THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

FUNCTIONS OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• STUDYING, SLEEPING, TALKING, AND EXERCISING ALL INVOLVE

BREATHING. FROM OUR FIRST BREATH AT BIRTH, THE RATE AND
DEPTH OF OUR BREATING ARE UNCONCIOUSLY MATCHED TO OUR
ACTIVITIES.

• ALTHOUGH WE CAN VOLUNTARILY STOP BREATHING, WITHIN A FEW

MINUTES WE MUST BREATHE AGAIN.

• BREATHING IS SO CHARACTERISITICS OF LIFE THAT, ALONG WITH

THE PULSE, IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS CHECK TO DEYERMINE IF AN UNCONSCIOUS IS
ALIVE.

RESPIRATION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PROCESSES:

1. Ventilation, or breathing, which is the movement of air into and out of the
lungs;

2. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air in the lungs and
the blood;

3. The transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood;

4. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the
tissue. It can be confusing to hear the term respiration alone because
sometimes it also refers to cellular metabolism, or CELLULAR
RESPIRATION;

In fact, the two processes are directly related. Breathing provides the oxygen
needed in cellular respiration to make ATP from glucose. Breathing also rids the
body of potentially toxic carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide produced during
cellular respiration. In addition to respiration, the respiratory system performs the
followinng functions:

1. Regulation of blood pH. The respiratory system can alter blood pH by

changing blood carbon dioxide levels.

2. Voice production. Air movement past the vocal cords makes sound and
speech possible.
 3. Olfaction. The sensation of smell occurs when airborne molecules are drawn
into nasal cavity.

4. Innate immunity. The respiratory system protects against some

microorganisms and other pathogens, such as viruses, by preventing them
from entering the body and by removing them from respiratory surface.

The respiratory system has two divisions:

• The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, the pharynx (throat), and the
larynx.

• The lower respiratory tract includes the trachea, the bronchi, and the lungs.
Keep in mind, however, that upper and lower respiratory tract are not official
anatomical terms.

NOSE AND THE NASAL CAVITIES

NOSE

• The nose consist of the external nose and the nasal cavity. The external
nose is the visible structure that form a prominent feature of the face. Most of
the external nose is composed of hyaline cartilage, although the bridge of the
external nose consists of bone. The bone and cartilage are covered by
connective tissue and skin.

• The nares are the external openings of the nose, and the choanae are the
openings into the pharynx. The nasal cavity extends from the nares to the
choanae. The nasal septum is a partition dividing the nasal cavity into right
and left parts. A deviated nasal septum occurs when the septum bulges to
one side. The hard plate forms the floor of the nasal cavity., separating the
nasal cavity from the oral cavity. Air can flow through the nasal cavity when
the oral cavity is closed or full of food.

• Three prominent bony ridges called choncae are present on the lateral walls
on each side of the nasal cavity. The conchae increase the surface area of
the nasal cavity and cause air to churn, so that it can be cleansed humidified,
and warmed.

• The pranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces within bone. They include the
maxillary, frontal, ethmoidal, and sphenoidal sinuses, each named for the
bones in which they are located.
• Sinositis is inflammation of the mucous membrane of a sinus, especially one
or more of the paranasal sinuses.

• The nasocraminal ducts, which carry tears from eyes, also open into the
nasal cavity. Sensory receptors for the sense of smell are in the superior part
of the nasal cavity.

• The sneeze reflex dislodges foreign substances from the nasal cavity.

PHARYNX

• The pharynx is the common passageway for both respiratory and the
digestive systems. Air from the nasal cavity and air, food, and water from the
mouth pass through through the pharynx.

THREE REGIONS OF PHARYNX

• The nasopharynx, is the superior part of the pharynx. It is located posterior to

the choanae and superior to the soft palate, which is an incomplete muscle
and connective tissue partition separating the nasoparhynx from the
oropharynx.

• The oropharynx extends from the uvula to the epiglottis, and the oral cavity
opens into the oropharynx.

• The laryngopharynx passes posterior to the larynx and extends from the tip
of epiglottis to the esophagus.
LARHYNX

• The larhynx, commonly called the voicebox, is located in the anterior throat
and extends from the base of the tongue to the trachea.

3 MAIN FUNCTION OF LARHYNX

1. Maintains an open airway,

2. Protects the airway during swallowing, and

3. Produces the voice.

THRACHEA

• The thrachea or windpipe, allows air to flow into the lungs. It is a

membraneous tube attached to the larhynx.

• The adult trachea is about 1.4-1.6cm in diameter and about 10-11cm long.

BRONCHI AND SMALL PASSAGES

• The trachea divides into the left and right main bronchi, or primary bronchi,
each of which connects to a lung.

• The left main bronchus is more horizontal than the right bronchus, because it
is displaced by the heart.

LUNGS

• The lungs are the principal organs of respiration. Each lung is cone-shaped,
with its base resting on the diaphragm and its apex extending superiorly to a
point about 2.cm above the clavicle.

• The thracheobronchial tree consists of the main bronchi and the many
braches. Each main bronchus divides into lobar bronchi, as they enter their
respective lungs.

• The lobar bronchi conduct air to each lung lobe.

There are two lobar bronchi in the left lung and three lobar bronchi in the right
lung.

• The lobar bronchi in turn divide into segmental bronchi, which lead to the
bronchopulmonary segments of the lungs. The bronchi continue to branch
many times, finally giving rise to bronchioles.
 • The bronchioles also subdivide numerous times to give rise to terminal
bronchioles, which then subdivide into respiratory bronchioles

PLEURAL CAVITIES

• The lungs are contained within the thoracic. In addiction, each lung is
sorrounded by a separate pleural, (relating to the ribs) cavity. Each pleural
cavity is lined with a serous membrane called the pleura.

• The pleura consists of a parietal and visceral part. The parietal pleura lines
the walls of the thorax, diaphragm, and mediastinum. The parietal pluera is
continuous with the visceral pleura.

• The pleural cavity, between the parietal and visceral pleurae, is filled with a
small volume of pleural fluid produced by the pleural membranes.

THE PLEURAL FLUID PERFORMS TWO FUCNTIONS:

1. It acts as a lubricant, allowing the visceral and parietal pleurae to slide past
each other as the lungs and thorax change shape during respiration, and

2. It helps hold the pleural membranes together.