ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

LESSON 12 | RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM RESPIRATORY ZONE
- Process of Gas-Exchange - The Respiratory zone begins where the terminal
- Supply oxygen bronchioles join a respiratory bronchiole.
- Elimination of Carbon dioxide - The Zone where Gas exchange occurs.

MAJOR PASSAGES 1. Respiratory Bronchioles

UPPER Nose 2. Alveolar Ducts
RESPIRATORY Larynx 3. Alveoli
TRACT Pharynx
LOWER Trachea BASIC STEPS
RESPIRATORY Bronchi
TRACT Lungs - Alveoli 1. PULMONARY VENTILATION (breathing)
- The inhalation (inflow) and exhalation
(outflow) of air.
- Involves the exchange of air between the
atmosphere and alveoli of the lungs.

2. EXTERNAL (PULMONARY) respiration

- Process by which gases exchange between the
blood and air

3. INTERNAL RESPIRATION
- Gas exchange between blood and cells
- Cellular respiration: cells using O2 for
metabolism- CO2; waste.

PARTS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

NASAL CAVITY

Nose – External portion prominence on the face

Nasal Cavity – Internal; passage of air

STRUCTURES OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM a. 2 Lateral Halves – Each Nasal fossa by nasal
CONDUCTING ZONE septum.
- Provide a route for incoming and outgoing air, b. Vestibule – Dilated portion of nostril opening.
remove debris, and pathogens from incoming air. c. Lateral Walls – 3 Shell-like concavities
- Superior, Middle and Inferior Conchae
1. Nasal Cavity d. Nostrils (external nares) – Open Anteriorly
2. Pharynx e. Choanae (posterior nares) – communicate
3. Larynx posteriorly with nasopharynx.
4. Trachea
5. Most Bronchioles Paranasal Sinuses
- Helps to warm and moisten inspired air.

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 12 | RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
PHARYNX d. 3 paired cartilages:
i. Arytenoid cartilage
3 Divisions ii. Cuneiform cartilage
1. Nasopharynx iii. Corniculate cartilage
- Respiratory and Auditory function.
i. Eustachian canal e. Glottis – opening into the larynx.
ii. Pharyngeal tonsils
iii. Uvula

2. Oropharynx
- Respiratory and Digestive functions.
i. Palatine
ii. Lingual tonsils

3. Laryngopharynx
- Respiratory and Digestive functions. TRACHEA
- Windpipe
- Anterior to the esophagus and extends from
the larynx to the superior border of the T5.
- Provides a semirigid support to maintain
patency so that the tracheal wall does not
collapse inward (especially during inhalation)
- Obstruct the air passageway.

- Composed of 16-20 incomplete, horizontal

rings of hyaline cartilage.

BRONCHIAL TREE

DIVISIONS
1. Right and Left Primary Bronchi
LARYNX - The RIGHT main bronchus is more vertical,
- Voice box; forms the entrance of the trachea. shorter, and wider than the left.

Functions Carina – division of trachea into the right and left main
i. Prevent food or fluid from entering the bronchi.
trachea and lungs during deglutition.
ii. Permitting passage of air into the trachea 2. Secondary (lobar) bronchi
iii. Produces sound vibrations. a. Right: Three bronchi
b. Left: Two bronchi
Parts
a. Anterior thyroid cartilage: Adam’s apple 3. Tertiary (segmental) bronchi
b. Epiglottis: leaf/spoon-shaped - Supply the bronchopulmonary segments.
c. Cricoid: ring-shaped - Right and Left: 10

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 12 | RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
4. Bronchioles LUNGS
Club (Clara) cells - Soft, spongy, cone-shaped organ
- Protect against harmful effects of inhaled - Separated by the mediastinum.
toxins and carcinogens. - Serous membrane
- Produces surfactant. a. Visceral pleura – lung surface
- Function as Stem cells (reserve cells). b. Parietal pleura - adheres to the ribcage.
- Pleural cavity: pleural fluid (reduce friction)

RESPIRATORY DIVISION MECHANICS OF BREATHING

1. Terminal bronchioles Breathing (pulmonary ventilation)
2. Alveolar ducts - Process that exchanges air in the atmosphere
3. Alveolar sacs and alveoli.
4. Clusters of many microscopic pulmonary - Act of taking fresh air into the lungs
alveoli. - Expelling stale air from the lungs.
Alveolus – cup-shaped Basic Principle
- Respiratory membrane coated with - Movement of gas from an area of higher
surfactant. pressure to an area of lower pressure.
- Reduce surface tension.
- Prevent alveoli from collapsing as air moves in PRESSURE INTERPLAY
and out during breathing. a. Atmospheric pressure
Alveolar ducts - Pressure exerted against all parts of the body
- Simple cuboidal epithelium by the surrounding air.
Pulmonary alveoli - Any pressure that falls below atmospheric
- Simple squamous epithelium pressure: Sub atmospheric pressure or
negative pressure.

