascular system. Respiratory
system emphasizes on the oxygen uptake and unloading of carbon dioxide or waste.
Objectives
Try This!
Sit back on a chair in an upright position. Using your two hands, place your hands on your
chest. Feel the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe normally. Feel the movement of your rib
cage as you inhale and exhale.
Describe the movement of your chest during inhalation and exhalation. _______________
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What can you say about the movement of your abdomen during inhalation and exhalation?
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Think Ahead!
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VII. The Respiratory System
You have just discovered how your breathing is processed. The rise and fall of your chest
during inhalation and exhalation is influenced by the changes in pressure in your lungs.
Try This!
List the major structures of the Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract. Fill-out your answers
on the table below.
Upper Respiratory Tract Lower Respiratory Tract
What is/are the major function(s) of each of the following structures? Describe briefly
each structure. Fill-out your answer on the space provided.
Pharynx _________________________________________________
Larynx _________________________________________________
Trachea _________________________________________________
Lungs _________________________________________________
Alveoli _________________________________________________
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VII. The Respiratory System
Think Ahead!
Activity 1 and 2 helps you to understand about the structures and functions of the two
subdivisions of the respiratory system – the upper and the lower respiratory tracts. Upper
respiratory tract serves as the entry of air or passageways. Air enters through the nose, pharynx
and larynx respectively.
The structures of the lower respiratory tract include the trachea, bronchi, lungs,
bronchioles, alveoli and, alveoli ducts and sacs (Fig. 75). Considering the upper respiratory tract
mainly serves as a passageway of air, loading of oxygen and unloading of carbon dioxide occurs
in the lower respiratory tract. The structures include are the trachea, bronchi, lungs, bronchioles,
alveoli and, alveoli ducts and sacs.
Compare your answers on the Read and Ponder section. Did you get it correct?
During breathing, oxygen is inhaled and carbon dioxide is exhaled. The process of
transporting oxygen gas into blood plasma is one of the major roles of the respiratory organs. The
structures of the respiratory tracts are designed to enable oxygen to enter the body following the
passageways for proper intake of oxygen; complimentary, expelling carbon dioxide as waste.
▪ Nose – externally, the nose has visible entry port called the nares or nostrils. Internally,
within the nasal cavity functions to filter or trap foreign substances like dirt, dust and
other microorganisms carried by the inhaled air. Structure of nasal cavity also helps to
warm air entering the tract as it moistens by a sticky mucous produced by its mucosa.
▪ Pharynx – it serves as a passageway for both food and air. It measures about 5 inches
long connected from the nasal cavity. This muscular passageway has three (3) regions
called the nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx. Air passes from the nasal
cavity going to the nsaopharynx and further flows through the oropharynx and
laryngopharynx. When food is ingested, from the mouth it enters the oropharynx and
laryngopharnyx; however, food is directed into the esophagus due to the function of
epiglottis.
▪ Larynx – it is commonly known as the voice box. This structure serves an essential
function on speech, this is due to the folds of the mucus membrane called vocal folds or
vocal cords.It is located inferiorly to the pharynx and made of rigid hyaline cartilages.
From the pharynx, air enters to this passageway going to the lower repsiratory tract.
During eating, when food is swallowed, epiglottis covers the larynx, leading the food
posteriorly to enter the esophagus. The movement on your throat you feel during
swallowing is the closing of your larynx which is pulled upward. This mechanism
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VII. The Respiratory System
prevents food and other foreign objects entering the lower respiratory tract that may cause
impaired breathing.
▪ Trachea – air passing through the larynx will reach the windpipe or trachea. It measures
about 4 inches in length located midline of the chest. Like the larynx, trachea is also made
of hyaline cartilages in C-shaped rings. Tracheal inner membrane is lined with ciliated
mucosa. The role of the cilia is to help eliminate foreign bodies like dust particles to move
out away from the lungs. This mechanism involves goblet cells in the tracheal mucosa that
produced mucus, which eventually can be expelled out from the throat by swallowing or
spitting.
▪ Bronchi – two passageways branched out from the inferior part of the trachea – right main
bronchus and the left main bronchus. Bronchi serve as a passageway enrouting to the
lungs. The right bronchus is wider and shorter comparing to the left (Fig 76).
▪ Lungs - these respiratory organs are divided into two – the right and left lung. Right lung
has three lobes and left lung has two lobes. Lungs are made up of air spaces, it is spongy
weighing about 2.5 pounds. The lungs fill large area in the thoracic cavity. The thoracic
cavity houses other organs like the heart, great blood vessels and other organs within the
thorax. In between the lungs and the thoracic cavity is a space called pleural space. Pleural
membranes produce a serous fluid called pleural fluid. This fluid supports the lungs
against friction during breathing. Each lung is lined with a covering called visceral pleura
and thoracic cavity is lined with parietal pleura. The superior part or the apex of each
lung is situated under the clavicle. The inferior portion which is resting on the diaphragm
is called the base (Fig. 77).
