Anatomy & Physiology - Laboratory

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET BS NURSING / FIRST YEAR

Session # 38

LESSON TITLE: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (Part 3) Materials:

Pen and notebook
LEARNING TARGETS:

Upon completion of this lesson, you can:

1. Describe how oxygen is bound to hemoglobin and
transported to body tissues;
2. Explain how carbon dioxide is transported from body Reference:
tissues to the lungs;
3. Explain how aging changes your body and its effects on VanPutte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A. (2019).
the lungs; and Seeley’s essentials of anatomy & physiology
4. Discuss the conditions that affect the respiratory system. (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

LESSON PREVIEW/ REVIEW

Write 5 important things you learned from the last session. Make sure to not miss any details!
1. __________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________________________

MAIN LESSON
You will study and read their book, if available, about this lesson.

GAS TRANSPORT

Oxygen is transported in the blood in two ways:

● A small amount of O 2 (1.5 percent) is carried in
the plasma as a dissolved gas.
● Most oxygen (98.5 percent) carried in the blood
is bound to the protein hemoglobin in red blood
cells. A fully saturated oxyhemoglobin (HbO 2)
has four O 2 molecules attached. Without
oxygen, the molecule is referred to as
deoxyhemoglobin (Hb).

The ability of hemoglobin to bind to O 2 is influenced by

the partial pressure of oxygen. The greater the partial
pressure of oxygen in the blood, the more readily
oxygen binds to Hb. The oxygen‐hemoglobin
dissociation curve, shows that as pO 2 increases toward
100 mm Hg, Hb saturation approaches 100 percent.
The following four factors decrease the affinity, or
strength of attraction, of Hb for O 2 and result in a shift of
the O 2‐Hb dissociation curve to the right:
● Increase in temperature.
● Increase in partial pressure of CO 2 (pCO 2).
● Increase in acidity (decrease in pH). The
decrease in affinity of Hb for O 2, called the Bohr
effect, results when H + binds to Hb.

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 ● Increase in BPG (bisphosphoglycerate) in red blood cells. BPG is generated in red blood cells when they produce
energy from glucose.

Carbon dioxide is transported in the blood in the following ways:

● A small amount of CO 2 (5 percent) is carried in the plasma as a dissolved gas.
● Some CO2 (10 percent) binds to Hb in red blood cells, forming carbaminohemoglobin (HbCO2). (The CO2 binds to
the amino acid portion of hemoglobin instead of to the iron portion.)
● Most CO 2 (85 percent) is transported as dissolved bicarbonate ions (HCO 3 –) in the plasma. The formation of
HCO 3 –, however, occurs in the red blood cells, where the formation of carbonic acid (H 2CO 3) is catalyzed by the
enzyme carbonic anhydrase, as follows:
   
CO 2 + H 2O ← → H 2CO 3 ← → H + + HCO 3 –

Following their formation in the red blood cells, most H + bind to hemoglobin molecules (causing the Bohr effect) while the
remaining H + diffuse back into the plasma, slightly decreasing the pH of the plasma. The HCO 3 – ions diffuse back into
the plasma as well. To balance the overall increase in negative charges entering the plasma, chloride ions diffuse in the
opposite direction, from the plasma to the red blood cells (chloride shift).

AGING CHANGES IN YOUR BODY AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE LUNGS

Changes to the bones and muscles of the chest and spine:

● Bones become thinner and change shape. This can change the shape of your ribcage. As a result, your ribcage
cannot expand and contract as well during breathing.
● The muscle that supports your breathing, the diaphragm, becomes weakened. This weakness may prevent you
from breathing enough air in or out.
These changes in your bones and muscles may lower the oxygen level in your body. Also, less carbon dioxide may be
removed from your body. Symptoms such as tiredness and shortness of breath can result.

Changes to lung tissue:

● Muscles and other tissues that are near your airways may lose their ability to keep the airways completely open.
This causes the airways to close easily.
● Aging also causes the air sacs to lose their shape and become baggy.
These changes in lung tissue can allow air to get trapped in your lungs. Too little oxygen may enter your blood vessels
and less carbon dioxide may be removed. This makes it hard to breathe.

Changes to the nervous system:

● The part of the brain that controls breathing may lose some of its function. When this happens, your lungs are not
able to get enough oxygen. Not enough carbon dioxide may leave the lungs. Breathing may get more difficult.
● Nerves in your airways that trigger coughing become less sensitive. Large amounts of particles like smoke or
germs may collect in the lungs and may be hard to cough up.

