Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)

Module #15 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

LESSON TITLE: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Materials:

Book, pen and notebook
LEARNING TARGETS:
Upon completion of this lesson, the nursing student can: References:
VanPutte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A.
1. Locate respiratory structures on a chart or model; (2019). Seeley’s essentials of anatomy &
2. Trace the movement of air through the respiratory tract.
physiology (10th ed.). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill Education.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-a
p1/chapter/overview-of-anatomy-and-phy
siology

LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW (10 minutes)

The students will write 5 important things they learned from the last session. The instructor will ask few students to
present their answers in the class.

1.
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2.
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3.
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4.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
5.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

MAIN LESSON (50 minutes)

The instructor should discuss the following topics. Instruct students to take down
notes and read their book about this lesson: (PowerPoint presentation is advised to
be utilized. Show images or videos.)

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #15 Student Activity Sheet

Lung Volumes
When considering lung volumes, it is useful to divide the total space within the lungs into volumes and capacities. These
allow an assessment of the mechanical condition of the lungs, its musculature, airway resistance and the effectiveness of
gas exchange at the alveolar membrane. Furthermore they are generally cheap, non-invasive and simple tests.

Definitions
Volume Description Average Notes

Tidal volume Volume that enters and leaves with 0.5L Changes with pattern of breathing e.g.
each breath, from a normal quiet shallow breaths vs deep breaths
inspiration to a normal quiet Increased in pregnancy
expiration

Inspiratory Extra volume that can be inspired 2.5L Relies on muscle strength,
reserve volume above tidal volume, from normal lung compliance (elastic recoil) and a
quiet inspiration to maximum normal starting point (end of tidal volume)
inspiration

Expiratory Extra volume that can be expired
reserve volume below tidal volume, from normal
quiet expiration to maximum
expiration
1.5L Relies on muscle strength and
low airway resistance
Reduced in pregnancy, obesity, severe
obstruction or proximal (of trachea/bronchi
obstruction)

Residual Volume remaining after maximum 1.5L Cannot be measured by spirometry

volume/reserve expiration
volume

Capacities are composites of 2 or more lung volumes. They are fixed as they do not change with the pattern of breathing.
Capacity Description Expression Average Notes

Vital Volume that can be Inspiratory reserve 4.5L Often changes in disease
capacity/forced exhaled after volume + tidal volume Requires
vital capacity maximum inspiration + expiratory reserve adequate compliance,
(to maximum volume muscle strength and low
expiration) airway resistance

Inspiratory Volume breathed in Tidal volume + 3L

capacity from quiet expiration to inspiratory reserve
maximum inspiration volume

Functional Volume remaining Expiratory reserve 3L Affected by height, gender,

residual capacity after quiet expiration volume + residual posture, changes in lung
volume

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #15 Student Activity Sheet
compliance. Height has the
greatest influence.

Total lung Volume of air in lungs Sum of all volumes 6L Restriction < 80% predicted
capacity after maximum Hyperinflation > 120%
inspiration predicted
Measured
with helium dilution

Anatomical (serial) dead space

- is the volume of air that never reaches alveoli and so never participates in respiration.
- It includes volume in upper and lower respiratory tract up to and including the terminal bronchioles
Alveolar (distributive) dead space
- is the volume of air that reaches alveoli but never participates in respiration.
- This can reflect alveoli that are ventilated but not perfused, for example secondary to a pulmonary embolus.
(https://teachmephysiology.com/respiratory-system/ventilation/lung-volumes/)

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, shown in Figure 1, 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.
● Increase in BPG (bisphosphoglycerate) in red blood cells.
BPG is generated in red blood cells when they produce energy from glucose.

Figure 1. The oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve.

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.

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #15 Student Activity Sheet
● 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).
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/anatomy-and-physiology/the-respiratory-system/gas-transport#:~:text=Anatomy
%20and%20Physiology&text=Oxygen%20is%20transported%20in%20the,hemoglobin%20in%20red%20blood%20cells.)

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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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #15 Student Activity Sheet
● 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

(https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004011.htm#:~:text=Changes%20to%20lung%20tissue%3A,their%20shape%20and
%20become%20baggy.)

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.

(https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21205-respiratory-system#:~:text=Your%20respiratory%20system%20is%20t
he,include%20allergies%2C%20diseases%20or%20infections.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (20 minutes)

This will serve as a quiz for the students. 1 point is given to each correct answer and another point for the correct rationale
given per number. Superimpositions & erasures are not allowed.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE:
Across
1. Muscle that helps your lungs pull in air and push it out

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #15 Student Activity Sheet
3. Two organs that remove oxygen from the air and pass it into your blood.
5. Passage connecting your throat and lungs
Down
2. Tiny hairs that move in a wave-like motion to filter dust and other irritants out of your airways.
4. Tube that delivers air from your mouth and nose to the trachea (windpipe).
6. One of the Openings that pull air from outside your body into your respiratory system.
7. Bones that surround and protect your lungs and heart
8. Hollow organ that allows you to talk and make sounds when air moves in and out.

1 4 6

7 8

MULTIPLE CHOICE:

1.Gaseous exchange occurs at alveoli and cellular level using what principle?
a. Diffusion c. Osmosis

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 Anatomy & Physiology (Laboratory)
Module #15 Student Activity Sheet
b. Transport d. Convection
Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

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

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Oxygen is transported in the blood by binding to?

a. White Blood Cells c. Plasma
b. Haemoglobin d. Water

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

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

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

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

Rationale: _______________________________________________________________________________________

RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY (DURING THE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION WITH THE STUDENTS)
After the prescribed time, the correct answers and their respective rationale will be provided. You are encouraged to ask
questions if there are any.

AL Activity: Guided Discovery

Leading students through a set of practices that help them develop deeper understanding and mastery

Questions:
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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