b. Intrapleural / Intrathoracic pressure

- Pressure between the two layers of the pleura:
756mm Hg.
- Becomes positive during coughing or straining
of stool.

c. Intrapulmonic / Interalveolar pressure

- Pressure of air within the bronchial tree
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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 12 | RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
PHASES OF INSPIRATION OR INHALATION GAS EXCHANGE
1. Process of breathing air into the lungs - The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
between alveolar air and pulmonary blood.
2. Lungs at rest: pressure same as atmospheric - Occurs via Diffusion
pressure.
Behavior of Gases
3. Contraction of diaphragm and external 1. Dalton’s Law
intercostal muscles. - Each gas in a mixture of gases exerts its own
- Air pressure within lungs lower or below pressure as if no other gases were present.
atmospheric pressure allowing air to flow into
the lungs. 2. Henry’s Law
- Thoracic cage expands. - The quantity of gas that will dissolve in a liquid
- Lung volume increases is proportional to the partial pressure of the
- Intra-alveolar pressure decreases. gas and its solubility.
- Air is 21% O2 -> 21% of the atmospheric
4. The higher atmospheric pressure forces air pressure.
through the passages into the lungs until intra- - 21% of 760 mmHg = 160mmHg
alveolar and atmospheric pressures are equal.
TRANSPORT OF GASES
PHASES OF EXHALATION OR EXPIRATION - RBCs play a major role in transport of O2 &
1. Process of moving air out of the lungs. CO2.

2. Relaxation of the Diaphragm and external A. OXYGEN TRANSPORT

intercostal muscles. 1. Lungs: 02 from air in alveoli diffuse into
- Thoracic cage and lungs return to original size. blood of capillaries
- Volume of thoracic and lung decreases. 2. Most O2 enters RBC -> combines with
hemoglobin (Oxyhemoglobin.)
3. Increase intra-alveolar pressure to a level of
higher than atmospheric pressure. B. CARBON DIOXIDE TRANSPORT
- Higher IAP forces air out of the lungs until IAP 1. CO2 diffuses from body cells into capillary
and AP are equal. blood.
a. 7% is dissolved in the plasma.
MODIFIED BREATHING MOVEMENTS b. 23% enters the RBC -> combines with
Eupnea Normal breathing and patters hemoglobin (carbaminohemoglobin)
Tachypnea Increased respiratory rate
Bradypnea Decreases respiratory rate
Apnea Absence of breathing
Hyperpnea Normal rate; but deep respirations
Gradual increases and decreases in
Cheyne-stokes
respirations.
Biot’s Rapid. deep
Kussmaul’s Tachypnea and Hyperpnea
Apneustic Prolonged inhale; shortened exhale

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 12 | RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
LUNG VOLUMES CLINICAL INTERESTS
a. Apnea – Stop breathing or almost no airflow.
Spirometry – Measure of volume of air that moves in
and out of the lungs with inspiration and expiration. b. Bradypnea – Abnormal slow breathing
- Measured by the instrument: SPIROMETER.
- Recorded in a: SPIROGRAM. c. Dyspnea – Shortness of Breath

1. Tidal Volume d. Orthopnea – Shortness of breath while lying

- Volume of air moved in and out of the lungs down.
with each respiratory movement.
e. Hyperpnea – breathing in more air than you
i. 70% of the tidal volume (350 mL) normally do.
- Reaches the respiratory zone.
ii. 30% of the tidal volume (150 mL) f. Cyanosis - bluish color in the skin, lips, and nail
- Remains in the conducting zone beds caused by a shortage of oxygen in the
iii. Anatomic (respiratory) dead space blood.
- Conducting airways with air that does not
undergo respiratory exchange. g. Cough – An important reflex that protects the
airway of your lungs from irritants.
2. Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)
- Inhaled by deepest inspiration: 3000 mL. h. Sneeze – Burst of expelled air from the lungs
through the nose and mouth.
3. Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
- Exhaled by deepest expiration: 1,100 mL. i. Hiccups – involuntary sounds made by spasms
of the diaphragm.
4. Vital Capacity
- Exhaled by deepest expiration after deepest j. Sinusitis – tissue lining of sinuses are swollen or
inspiration. inflamed.
- Sum of TV+IRV+ERV = 4,600 mL.
- Reduced in heart and lung diseases. k. Anoxia – the brain does not get enough
oxygen.
5. Residual Volume
- Amount of air remaining in the lungs after l. Croup – a virus that makes the airways swell.
deepest expiration and cannot be removed by
voluntary effort: 1,200 mL. m. Atelectasis – collapse of a lung or lobe within
the alveoli.
6. Total Lung Capacity
- Sum of all volumes n. Epistaxis - Known as nosebleeds.
- 5,800 mL (TC+IRV+ERV+RV)
o. Emphysema - one of the diseases that
comprises COPD.

p. Tuberculosis - caused by a bacterium called

Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F