9/14/22, 8:55 PM Types of Respiratory System

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Respiratory System in Humans and Animals

 
We will learn about the types of respiratory systems, the mechanisms of breathing, the gaseous exchange and the health issues related to the
human respiratory system.
 

8.1 Types of Respiratory System

 
The respiratory structure is the respiratory surface that enables gaseous exchange to occur between respiring organisms cells and their
outer environment.

 
Adaptions of respiratory structures for efficient exchange of gases in big organisms
 
Large ratio total surface area to volume (TSA/V) for the efficient exchange of respiratory gases.
A thin respiratory structure that is one cell thick, allows the diffusion of respiratory gases to occur.
The surface of the respiratory structure is always moist for respiratory gases to dissolve in them.
The respiratory structure is complete with a  network of blood capillaries  (except for insects), that allows for the efficient delivery of
respiratory gases.

8.2 Respiratory Structure and Mechanisms of Breathing

 
Unicellular organism:
 
1. Simple organisms such as Amoeba sp., Paramecium sp., exchange the respiratory gases through simple diffusion across the plasma
membrane.

 
Insects:
 
Respiratory system
 
The tracheal system; spiracles, tracheae, tracheoles and air sacs (for some insects).

 
Structural adaptation
 
Tracheoles penetrate the body tissues, which to allow a direct exchange of gases.
Have many tracheoles; to increase the surface area for gases exchange.
The tips of tracheoles contain fluid; dissolving the gases.
Some insects have air sacs; speed up the movement of gases to and from tissues during vigorous movement of the body.

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Source:[www.researchgate.net]

 
Breathing mechanism
 
As insects inhale, abdominal muscles relax and spiracles open.
It causes the air pressure inside the tracheae decreases, which draws the air into the tracheae through spiracles.
As the insects exhale, the abdominal muscles contract, causing the air pressure in the tracheae to increase, pushing the air out
through the spiracles.

 
Fish:
 
Respiratory structure
 
Respiratory structure: gills
Gills are supported by the gill arch and protected by the operculum.
Each gill has thin filaments.
The filaments contain numerous lamellae.

 
Structural adaptation
 
A large surface area of filaments and lamellae increases the efficiency of gases exchange in fish.
The thin filaments are supplied with blood capillaries to transport respiratory gases efficiently.
Countercurrent flow: the water flows over the gills in one direction, while the blood flows in the opposite direction.

 
Countercurrent flow
 

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As the deoxygenated blood enters the blood capillaries, it encounters water with high oxygen content.
The high concentration gradient of oxygen in the water allows the oxygen to diffuse into the blood capillaries to be brought to the
whole parts of the body.

Source:[msjoconner.weebly.com]

 
Breathing mechanism
 

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During inhalation:

The floor of buccal cavity lowers, opercular cavity enlarges, operculum closed; it lowers the pressure in the buccal cavity that
allows water to draw into the mouth.

 
During Exhalation:

The mouth is closed, the floor of buccal cavity rises; allows water to flow through the lamellae and gases exchange takes place.

Source:[respirationsystem.weebly.com]

 
Frogs:
 
Respiratory structure
 
Skin
Lungs

 
Structural adaptation
 
Skin: thin, permeable to gas and moist; enables a rapid and efficient gases exchange.
Lungs: moist, contain thin-walled sacs, and rich in blood capillaries for efficient transportation of gases.

 
Breathing mechanism
 

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During inhalation:

Air entering the buccopharyngeal cavity:

Nostrils open, the floor of buccopharyngeal lowers and glottis close.

It draws air into the buccopharyngeal cavity.

Air entering the lungs:

Glottis open, nostrils close and the floor of buccopharyngeal raise.

It increases the air pressure in the buccopharyngeal cavity that forces the air to enter the lungs.

 
During exhalation:

Air exits the lungs into the buccopharyngeal cavity:

Lungs muscle contract, glottis open and buccopharyngeal floor lowers; drive the air out from the lungs.

 
Air exits the buccopharyngeal cavity:

Glottis close, buccopharyngeal floor raise; air expelled out through the nostrils.

 
Humans:
 

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Respiratory structure
 
The alveoli of the lungs

 
Respiratory adaptation
 
Moist and thin-walled sacs of millions of alveoli, which surrounded by a rich network of blood capillaries.

Breathing mechanism
Inhalation
External intercostal muscle contract and internal intercostal
muscle relax; cause the rib cage to move upwards and outwards
Diaphragm muscles contract; it becomes flat
The volume of thoracic cavity increase and the pressure of the
thoracic cavity decrease
High air pressure from surrounding drives the air into the lungs
Exhalation
External intercostal muscle relax and internal intercostal muscle
contract; cause the rib cage to move downwards and inwards
Diaphragm muscles relax; it becomes dome-shaped
The volume of thoracic cavity decrease and the pressure of the
thoracic cavity increase
High air pressure from the thoracic cavity pushes the air out from
the lungs

Source:[brainkart.com]

8.3 Gaseous Exchange in Humans

 
The exchange of gases between the alveoli and the blood capillaries:
 
Oxygen

Partial pressure in the alveoli: High

Partial pressure in the blood capillaries: Low

Effect: Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the blood capillaries

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Carbon dioxide

Partial pressure in the alveoli: Low

Partial pressure in the blood capillaries: High

Effect: Carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood capillaries into the alveoli

 
The exchange of gases between the blood capillaries and the body cells:
 
Oxygen

Partial pressure in the blood capillaries: High

Partial pressure in the body cells: Low

Effect: Oxygen diffuses from the blood capillaries into the body cells

 
Carbon dioxide

Partial pressure in the blood capillaries: Low

Partial pressure in the body cells: High

Effect: Carbon dioxide diffuses from the body cells into the blood capillaries

 
The transportation of gases in humans:
 
Transportation of carbon dioxide
 
1. Carbon dioxide is released by the respiring cells and can be transported in several ways:

7% of carbon dioxide is dissolved in the blood plasma.

23% of carbon dioxide is transported in the form of carbaminohaemoglobin.
70% of carbon dioxide is transported in the form of bicarbonate ions.

 
Transportation of oxygen
 
1. Oxygen binds to the hemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin.
2. Oxyhemoglobin is transported to the whole parts of the body.

8.4 Health Issues Related to the Human Respiratory System

 
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) comprises asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
In emphysema, the alveolus wall is damaged, the total surface area of the alveolus decreases, and the gaseous exchange becomes less
efficient.
In chronic bronchitis, the bronchiole becomes inflamed, swollen, and blocked.
This reduces the flow of air and causes difficulties in breathing.
For an asthmatic patient, the bronchiole walls become swollen and thick.
The opening of the bronchiole tube becomes smaller and the air passage becomes narrower.
This leads to difficulties in breathing and causes breathlessness.

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