Respiratory system

- When we say the respiratory system, this is the network of

organ and tissues that help us breathe.
- It includes our airways, our lungs, and even our blood vessels.
Introduction
The purpose of the chapter is to:
1. Describe the anatomy of the respiratory system
2. Understand the physiology of the respiratory system
3. Describe the events that cause inhalation, exhalation, and gas
exchange
4. Learn how oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in the blood.
Breathing and respiration
- Respiration is the exchange of gases between the atmosphere,
blood, and cells.
- Or the inhaling of the oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

- The combination of 3 processes is required for respiration to occur

1. Ventilation (breathing)
2. External (pulmonary) respiration
3. Internal (tissue) respiration
When we say ventilation, this is the exchange of air between the
lungs and the atmosphere so that the oxygen can be exchange for
carbon dioxide in the alveoli. Alveoli, this are the tiny air sucks in the
lungs or where the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and carbon
dioxide during the process of breathing in and out.
When we say external respiration or pulmonary, this is the exchange
of gases with the external environment, and it occurs in the alveoli of
the lungs
While the internal respiration or in the tissues the exchange of gases
with the internal environment and it occurs in the tissues.
- The cardiovascular system assists the respiratory system by
transporting gases.
 - These both systems work together to circulate blood and
oxygen throughout the body
Pulmonary ventilation
This is the process of air flowing in the lungs during inhalation and
out of the lungs during exhalation. The air flows because of the
pressure differences between the atmosphere and the gases inside
the lungs
During inhalation the air pressure in the atmosphere is higher than in
the lungs so air flows into the lungs. The lungs expand and the
pressure in the lungs drops. And air moves in.
in the opposite way during exhalation air pressure in the lungs is
higher than in the atmosphere so air flows out of the lungs. The lungs
contract to the original size and the pressure in the lungs will
increase. And air moves out.
Structure of the respiratory system
Structurally, the components of the respiratory system are divided into 2
parts:
1. Upper respiratory system
2. Lower respiratory system
The upper respiratory system consists of the nose, the nostrils, the
nasal cavity, mouth, throat, and the voice box or the larynx
The lower respiratory system consists of the trachea, the bronchi, the
bronchioles, and the alveoli which makes up the lungs
These structures pull in air from the upper respiratory system then
absorb the oxygen then it will release the carbon dioxide in exchange
Functionally, the components of the respiratory system are divided not 2
zones:
1. Conducting zone
2. Respiratory zone
The conducting zone it like the upper respiratory system it includes
the organ and structures not directly involved in gas exchange it
consists of the nose, the pharynx, the larynx, the trachea, bronchi,
and bronchioles. These structures form a continuous a passageway
for air to move in and out of the lungs and the function of the
conducting system is to carry oxygen into the lungs and carbon
dioxide out of the lungs.
The respiratory zone is found inside the lungs, and this is made up of
the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli. The function
of the respiratory zone is where oxygen and carbon dioxide move into
and out of the blood
The structures of the respiratory system
The nose is serves as the passageway for the incoming and the
outgoing of air also the nose is responsible for filtering warming and
moistening it.
The pharynx also called as the throat it acts as the passageway for
food on its way going to the stomach and air route to the lungs.
Cartilaginous framework of the nose
The external portion of the nose is made of cartilage and skin and is lines
with mucous membrane
This is the bony framework and it compose the frontal bone, nasal
bone, and maxilla and this framework compose of the upper part
which is the lateral nasal cartilages, the middle part is the septal
cartilage and the bottom part near the tip nose is the alar cartilages.
The cartilaginous framework helps keep the vestibules and nasal
cavity patent.

