1

THE RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
Module 8 Chapter 19
 Module Objectives
2

 Describe the structure and function of the

organs of respiration.
 Describe the role of the respiratory system in
maintaining homeostasis.
 Define pulmonary ventilation and lung volumes.
 Describe regulation of breathing.
 Explain gas exchange using physical laws.
 Describe COPD and asthma
3
 Overview of the Respiratory
System – Functions
4

 Takes in oxygen and removes carbon dioxide

 Regulates blood pH by removing carbon
dioxide
 Warms and moistens inhaled air
 Filters particles from inhaled air
 Gives sense of smell
 Produces sound by moving air past the vocal
cords
 Anatomy of the Respiratory
5
System
 The structures of the respiratory system include
the: nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx,
trachea, bronchi, lungs, and alveoli.
 These can be divided into the respiratory zone (where
gas exchange happens) and the conducting zone
(everything else).

 The trachea is also known as the windpipe.

 Smoking kills the cilia. Coughing becomes the only way
to keep mucus from accumulating in the lungs.
 Anatomy of the Respiratory
6
System
7
Upper Respiratory Tract
 Made up of:
 Nose

 Pharynx

 Larynx
8
The Nose
 Opens at the nostrils/nares and leads into
the nasal cavities
 Hairs and mucus in the nose filters the air

 The nasal cavity has a lot of capillaries that

warm and moisten the air

 Specialized cells act as odor receptors

 Tear glands drain into the nasal cavities that

can lead to a runny nose
 The Pharynx
9

 Funnel-shaped cavity commonly called the

“throat”

 3 portions based on location: nasopharynx,

oropharynx and laryngopharynx

 Tonsils provide a lymphatic defense during

breathing at the junction of the oral cavity and
pharynx
10
The Larynx
 The larynx is a triangular, cartilaginous
structure that passes air between the pharynx
and trachea.

 It is called the voice box and houses vocal

cords.

 There are 2 tissue folds that make up the vocal

cords with an opening in the middle called the
glottis.
 The Larynx
11

 Vocal cords: Separated by glottis. Sound produced by

vibration of chords during exhalation. Pitch controlled by
tension on cords.
 Lower Respiratory Tract
12

 Made up of:
 Trachea

 Bronchial tree
 Lungs
13
The Trachea
 A tube, often called the windpipe, that connects
the larynx with the bronchi

 Made of connective tissue, smooth muscle and

cartilaginous rings

 Lined with cilia and mucus that help to keep the

lungs clean
 The Bronchial Tree
14

 Starts with two main bronchi that lead from the

trachea into the lungs

 The bronchi continue to branch until they are

small bronchioles about 1mm in diameter with
thinner walls

 Bronchioles eventually lead to elongated sacs

called alveoli
15
The Lungs
 The bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli beyond the
bronchi make up the lungs

 The right lung has 3 lobes while the left lung has
2 lobes that divide into lobules

 Each lung is enclosed by membranes called

pleura
16
The Alveoli
 300 million in the lungs that greatly increase
surface area

 Alveoli are enveloped by blood capillaries

 The alveoli and capillaries are one layer of

epithelium to allow exchange of gases
 What type of tissue is this?

 Alveoli are lined with surfactant that act as a

film to keep alveoli open
 The type II alveolar cells secrete surfactant.
 Alveoli
17
 Alveoli
18

 The total surface area of

the alveoli is very
large—the size of a
tennis court if all laid
out—which permits rapid
exchange of large
quantities of oxygen and
carbon dioxide by
diffusion.
 Definitions
19

 Ventilation – movement of air into and out of

the lungs
 Inspiration (inhalation) – breathing in
 Expiration (exhalation) – breathing out

 Respiration – gas exchange

 Cellular respiration – use of oxygen by cells to

make ATP
 Breathing/Ventilation
20

 1. Inspiration – an active process of

inhalation that brings air into the lungs

 2. Expiration – usually a passive process of

exhalation that expels air from the lungs
 Air Pressure
21

 Air has to flow toward lower pressure –

toward smaller airways with much greater
surface area
 Boyle’s Law
22

 Remember that a volume change leads to a pressure

change and that pressure changes lead to the flow of
gases to equalize the pressure.

 Boyle’s law says that at a constant temperature the

pressure of a gas varies inversely with its volume.

 Remember that gases always fill their container.

 So in a large container the molecules in a given amount of gas
will be far apart (low pressure). In a smaller container that same
amount of gas will have molecules close together (high
pressure).
 Inspiration/Inhalation
23

 The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract

 The diaphragm moves downward and the rib

cage moves upward and outward

 Volume of the thoracic cavity and lungs increase

 The air pressure within the lungs decrease

 Air flows into the lungs

 Expiration/Exhalation
24

 The diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax

 The diaphragm moves upward (becomes dome-

shape) and the rib cage moves downward/inward

 Volume of the thoracic cavity and lungs decrease

 The air pressure within the lungs increases

 Air flows out of the lungs

 Breathing/Ventilation
25
 Breathing/Ventilation
26
 Volumes of air during breathing
27

 Tidal volume – the small amount of air that

usually moves in and out with each breath
 approx 500 mL

 Vital capacity – the maximum volume of air

that can be moved in plus the maximum
amount that can be moved out during one
breath
 Approx 4800 mL
 Volumes of air during breathing
28

 Inspiratory and expiratory reserve volume –

the increased volume of air moving in or out of
the body

 Residual volume – the air remaining in the

lungs after exhalation
 Approx 1000 mL

 Total Lung Capacity– ?

