Activity No.

17
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Introduction

In vertebrates, hemoglobin plays a critical role in the transport of oxygen and

carbon dioxide in the respiration process. Human beings, like all other animals, obtain
carbon compounds by consuming other organisms and then metabolize these carbon
compounds to obtain the energy they use to move, to grow, and to think. The uptake
of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide together are called respiration.

Of all the substances the body must have to survive is oxygen which is by far the
most critical. Without food, we can survive for a few weeks; Without water we could
just live for just live for a few days; Without oxygen we are kept alive in just 4 to 6
minutes. Arterial blood is composed of 21% oxygen while venous blood is composed
of 16% oxygen where 5% of the oxygen is lost per cycle.

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The respiratory system functions for the distribution of air, and gets air close

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enough to the blood for gas exchange (where oxygen is loaded and carbon dioxide is
unloaded). The human respiratory system starts when the air passes through the

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nostril or mouth via the trachea into the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli where it
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comes into contact with the blood vessels. The human breathes through inhalation
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and exhalation. Inhalation happens when the diaphragm and the walls of the chest
cavity expand by increasing the volume. As a result of the large volume, air is sucked
in through the trachea. Exhalation takes place when the diaphragm and chest walls
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return to their normal positions, reducing the volume of the chest cavity and forcing air
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outward through the trachea. Muscles that contract during inhalation relax during
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exhalation.

Objectives :
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At the end of the activity you should have

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1. Identified organs associated with the respiratory system;

2. Traced the pathway of oxygen from outside environment to the lungs;
and
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3. Determined the lung capacity and carbon content in individual person.

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Materials:

Improvised spirometer: Coke bottle, Piece of tubing, Water bowl

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Spirometer is an instrument used to measure the volume of air exchanged in

breathing.

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 Definition of important terms:

TV = Tidal Volume: approximately 500 ml (1 pint); the amount of air moved in and out
of the lungs during the normal breathing.

IRV = Inspiratory Reserve Volume: approximately 2100 – 3300 ml; the amount of air
that can be forcibly inspired over and above normal inspiration.

ERV = Expiratory Reserve Volume: approximately 1000 – 1200 ml; the amount of air
that can be forcibly exhaled after expiring the tidal volume.

VC = Vital Capacity: approximately 4500 – 4800 ml.; the largest amount of air that we
can breathe in and out in one respiratory cycle; TV + IRV + ERV

RV = Residual Volume: approximately 1200 ml.; air that remains in the lungs after a
forceful expiration; maintain alveolar potency and prevents lung collapse.

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IC = Inspiratory Capacity: total amount of air that can be inspired after tidal expiration;

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TV + IRV

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FRC = Functional Residual Capacity : combined residual and expiratory reserve
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volume; amount of air remaining in the lungs after tidal expiration
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TLC = Total lung Capacity: approximately 6000 ml in males; sum of all lung volumes;
TLC = VC + RV
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Procedures:
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A. RESPIRATORY VOLUME

1. Assemble the spirometer. First put about 2-3 inches of water in the bowl. Fill
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the bottle completely and invert it into the bowl being careful not to let any air
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into the bottle.

2. Send one end of the tubing into the bottle, and while a partner holds the bottle,
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inhale as deeply as you can and exhale normally into the bottle. DO NOT
BLOW OUT all of the extra air in your lungs, just exhale to the point you would
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be at if you exhaled a normal breath. Measure the displacement of water. This

measurement is called “inspiratory reserve”

3. Refill the bottle. Now take a normal breath, and after exhaling, blow into the
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tube all of the extra air still in your lungs. Measure the amount of water that
was removed from the bottle. This measurement is called the “ expiratory
reserve”. Record in Table 17.1

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 4. Add the two numbers together plus the approximate 500 ml for tidal volume to
get your “vital capacity”, This number is the maximum amount of air your lungs
can hold.

 Do same procedure with other group mates and record the results.

B. Carbon Dioxide Content

The air you breath-out contains carbon dioxide gas which is a base. Normally
the carbon dioxide content of the air you exhale does not contain a huge amount of
carbon dioxide, but when you are exercising, the air you breath out contains much
carbon dioxide. As indicator of carbon dioxide content phenolphthalein is normally
pink, but when a base is mixed with it the solution turns clear.

To determine your carbon dioxide content do the following:

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1. blow normal breaths into the 5 ml phenolphthalein solution and count how many
exhalations it takes to turn the solution clear.

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2. Breath into a paper bag for 30 seconds and then count how many breaths it

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takes to turn the solution clear.
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3. Repeat procedure no.1 after jumping in place for 5 minutes. Record results in
table 17.2.
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 Data Sheet

Name___________________________________________Group ___________
Course and Section_________________ Date Performed_________________

Activity No. 17
Respiratory System

Table 17.1 RESPIRATORY VOLUME

Height Weight Inspiratory Expiratory Vital capacity Total lung

reserve reserve capacity
1.
2.
3.
4.

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5.

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 use approximate value for tidal volume and residual volume.

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Table 17.2 Record the number of exhalations to turn the phenolphthalein clear.
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No. of exhalations
Normal breathing
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After 30 sec. breathe in a plastic bag.

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After jumping for 5 min.

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Discussion:
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1. Who had the highest vital capacity in the group? ____________________________

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Is this person tall, short, small or big? ____________________________________

2. What makes a person have large vital capacity? ____________________________

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__________________________________________________________________
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3. What are the factors that cause a large total lung capacity? ______________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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 4. What factors cause the increase of carbon dioxide in our blood?________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

5. How is carbon dioxide produced? ______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

6. After breathing into the bag, did it take more or less breaths to turn the solution
clear? ____________________________________________________________
How about after jumping? _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Why do these happen? _______________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________

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What have you learned from this activity? __________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________
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Application
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What is the effect of smoking on your respiratory system?

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______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________

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