Respiratory System :
definitions :
→ breathing is the activity of exchanging gasses in the body through inhalation and exhalation
→ gas exchange is the exchange of oxyge carried by the blood in the capilaries with carbon
dioxide that comes from the body’s cells
→ respiration is the transformation of food materials using oxygen to produce energy,
with carbon dioxide as waste product to be exhaled.
based on location :
→ external respiration - breathing
environment with the lungs
→ internal respiration - gas exchange
blood in the capillaries with the body's cells
→ celluar respiration - aerobic respiration
= the entry of oxygen from the body's cells into the mitochondria to produce energy (biological
oxidation/transformation)
human respiratory tract :
1. nasal cavity
= consist of several parts, turbinate bones or nasal conachae which will allow incoming air flows
with a steady and regular pattern, and nasal epithelium which covers the inner wall of our nasal
cavity with and by :
a) cilliated cells → use their cillia to trap any microscopic particles
b) goblet cells → produce water and mucus to trap particles and miosten the air with its
evaporated water
c) blood vessels → make the incoming air warm
= 3 main fuctions of nasal cavity :
a) filtirate any microscopic particles
b) moisturize the air
c) warms the incoming air
2. pharynx
= located at the back of the nasal cavity
= continuation of nasal cavity and connected to mouth cavity
3. larynx
= the inner walls are covered by smooth muscles.
= there is a vocal cords, which will vibrate with air when we speak or produce sound.
= has glottis: a small opening which connects pharynx and trachea.
= glottis have a cover/shield made up of cartilage, called epiglottis,
it functions to prevent food from entering the airways (instead it will direct food to enter
esophagus (digestive system)
4. trachea / windpipe
= consists of cartilage ring and muscles
= located infornt of the esophagus
= covered by a mocous membrane and ciliated cells (like nasal cavity)
= allows air to travels from the larynx to the bronchi
5. bronchi / bronchioles
= a large tube that carries air from trachea to the lungs
= one bronchi leads to the right lung and the other leads to the left lung.
= branches of trachea
= consist of cartilage and smooth muscles
= it’ll help moisturize the air human breathes, screen out foreign particles, and deliver it to the
lungs
6. lungs
= located in chest cavity, above the diaphragm (a muscular and membrane structure which
divides chest and stomach cavity)
= the lungs are enclosed and protected by a thin membrane called as pleura.
= right lung consists of three lobes, while left lung consists of two lobes.
= inside it there are many bronchioles and alveoli which is about 600 mio
alveolus a very thin, only one-cell thick organ.
= because its small size and numerous, it’ll create a vast surface area for our body to absorbs
oxygen.
the mechanism of breathing
1. chest breathing → caused by contraction and relaxation of INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES
= intercostal muscles contracts → intercostal muscles relaxes
= ribcage lifts up → ribcage lowers down
= thorax cavity expands → thorax cavity shrinks
= the pressure in thorax is lower → the pressure in thorax is higher / increase
= O2 flows in → CO2 flows out
1. abdnominal breathing → caused by contraction and relaxation of DIAPHRAGM
= diaphragm contracts → diaphragm muscles relaxes
= diaphragm flattens → diaphragm curves
= thorax cavity expands → thorax cavity shrinks
= the pressure in thorax is lower → the pressure in thorax is higher / increase
= O2 flows in → CO2 flows out
volume of lungs
1. tidal volume = the volume of air breathed in and out in a normal condition ( 0,5 L )
2. inspiratory reserve vol = the extra amount of air that can be breathed in with maximum
effort after a normal inspiration
3. expiratory reserve vol = the extra amount of air that can be breathed out with maximum
effort after a normal expiration
4. vital capacity = the maximum capacity of air in our lungs in one breath ( 4,5 L )
5. residual capacity = the air that remains after expiration
6. total capacity of lung = vc + rc = 6,5 L
→ we can use spirometer to measure vital capacity
→ factors that effect respiration rate : age, gender, body position