Nasal Conchae and Meatuses

The difference between the nasal conchae and meatuses is the nasal
conchae increases the cavity surface area and it will create air
turbulence so it can filter all the air going into our nose. While the
nasal meatuses it will receive drainage of the paranasal sinuses and
nasolacrimal duct. The nasal meatuses nagrereceive ng drainage and
the nasal conchae it filters the air going in our nose.
The surface anatomy of the nose
Root – superior attachment of the nose to the frontal bone
Apex – tip of the nose
Bridge – bony framework of nose forms by nasal bones
External naris – nostrils; external opening onto nasal cavity.
The pharynx
The pharynx, functions as a passageway for air on its way to the lungs and
food on its way to the stomach it is also known as the throat
Regions of the pharynx
Nasopharynx – is behind the nose it primarily acts as the passageway
for the air secretion from the nose to the oral pharynx.
Oropharynx – is behind the mouth is passes food from the mouth into
the laryngopharynx.
Laryngopharynx- is behind the pharynx with two openings which into
the larynx and into the esophagus. This is both air and food pass. It
also helps guide the food and air kung saan sila pupunta.
Larynx
The larynx (voice box) is a passageway that connects the pharynx and
trachea
the voice box it serves to protect the lower airways also facilitate
respiration and place a key role in phonation (Phonation is the
production of vocal sound and speech and comes from a complicated
system of laryngeal muscles and ligaments.)
kailangan nating alagaan ang voicebox natin especially sa mga
speaker, professors, and also singers dahil kapag nagkaroon ng
damage may instances need ng surgery like laryngectomy or the
removal of part or all of the larynx. After a laryngectomy, the
esophagus and trachea no longer share the common space. You'll
need to learn a new way of swallowing for the change. You'll breathe
through a surgical hole in your neck called a stoma. The stoma is a
substitute for the normal breathing pathway that's modified during
surgery
The larynx contains vocal folds which produce sounds when they vibrate
The vocal folds, is the fold of tissue which is located in the larynx that
have 3 important functions
1. Is to protect the airway from choking
2. To regulate the flow of air into our lungs
3. Is the production of sounds in use for speech.
Structure of voice production
Abduction – is the vocal fold abduct from apart or magbubukas in
order to let air in and out of the lungs.
Adduction – is the vocal fold may adduct or they will come up
together or magsasara in order to trap air in the lungs and they may
also adduct to vibrate or to produce vocal sounds
Trachea
The trachea extends from the larynx to the primary bronchi
The function of it is to allow passage of air into the lungs
Bronchi
At the superior border of the 5th thoracic vertebrae, the trachea branches
into a right primary bronchus which enters the right lung and a left primary
bronchus which enters the left lung.
In the bronchi we have lobar and segmental bronchi. The lobar
bronchi are the primary and tertiary bronchi, and they are conducting
airways that are line by cartilage rings while the segmental bronchi
these are divided into many primary bronchi that will divide into
terminal bronchioles.
Lungs
The lungs are paired organs in the thoracic cavity
The lungs are enclosed and protected by the pleural membrane or a
thin layer of tissue that lines the pleural cavity.
In the lungs we have visceral pleura, parietal pleura, and pleural
cavity. The visceral pleura covers the surface of the lungs. The
parietal pleura it is for the optimal functioning of the lungs during
breathing. The pleural cavity contains fluid or pleura fluid which
serves as lubricant to allow pleura to slide effortlessly against each
other during respiratory movements
Lobes and fissures of the lungs
We have 5 lobes in our lungs, on the right lung we have 3 lobes while
on the other side we have 2 lobes. the one who separate the lobe is
what we called the Fissure
Alveoli
When the conducting zone ends at terminal bronchioles, e respiratory zone
begins
The respiratory zone terminates at the alveoli, the air sacs found within the
lungs.
Alveoli are microscopic sacs at the end of the alveolar ducts provided
with a network of lung capillaries, alveoli are responsible for the
exchange of gases between blood and air
It looks like a grapes
Alveolus
There are 2 kinds of alveolar cells type I and type II
The type 1 alveolar cells represent the gas exchange surface in the
alveolus
The type 2 alveolar cells represent the gas exchange and acts as a
caretaker of the alveolar compartment
Respiratory Membrane
The respiratory membrane is composed of:
1. A layer of type I and type II alveolar cells and associated alveolar
macrophages ( alveolar macrophages are the first line of defense
 against pollutants and pathogenic microbes that initiate and
innate response in the lung) that constitutes the alveolar wall
So kapag may na inhale tayong bacteria or germs na
makakapagcause ng disease, sila yung magsisilbing frontliner
to fight it.
2. An epithelial basement membrane underlying the alveolar wall
3. A capillary basement membrane that is often fused to the epithelial
basement membrane
4. The capillary endothelium
the function of respiratory membrane is to exchange gases between
the lungs and circulatory systems
Blood Supply to the Lungs
Blood enters the lungs via the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary circulation)
and the bronchial arteries (systemic circulation)
The pulmonary circulation is a type of circulation that moves blood
between the heart and the lungs it carries blood from the heart to the
lungs for gas exchange and then returns it to the heart
The systemic circulation carries blood from the heart to tissues of the
body and then returns it to the heart
systemic: heart->body->heart
Pulmonary: heart->lungs->heart
Blood exits the lungs via the pulmonary veins and the bronchial veins
Ventilation-perfusion coupling
This is the relationship between the amount of air reaching the air
sacs of the lungs and the amount of blood reaching the lungs.
The ventilation refers to the amount of air that enters and leaves the
alveoli for the body to be able to obtain oxygen, there must be a
sufficient amount of air that reaches the alveolar region of the lungs
The perfusion refers to the amount of blood that flows to the alveolar
capillaries. For the body to be able to obtain oxygen there also must
be sufficient amounts of blood passing through the lungs to pick up
oxygen molecules so that it can be transported to all the organs and
tissues of the body.
These two must be tightly regulated for efficient gas exchange
If the alveolar carbon dioxide is high and the oxygen is low, it will
produce vasoconstriction
And if the alveolar carbon dioxide is low and the oxygen is high, it will
produce vasodilation.
The vasodilation is the widening of your blood vessels, response to
being hot.
The vasoconstriction is the narrowing of blood vessels. Response to
being cold
- Vasoconstriction in response to hypoxia diverts blood from poorly
ventilated areas to well ventilated areas