 Lung Volumes
29
 Regulation of Breathing
30

 Main regulatory centre is the medulla oblongata.

 The pons also helps to fine-tune breathing and
smooth the transition from inhaling to exhaling.

 Medulla oblongata
 Dorsal respiratory group (DRG) signals inspiratory
muscles via phrenic nerve (diaphragm and
external intercostals).
 Ventral respiratory group (VRG) sets the rhythm –
pacemaker cells.
 Regulation of Breathing
31

 Cerebral cortex – voluntary holding of breath

 Limbic system – laughing or crying or pain

 Autonomic nervous system

 Irritation to airway structures – signals a

reflex that inhibits breathing
 Regulation of Breathing
32

 Temperature – Increased body temperature

leads to increased rate of breathing.

 Medications – General anaesthetic, morphine,

and alcohol will inhibit, and amphetamines will
stimulate respiration.

 Blood levels of O2, CO2, and H+ – Breathing rate

and depth increases if oxygen decreases, or if
carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen ions increase.
 Regulation of Breathing
33

 Stretch receptors in smooth muscles of airways

prevent over-inflation. Deep inhalation will
stimulate stretch receptors and inhibit DRG.

 Peripheral chemoreceptors in carotid arteries,

and aortic arch
 detect low O2 and high H+.

 Central chemoreceptors in medulla oblongata

 detect high CO2 by detecting high H+.
34
Chemoreceptors
 Exchange of gases in the body
35

 The exchange of gases is dependent on

diffusion
 Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged

 Partial pressure is the amount of pressure each

gas exerts (PCO2 or PO2)

 Oxygen and carbon dioxide will diffuse from the

area of higher partial pressure to the area of
lower partial pressure
 Dalton’s Law
36

 Gas molecules undergo continuous random motion.

 Gas molecules collide with each other: pressure
 The closer together the more pressure.
 Anything that increases movement will increase pressure: for
example, temperature.
 Pressure is inversely proportional to temperature.

 Dalton’s law: In a mixture of gases, the pressure

exerted by each gas is independent of the other gases.
 Total pressure is equal to the sum of the partial pressures.
 Define
37

 PCO2
 PO2
 H+
 HCO3-
 H2CO3
 Hb
 HbO2
 HbCO2
 O2
 CO2
 External Respiration
38

 Exchange of gases between the lung

alveoli and the blood capillaries in the
lungs

 PCO2 is higher in the lung capillaries than the

air thus CO2 diffuses out of the plasma into
the lungs

 The partial pressure pattern for O2 is just the

opposite so O2 diffuses into the red blood
cells in the lungs
 External Respiration
39

Carbon dioxide transport:

carbonic
H+ + HCO3- H2CO3 anhydrase H2O + CO2

Oxygen transport:

Hb + O2 HbO2
 Carbon dioxide transport
40

 Dissolved in plasma – 10%

 Carbaminohemoglobin – 25%
 Bicarbonate ions – 65%
41
Internal Respiration
 The exchange of gases between the blood
outside of the lungs and the tissue fluid

 PO2 is higher in the blood in the capillaries than

the tissue fluid thus O2 diffuses out of the
blood into the tissues

 PCO2 is higher in the tissue fluid than the blood

thus CO2 diffuses out of the tissues into the
blood
 Internal Respiration
42

Oxyhemoglobin gives up oxygen:

HbO2 Hb + O2

Most CO2 is carried as a bicarbonate ion:

carbonic

CO2 + H2O anhydrase H2CO3 H+ + HCO3-

43
 Gas Exchange and Transport
44

 Note: diagram error – HbO2

 Gas Exchange and Transport
45
46
COPD and Asthma
 The term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) refers to emphysema, chronic
bronchitis, or a combination of the two.

 These diseases cause severe difficulties not

only in ventilation but also in oxygenation of the
blood.
47
COPD and Asthma
 Emphysema is caused by destruction and
collapse of the smaller airways and loss of
elastic ability to exhale; barrel chest is common.

 Chronic bronchitis is characterized by

excessive mucus production in the bronchi and
chronic inflammatory changes in the small
airways. The cause of obstruction is an
accumulation of mucus in the airways and
thickening of the inflamed airways.
48
COPD
49
COPD and Asthma
 Asthma is a disease characterized by
intermittent episodes in which airway
smooth muscle contracts strongly, markedly
increasing airway resistance.

 The basic defect in asthma is chronic

inflammation of the airways, the causes of
which vary from person to person and
include, among others, allergy, viral
infections, and sensitivity to environmental
factors.
50
Asthma
 Summary
51

 The functions of the respiratory system

include taking in oxygen and removing
carbon dioxide, regulating pH, warming and
moistening air, filtration, providing sense of
smell, and producing sound.
 Structures include nose, mouth, pharynx,
larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and
alveoli.
 Ventilation is the movement of air in and out
of lungs.
52
Summary
 Respiration is the exchange of gases in alveoli.
 Oxygen is primarily transported by hemoglobin.
 Carbon dioxide is primarily transported as
bicarbonate.
 Oxygen and carbon dioxide move from areas of
high concentration to areas of low concentration.
 Transport and exchange is affected by partial
pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide
53
Summary
 Pulmonary ventilation occurs because of
changes that affect air pressure in the
thoracic cavity – Boyle’s law.
 Regulation of breathing is achieved by
◼ medulla oblongata, pons
◼ stretch receptors and chemoreceptors.

 Many factors influence breathing, including

nervous system, environment, and
medication.
 COPD and asthma are common diseases of
the respiratory system.