▪ Bronchioles – within the lungs, each bronchus is branching out to smallest passageways
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VII. The Respiratory System
▪ Alveoli, Alveolar Ducts and Alveolar Sacs – these structures are considered as the
respiratory zone (Fig. 78), to include the respiratory bronchioles which are all located
within the lungs. Respiratory zone refers to a site of gas exchange. Small cavities or air
sacs are called the alveoli. The alveolar duct and sacs are networked together serving as
sites of gas exchange. The outer surface of the alveoli is lined with pulmonary capillaries.
In this particular site is the respiratory membrane where alveolar and capillary
membranes linked together. Carbon dioxide leaves the blood and enter the alveoli, oxygen
from the alveoli enters the capillary blood – this process takes place within the respiratory
membrane (Fig.5). The alveoli have a role in fighting against presence of pathogens in the
lungs. Alveolar macrophages work on the defenses against carbon particles, bacteria and
other invading pathogens.
Figure 76. Structures of respiratory organs Figure 77. Organs in the thoracic cavity
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VII. The Respiratory System
Mechanism of Breathing
Breathing is influenced by the volume changes in the thoracic cavity. Specifically, during
inhalation or inspiration, air flows into the lungs and air flows out from the lungs during exhalation
or expiration. These volume changes are dependent on the pressure changes. Atmospheric pressure
and intrapulmonary or intra-alveolar pressure influence the pulmonary ventilation. As general rule,
intrapulmonary pressure is always equal to the atmospheric pressure. Thus, changes in volume will
lead to changes in pressure.
▪ Inspiration – air flows into the lungs. During inspiration the size of thoracic cavity
increases, due to the contraction of external intercostal muscles and diaphragm
(Fig. 80). When this happens, the intrapulmonary volume increases which makes
intrapulmonary pressure decreased. Making intrapulmonary pressure lower than
atmospheric pressure.
▪ Expiration – air flows out from the lungs. When air moves out from the lungs, external
intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax, returning the thoracic cavity into its resting size
(Fig.81). During exhalation, volume of thoracic cavity decreases leads to increase in
intrapulmonary pressure. At this point, intrapulmonary pressure is greater than the
atmospheric pressure causing the air to leave the lungs.
Figure 80. Changes in thoracic cavity Figure 81. Changes in thoracic cavity
during inspiration during expiration
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VII. The Respiratory System
The amount of air that flows in and out of the lungs can be measured based on volumes.
Respiratory volumes include the different measurements of the amount of air in the lungs during
breathing. Respiratory volumes depend on person’s age, weight, sex and physical conditions. The
values of each volumes can be measured using a spirometer.
▪ Tidal volume (TV) – refers to the amount of air moves in and out of the lungs during quiet
breathing. It is about 500 mL of air in every breathing cycle.
▪ Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) – is the amount of air taken forcibly in deep inhalation
above the tidal volume. It is about 3,100 mL of air.
▪ Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) – refers to the amount of air forcefully exhaled
beyond tidal expiration measuring about 1,200 mL of air.
▪ Residual Volume – refers to the amount of air remained in the lungs that cannot be
expelled. It is essential for gas exchange by keeping the alveoli inflated.
▪ Vital Capacity – is the sum of the TV, IRV and ERV or the total amount of exchangeable
air.
▪ Dead Space Volume – air that remains on the passageways that does not reach the
respiratory zone. The amount of this air is about 150 mL.
Gas Transport
The pick-up of oxygen and unloading of carbon dioxide takes place in the respiratory zone
and in the tissue cells. The gas exchanges occurring between the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries
is called External Respiration or the pulmonary gas exchange (Fig. 82). In systemic circulation,
gas exchange between blood and tissue cells is known as the Internal respiration or the systemic
capillary gas exchange (Fig. 83).
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VII. The Respiratory System
You have learned the concepts of structures and functions of respiratory system. Take a
review by answering the following exercises.
1. This structure extends from the larynx to the main bronchi. It is also known as the windpipe.
What structure is this? _________________________________________________________
2. What is serous fluid that allows the lungs to glide easily over the thorax? __________________
3. What process refers to when air moves into the lungs until intrapulmonary pressure equals
atmospheric pressure? _________________________________________________________
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5. Normal breathing rate is also known as eupnea. What is the normal quiet respiration rate?
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7. Explain the correct flow of air through respiratory structures during inspiration? __________
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VII. The Respiratory System
8. The nurse auscultates the breath sounds of a 30-year old client who is having shortness of breath.
The nurse is aware that the apex of the lung is located on ______________________________
9. A 40-year old male client with a Tidal Volume of 500 mL, his forceful exhalation measures
1,100 mL of air and forceful deep inhalation measures 3,000 mL. What is the vital capacity of
the client?___________________________________________________________________
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10. Explain the differences between External and Internal Respiration? ____________________
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