Changes to the immune system:

● Your immune system can get weaker. This means your body is less able to fight lung infections and other
diseases.
● Your lungs are also less able to recover after exposure to smoke or other harmful particles.

COMMON PROBLEMS

As a result of these changes, older people are at increased risk for:

● Lung infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis
● Shortness of breath
● Low oxygen level
● Abnormal breathing patterns, resulting in problems such as sleep apnea (episodes of stopped breathing during
sleep)

PREVENTION
To decrease the effects of aging on the lungs:
● DO NOT smoke. Smoking harms the lungs and speeds up lung aging.
● Do physical exercise to improve lung function.

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 ● Get up and move. Lying in bed or sitting for long periods allows mucus to collect in the lungs. This puts you at risk
of lung infections. This is especially true right after surgery or when you are ill.

OTHER CHANGES RELATED TO AGING

As you grow older, you will have other changes, including:
● In organs, tissues, and cells
● In the bones, muscles, and joints
● In the heart and blood vessels
● In vital signs
What conditions affect the respiratory system?
Many conditions can affect the organs and tissues that make up the respiratory system. Some develop due to irritants you
breathe in from the air, including viruses or bacteria that cause infection. Others occur as a result of disease or getting
older.

Conditions that can cause inflammation (swelling, irritation, and pain) or otherwise affect the respiratory system include:
● Allergies: Inhaling proteins, such as dust, mold, and pollen, can cause respiratory allergies in some people.
These proteins can cause inflammation in your airways.
● Asthma: A chronic (long-term) disorder, asthma causes inflammation in the airways that can make breathing
difficult.
● Infection: Infections can lead to pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) or bronchitis (inflammation of the
bronchial tubes). Common respiratory infections include the flu (influenza) or a cold.
● Disease: Respiratory disorders include lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These
illnesses can harm the respiratory system’s ability to deliver oxygen throughout the body and filter out waste
gases.
● Aging: Lung capacity decreases as you get older.
● Damage: Damage to the respiratory system can cause breathing problems.

How can I keep my respiratory system healthy?

Being able to clear mucus out of the lungs and airways is important for respiratory health. To keep your respiratory system
healthy, you should:
● Avoid pollutants that can damage your airways, including secondhand smoke, chemicals, and radon (a
radioactive gas that can cause cancer). Wear a mask if you are exposed to fumes, dust or other types of
pollutants for any reason.
● Avoid smoking yourself. Don't smoke.
● Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water to stay hydrated
● Exercise regularly to keep your lungs healthy.
● Prevent infections by washing your hands often and getting a flu vaccine each year.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

You will answer and rationalize this by yourself. This will be recorded as your quiz. One (1) point will be given to the
correct answer and another one (1) point for the correct ratio. Superimpositions or erasures in your answer/ratio is not
allowed.

1.Gaseous exchange occurs at alveoli and cellular level using what principle?
a. Diffusion c. Osmosis
b. Transport d. Convection
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. External respiration can be described as?

a. The exchange of gases at a cellular level within the body
b. The active process of inhalation
c. The exchange of gases at alveoli level within the lungs
d. The passive process of exhalation
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. Oxygen is transported in the blood by binding to?
a. White Blood Cells c. Plasma
b. Haemoglobin d. Water
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How is carbon dioxide transported in the blood?

a. By combining with water in the plasma to produce bicarbonate c. Binding to white blood cells
b. Binding to plasma d. Binding with haemoglobin
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Which vessel(s) carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs?

a. Left and Right Pulmonary Arteries c. Pulmonary Capillaries
b. Superior and Inferior Vena Cava d. Right and Left Pulmonary veins
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY
The instructor will now provide you the rationalization to these questions. You can now ask questions and debate among
yourselves. Write the correct answer and correct/additional ratio in the space provided.
1. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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LESSON WRAP-UP

You will now mark (encircle) the session you have finished today in the tracker below. This is simply a visual to help you
track how much work you have accomplished and how much work there is left to do.

You are done with the session! Let’s track your progress.

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AL Activity: GUIDED DISCOVERY

This strategy leads you through practices that help you develop deeper understanding and mastery. By answering this
one posted question, you have the free will to answer it based on your own understanding in the Main Lesson. The more
you dig deeper, the more comprehensive the information you may relay. Here’s your take-away question:

1. When you breathe, your lungs take in _______ and remove _______.

2. The air sacs that are covered with capillaries where gas exchange takes place is _________.

3. When the diaphragm relaxes and moves back up, the lungs are...

4. What keeps mucus and dirt out of your lungs?

5. Movement of air in and out of the lungs is known as:

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