Pulmonary Ventilation
This is the process of air flowing in the lungs during inhalation and
out of the lungs during exhalation. The air flows because of the
pressure differences between the atmosphere and the gases inside
the lungs
In pulmonary ventilation, air flows between the atmosphere and the alveoli
of the lungs because of alternating pressure differences created by
contraction and relaxation of respiratory muscles
Inhalation – the lungs expand with air and oxygen defuses the lung
surface and it will enter the bloodstream and the oxygen is what we
inhale during inhalation
Exhalation – the lungs will expel air and the lung volume decreases
and the carbon dioxide is what we release during exhalation
Boyle's Law
We can breathe air in and out of the lungs because of Boyle’s law
If a given amount of gas has a constant temperature and if you then
increase the volume the pressure will decrease, and if you decrease
the volume the pressure will increase. Vice versa.
Like for example, during inhalation because of the air pressure in the
atmosphere is higher than in the lungs so air flows into the lungs. The
lungs expand and the pressure in the lungs drops. And air moves in.
Pressure changes that drive inhalation and exhalation are governed, in
part, by Boyle's Law
▪ The volume of a gas varies inversely with its pressure
Muscles of inhalation and exhalation
On the inhalation the most important muscle is the diaphragm and on
the exhalation the most important muscles are the abdominal
muscles including rectus and transversus abdominis and internal and
external oblique.
Position of the diaphragm during inhalation and exhalation
During inhalation the diaphragm is contracted which increases the
volume of the lungs cavity which mean during inhalation our
diaphragm contracts while in exhalation the diaphragm is relaxed
which also decreases the volume of the lung cavity.
During inhalation the air pressure in the atmosphere is higher than in
the lungs so air flows into the lungs. The lungs expand and the
pressure in the lungs drops. And air moves in.
in the opposite way during exhalation air pressure in the lungs is
higher than in the atmosphere so air flows out of the lungs. The lungs
contract to the original size and the pressure in the lungs will
increase. And air moves out.
Pressure changes in pulmonary ventilation
- At rest, when the diaphragm is relaxed, alveolar pressure is equal to
atmospheric pressure, and there is no air flow.
- During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and the external
intercostals contract. The chest cavity expands, and the alveolar
pressure drops below atmospheric pressure. Air flows into the lungs
in response to the pressure gradient and the lung volume expands.
During deep inhalation, the scalene and sternocleidomastoid muscles
expand the chest further, thereby creating a greater drop in alveolar
pressure.
- During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and the external
intercostals relax. The chest and lungs recoil, the chest cavity
contracts, and the alveolar pressure increases above atmospheric
pressure. Air flows out of the lungs in response to the pressure
gradient, and the lung volume decreases. During forced exhalations,
the internal intercostals and abdominal muscles contract, thereby
reducing the size of the chest cavity further and creating a greater
increase in alveolar pressure.
Other Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Surface tension
- Inwardly directed force in the alveoli which must be overcome to
expand the lungs during each inspiration
The source of surface tension in the lungs is great because without
something to reduce the surface tension the airways would collapse
after exhalation which makes reinflation during inhalation much more
difficult and less effective, kung walang surface tension we can
experience a collapsed lung (collapsed lung, is when the air escapes
from the lungs) it is called pneumothorax and if only part of the lung
is affected, it s called atelectasis.
Elastic recoil
- Decreases the size of the alveoli during expiration
