MODULE 1: Respiratory and Circulatory System

The Respiratory System

● Grapes - were used to represent the respiratory system

● If one respiratory organ fails to function, then the entire respiratory system will not be able to carry out
its job
● Cilia - hair-like structures in the nose that trap foreign particles in the air we breathe
● Mainly made out of organs that help us breathe
● Respiration, is linked to breathing

Functions of the Respiratory System

1. Transport air into and out of the lungs
2. Protect against inhaled particles
3. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

Parts of the Respiratory System

● Nasal Cavity – the hollow space in the skull where air is warmth, moisturized and filtered.
● Cilia – tiny hair like structures found in the nose that filter out the foreign particles that we inhale
● Trachea – also known as the windpipe, the empty tube that serves as the passageway of air from the
nose to the lungs
● Bronchi (bronchial tubes) – two branching tubes that connect the trachea to the lungs, an inferior
part of the trachea that branches to left and right airway
● Lungs – main organ of the respiratory system, which is spongy and lightweight organs
● Bronchioles – tiny branches of air passage in the lungs, hairlike tubes that connect to the alveoli.
● Alveoli – also known as airsvacs, tiny bubble like bunch of structures that allows gas exchange in the
lungs
● Diaphragm – band of muscles that play a vital role in breathing, it is an involuntary muscle located
below the chest cavity that plays a vital role in the movement of air in and out of the body
● Pleura – the lining that envelopes the lungs
● Oxygen (O2) is the gas being inhaled (when the muscles contract) and then Carbon dioxide (CO2) is
the gas being exhaled (when the muscles relax)

The Circulatory System

Video Transcript:
Veins are blood vessels containing blood flowing to the heart, while arteries have blood flowing from the heart. The
blue is representative of blood vessels containing deoxygenated blood, while the red blood vessels have oxygenated
blood fresh from the lungs.

Now, let's follow the path of the blood through the heart. The superior vena-cava receives blood from the head, neck,
upper limbs and chest. Meanwhile, the inferior vena-cava receives blood from the trunk, viscera, and lower limbs. Both
superior and inferior vena-cava end up in the right atrium, one of the four chambers of the heart.

The heart not only has four chambers, it also has four valves. The purpose of the valves is to keep blood moving in
the right direction and not flow backwards. Blood exits the right atrium through the tricuspid valve, so called because it
has three flaps, and enters the right ventricle. The blood exits the right ventricle through the pulmonary valve and
enters the pulmonary artery.

Again, it is an artery because blood is flowing away from the heart, but it is blue because it lacks oxygen. The
pulmonary artery then splits into the left and right pulmonary arteries, which go to each respective lung. In the lungs,
gas exchange occurs. The blood discards carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen.

Now, blood comes back from the lungs through the pulmonary veins, entering the left atrium. Next, the blood is
pumped into the left ventricle through the mitral, or bicuspid valve. Finally, the oxygenated blood leaves the left
ventricle through the aortic semi-lunar valve, entering the aortic arch.

The aorta, which is the largest of all the arteries, distributes the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. The aortic
arch has three major branches, which supply the head and arms with blood. Then, the aorta curls downward from
behind the heart, forming the descending aorta, which descends through the chest and continues down through the
abdomen. In the abdomen, the descending aorta splits to supply the pelvis and legs with blood.

Discussion Notes

● Circulatory System - carries blood and dissolved substances to and from different places in the body
○ The heart has the job of pumping these things around the body
○ The heart pumps blood and other substances around the body in tubes called blood vessels
○ The heart is the main organ of the circulatory system
○ ¾ of the body is made up of fluids
● Aorta - largest artery in the body
● The heart and blood vessels make up the circulatory system
● The heart has 4 chambers: right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle
● The circulatory system is a double circulatory system and has two parts: the lungs and body cells
○ The right side deals with the deoxygenated blood
○ The left side deals with oxygenated blood
● The normal blood pressure is 110 - 120 over 60 - 80 (usually 120 over 80)
● Veins bring blood from the body except the lungs
● Arteries carry blood away from the heart
● Coronary arteries - the heart’s own blood supply

Parts of the Heart

● Right Side
○ Artery to lungs
○ Vein from head and body
 ○ Right atrium
○ Valve
○ Right ventricle
● Left Side
○ Artery to head and body
○ Vein from the lungs
○ Left atrium
○ Valve
○ Left ventricle

How does the heart work?

1. The heartbeat begins when the heart muscles relax and blood flows into the atria.
2. The atria then contract and the valves open to allow blood into the ventricles.
3. The valves close to stop blood from flowing backwards. The ventricles contract forcing the blood to leave the
heart. At the same time, the atria are relaxing and once again filling with blood.
4. Blood from the heart gets around the body through blood vessels.

Three Types of Blood Vessels

1. Artery - thick muscle and elastic fibres, carries blood away from the heart
● Elasticity - the ability to go back to its original form
● Carries the oxygenated blood away from the heart
● Aorta is the largest artery
2. Vein - thin muscle and elastic fibres, carries blood towards the heart
● Brings the deoxygenated blood from the body except the lungs
● Carries blood toward the heart
● Have valves which act to stop the blood from going in the wrong direction
● Body muscles surround the veins
3. Capillaries - connects the arteries to the veins and exchanges materials
● The wall of the capillary is only one cell thick
● The link between veins and arteries
● Exchange of material between blood and body cells
● Capillary bed - collection of capillaries

● Blood is made up of:

○ Red blood cells (Hemoglobin)
○ Platelets - responsible for blood clotting
○ White blood cells - antibodies; fights disease and illnesses
○ Carbon dioxide
○ Digested food
○ Plasma - liquid part of the blood
○ Hormones
○ Oxygen
○ Urea

● Red blood cells - a biconcave disc that is round and flat without a nucleus, contain hemoglobin, a molecule
specially designed to hold oxygen and carry it to cells that need it, can change shape and extend
● White blood cells - there are many different types and all contain a big nucleus. The two main ones are the
lymphocytes and the macrophages. Macrophages eat and digest microorganisms, while lymphocytes create
antibodies.
 ● Platelets - are bits of cell broken off larger cells, produce tiny fibrinogen fibres that form a net
● Plasma - a straw colored liquid that carries the cells and the platelets which help blood clot. Contains carbon
dioxide, glucose, amino acids, waste materials, urea, etc.

● Nicotine can block our arteries (amine)

● CO2 covalent compound
● Methane - CH4
● Butane - C4H10
● Ammonia - NH3

Chemicals Found in Cigarettes

● Carbon monoxide (car exhaust)
● Arsenic (rat poison)
● Ammonia (window cleaner)
● Acetone (nail polish remover)
● Hydrogen cyanide (gas chamber poison)
● Naphthalene (moth balls)
● Sulphur compounds (found in matches)
● Lead
● Volatile alcohol
● Formaldehyde (embalming fluid)
● Butane (lighter fluid)
● Alcohol and acetone are very volatile substances
● Volatile - It can easily evaporate