This means that the rebound of the lungs after having been stretch by
upon inhalation, upon exhalation the lungs recoil to force air out of
the lungs and the intercoastal muscles will begin to relax returning
the chest wall back its original position so the diaphragm also relaxes
and moves higher into the thoracic cavity
Compliance
 - Ease with which the lungs and thoracic wall can be expanded
This is the expandability of the lungs and chest wall, or this is which
the lungs and thoracic wall can be expanded
Breathing Patterns and Respiratory Movements
Eupnea – the normal breathing
Apnea – the temporary cessation of breathing and we have condition
called sleep apnea which a condition marked by abnormal breathing
during sleep, naghihilik
Dyspnea – Difficulties of breathing if you cried too much or you have
lung disorder.
Tachypnea – excessively rapid and shallow breathing or
hyperventilation
Costal breathing – it requires contraction of the intercoastal muscles
so as the intercoastal muscles relax air possibly leaves the lungs and
this type of breathing is also known as shallow breathing. Shorter
inhale and exhale
Diaphragmatic breathing – mode of breathing that requires a diaphragm
to contracts so as a diaphragm relaxes the air will then possibly
leaves the lungs it is also called the deep breathing. Example if you
are nervous, you need to do deep breathing and exhale slowly.
Lung volumes and capacity
The lung volume also known as the respiratory volume and refers to
the volume of the gas in the lungs for the given time during the
respiratory cycle
The lung capacity is the volume of air in the lungs upon the maximum
effort inhalation.
The inspiratory reserve volume is the additional amount of air na we
can also inhale after normal inhalation.
The expiratory reserve volume what is the additional amount of air
that you can exhaled after normal exhalation
The tidal volume is the volume of air which is move in and out of the
lungs during normal respiration
The residual volume is the amount of air that remains in a person’s
lungs after fully exhaling.
The inspiratory capacity is the amount of air that can be inhaled after
the end of the normal respiration.
The vital capacity is the maximum amount of air that a person expels
from the lungs after a maximum exhalation.
The total lung capacity is the volume of gas in the lung at the end of
the full inhalation
The functional residual capacity is the volume in the lungs after the
exhalation
Exchange of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
Dalton's law
- Each gas in a mixture of gases exerts its own pressure as if no other
gases were present
Henry's law
- The quantity of a gas that will dissolve in a liquid is proportional to the
partial pressure of the gas and its solubility coefficient when the
temperature remains constant
It describes the behaviors of gases when they come in contact with
liquid
External and Internal Respiration
The external respiration It is the exchange of gases with the external
environment and occurs in the alveoli of the lungs while
During external respiration, oxygen will diffuse from the alveoli into the
pulmonary capillaries
- CO₂ moves in the opposite direction
While the internal respiration it is the exchange of gases with the
internal environment, and it occurs in the tissues
During internal respiration, oxygen will diffuse from the systemic capillaries
into the tissue
- CO₂ moves in the opposite direction
Gas exchange
The gas exchange is the process of absorbing inhaled atmospheric
oxygen molecules into our bloodstream, and it will go to offload
carbon dioxide from our bloodstream into the atmosphere in short,
we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.
Transport of O₂ and CO₂ in the Blood
Oxygen:
- 1.5% of the O, is dissolved in the plasma
- 98.5% of the O, is carried by hemoglobin (Hb)
Carbon dioxide:
- 7% of the CO₂ is dissolved in the plasma
- 23% of the CO₂ is carried by Hb inside red blood cells as
carbaminohemoglobin
- 70% of the CO₂ is transported as bicarbonate ions (HCO3)

Factors affecting the affinity of Hb (hemoglobin) for O2

Hemoglobin is the primary carrier of oxygen inside our blood system.
The affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen is affected by five different
factors
- Po2 – partial oxygen pressure, it reflexes the amount of gas
involves in the blood it primarily measures the effectiveness of
the lungs in pulling oxygen into the bloodstream from the
atmosphere
- pH - The affinity that hemoglobin has on oxygen is decreased
when the pH of the solution is decreased
- Temperature – increasing temperature of the blood resulting in
reduce affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen
 - BPG - Bisphosphoglyceric acid, it will decreases the
hemoglobin affinity for oxygen
- Type of Hb – we have 2 types of hemoglobin the fatal
hemoglobin and maternal hemoglobin. The fetal hemoglobin has
a higher oxygen binding affinity than the maternal hemoglobin
because the fetal red blood cells have higher affinity for oxygen
compare to a maternal red blood cells because the fetal
hemoglobin doesn’t bind to the BPG unlike maternal
hemoglobin kaya mataas yung kanyang affinity.

Control of respiration
Cortical influences
- Allow conscious control of respiration that may be needed to avoid
inhaling noxious gases of water
so pag huminga tayo let’s say na nasa water tayo, para hindi agad
pumasok yung water sa ilong natin and also other gases that our
body doesn’t need.
Chemoreceptor
- Central and peripheral chemoreceptors monitor levels of O2 and CO2
and provide input of the respiratory center.
chemoreceptors chemoreceptors are the sensors that detects the
carbon dioxide in oxygen and pH, Cental and peripheral
chemoreceptors are ultimately responsible for maintenance of
constant levels of the oxygen and carbon dioxide which protects our
brain from hypoxia and of course it will ensure that the breathing is
always appropriate for metabolism.

Regulation of Ventilation
Structures that control respiration
Control of respiration
Hypercapnia
- A slight increase in PCO2 (and thus H)
- Stimulates Central chemoreceptors
hypercapnia Hypercapnia is also known as hypercarpia - is it when
you have too much carbon dioxide in the blood stream, its is the
result of hyperventilation or not being able to breath properly and get
oxygen into our lungs. - hypercapnia affects people who have chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) so if you have copd you can’t
breathe easily as easy as other people do
Hypoxia
- Oxygen deficiency at the tissue level
- Caused by a low PO2 in arterial blood due to high altitude, airway
obstruction of fluid in the lungs
a condition where not enough oxygen makes it to the cell and tissues
in the body. And this can happen even the blood flow is normal. And
thus can cause serious life threatening complications.
Regulation of Blood pH
- Role of the respiratory system in pH regulation
Control of respiration
Exercise and respiratory system
The respiratory and cardiovascular system make adjustment in response to
both the intensity and duration of exercise
- As cardiac output rises, the blood flow to the lungs, termed
pulmonary perfusion, increases as well
- The O2, diffusing capacity may increase threefold during maximal
exercise so there is a greater surface area available for O2 diffusion.
Exercise and respiratory system
During exercise the body uses more oxygen and produce more
carbon dioxide due to the muscles working harder and this is also
 the reason why kapag nag eexercise tayo hingal na hingal tayo
because kulang, your muscles are working kukulang ang oxygen
and mas marami ang oxygen na nagagamit mo and the same time
marami din ang naproproduce na carbon dioxide.
So to cope with this extra demand the body response by breathing
deeper and more open to take in the oxygen needed.
Because increase breathing rate also allows for the delivery of
oxygen in to the blood stream which is then transported to the
working muscles.
so just like regular exercise it makes our muscle stronger but also
makes our heart and lungs stronger.
And also during exercise there is an increase physical activity and
the muscles respire more than they do when the body is at rest so
the heart rate increase during exercise as well and the rate and
depth of breathing increases so this will make sure that the more
oxygen is absorb into the blood and more carbon dioxide is
remove from it.
Oxygen Diffusing capacity - when we exercise there are more
alveoli recruited for gas exchange. therefore if there is a lot of
alveoli recruited the surface area available for gas exchange
increases as well. And thus the rate of diffusion of gases such as
oxygen will also increase.
Diffusing capacity is a measure of how will oxygen and carbon
dioxide are transferred between the lungs and the blood and can
be useful test to diagnose or monitor treatment lung diseases.

Development of the respiratory system

Aging and the respiratory system
Aging and the respiratory system Are lungs have no muscle, they just
expand to draw in air and to contract to expel air with the help of
diaphragm so our ribs are bones that support our chest cavity they
move slightly to help our lungs expand and contract so our lungs
muscles and bones work together as we breathe and of course as we
age there are changes which affects the lung tissue , the muscles and
the bones which all impacts our breathing. For example our lung
actually mature when we reach the age 20-25 yrs old but after about
35 yrs old the function of our lungs declines it means the function of
our lungs declines as we age as a result breathing can be slowly
difficult over time.
Aging results in decreased:
- Vital capacity
Vital capacity gradually decreases with age because as one ages the
elastic fiber in our lungs decreases as a result it will become less
elastic and greater compliance in the lungs and muscles in the chest
weakened as well.
- Blood O2 level
Blood 02 level decreases other adults have typically lower oxygen
saturation levels than younger adults so the normal blood oxygen
level is around is 97-100% but 95% is okay. take note a change in
carbon dioxide level it is an indicative of respiratory problem or
pulmonary disease.
- Alveolar macrophage activity
Alveolar activity or alveolar macrophage are the primary phagocytes
in immune system. They protect the body by ingesting harmful
foreign particles or bacteria. So when the alveolar macrophage
activity decreases our body will be no longer protected and we will
become easily get infection and diseases.
- Ciliary action of respiratory epithelia
Consequently, elderly people are more susceptible to pneumonia,
bronchitis, emphysema, and other issues
Disorders: Homeostatic Imbalances
- Asthma
asthma it is the chronic inflammatory diseases of the airways in the
lungs, this means that there is swelling or narrowing of air ways often
accompanied by mucous production. signs and symptoms difficulty
in breathing coughing wheezing shortness of breath and chest
tightness
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
It is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed
airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough,
mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It's typically caused by
long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most
often from cigarette smoke. People with COPD are at increased risk
of developing heart disease, lung cancer and a variety of other
conditions.
- Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. People
who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer
can also occur in people who have never smoked. Lung cancer
typically doesn't cause signs and symptoms in its earliest stages.
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer typically occur when the disease
is advanced. Signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: A new
cough that doesn't go away, coughing up blood, even a small
amount, Shortness of breath, Chest pain, Hoarseness, losing weight
without trying, Bone pain, Headache
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both
lungs Pneumonia is typically due to infectious pathogens, such as
bacteria and viruses. These pathogens can spread via coughing and
sneezing or by contaminating surfaces that people touch.
 - Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from
person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it
can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys,
or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.
- Common cold
The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper
respiratory tract). It's usually harmless, although it might not feel that
way. Most people recover from a common cold in a week or 10 days.
Symptoms might last longer in people who smoke. Generally, you
don't need medical attention for a common cold. However, if
symptoms don't improve or if they get worse, see your doctor.
- Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs.
The most common cause of pulmonary edema is congestive heart
failure (CHF). Heart failure happens when the heart can no longer
pump blood properly throughout the body. This creates a backup of
pressure in the small blood vessels of the lungs, which causes the
vessels to leak fluid.
- Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic (inherited) disease that causes sticky,
thick mucus to build up in organs, including the lungs and the
pancreas it is caused by a change, or mutation, in a gene called CFTR
(cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator). This gene
controls the flow of salt and fluids in and out of your cells. If the CFTR
gene doesn't work the way it should, a sticky mucus builds up in your
body
- Asbestos related disease
Asbestos diseases are caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.
Asbestos fibers are naturally occurring silicates that are commonly
used in construction materials such as cement and insulation and in
many textiles. Lung cancer is a common and highly deadly asbestos
disease.
 - Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death,
usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year
old. Babies who die of SIDS seem healthy before being put to bed.
They show no signs of struggle and are often found in the same
position as when they were placed in the bed.
- Acute respiratory distress.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung
condition that causes low blood oxygen. It occurs when fluid builds
up in the tiny, elastic air sacs or alveoli in your lungs. The fluid keeps
your lungs from filling with enough air, which means less oxygen
reaches your bloodstream. This deprives your organs of the oxygen
they need to function. The most common cause of ARDS is sepsis, a
serious and widespread infection of the bloodstream