Respiratory System

• Why do we breathe? Think of all the

reasons why we need a respiratory
system.
The Respiratory System

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 The Human Respiratory
System Pharynx
Nose Larynx
Mouth Trache
aLungs
Epiglottis
Bronchus
•The respiratory system consists of the:
Bronchioles

Diaphragm
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 What Is Respiration?
•What Is Respiration?

• In biology, respiration means different things.

• Cellular respiration is the release of energy from the

breakdown of food in the presence of oxygen
(occurs in the?????)

• At the organism level, respiration is the process of gas

exchange—the release of carbon dioxide and the uptake
of oxygen that occurs between RBCs and alveoli

• Breathing is the actual mechanical intake of air

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 Breathing
•BREATHING

•Lungs are
sealed in pleural
membranes
inside the chest
cavity.

•At the bottom of

the cavity is a
large, flat muscle
known as the
diaphragm.
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 Breathing
•During inhalation, the
diaphragm contracts and the
rib cage rises up.

•This expands the volume of

the chest cavity.

•The chest cavity is sealed, so

this creates a partial vacuum
inside the cavity.

•Atmospheric pressure fills the

lungs as air rushes into the
breathing passages.
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 Breathing
•Often exhaling is a Air Exhaled
passive event.
Rib cage
•When the rib cage lowers
lowers and the
diaphragm relaxes,
pressure in the chest
cavity is greater than
atmospheric pressure.

•Air is pushed out of

Exhalation
the lungs.
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Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall
 How Breathing Is Controlled
•How Breathing Is Controlled

• Breathing is controlled by
the medulla oblongata.

• The medulla oblongata

monitors carbon dioxide
in the blood.

• As carbon dioxide
increases, nerve impulses
make the diaphragm
contract, bringing air into
the lungs.

• The higher the carbon

dioxide level, the stronger
the impulses. Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall
 The Human Respiratory
System
•RESPIRATION
Pulmonary
artery
•Alveoli are grouped in
clusters.
Pulmonary
vein
•A network of capillaries
surrounds each alveolus.
Capillaries
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 Gas Exchange
•RESPIRATION
O2
• Gas exchange takes
place in the alveoli. CO2
• Oxygen diffuses into
the blood.

• Carbon dioxide in
the blood diffuses
into the alveolus.
Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall
Capillary
Human respiratory system
• Parts of the
respiratory system
include:

• Trachea

• Bronchi

• Bronchioles

• Alveoli
 Moving air in and out
• During inspiration
(inhalation), the
diaphragm and
intercostal muscles
contract.

• During exhalation,
these muscles relax.
The diaphragm
domes upwards.
 Alveoli
• The alveoli are
moist, thin-walled
pockets which are
the site of gas
exchange.

• A slightly oily
surfactant prevents
the alveolar walls
from collapsing and
sticking together.
 Circulation and Gas Exchange
• Recall the
interconnection
between circulation
and the respiratory
system.

• Gas exchange at the

lungs and in the
body cells moves
oxygen into cells
and carbon dioxide
out.
What happens when you breathe in?
1. The rib muscles 25% 25% 25% 25%
relax.
2. The diaphragm
contracts.
3. Air leaves the
alveoli.
4. Air moves between
the chest wall and
the lung.
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 W
O
R
K
• Premature infants sometimes die of lung T
collapse and other lung problems. What O
might preemies be missing? How could G
this be remedied? E
T
H
E
R
 In the alveolus
• The respiratory
surface is made up
of the alveoli and
capillary walls.

• The walls of the

capillaries and the
alveoli may share
the same
membrane.
 Gas exchange
• Air entering the lungs
contains more oxygen
and less carbon dioxide
than the blood that
flows in the pulmonary
capillaries.

• How do these
differences in
concentrations assist
gas exchange?
 Oxygen transport

• Hemoglobin binds
to oxygen that
diffuses into the
blood stream.

• What are some

advantages to using
hemoglobin to
transport oxygen?
 Carbon dioxide transport
• Carbon dioxide can
dissolve in plasma,
and about 70%
forms bicarbonate
ions.

• Some carbon
dioxide can bind to
hemoglobin for
transport.
 At the cells
• Cells use up oxygen quickly for cellular
respiration. What does this do to the
diffusion gradient? How does this help
cells take up oxygen?
• Cells create carbon dioxide during
cellular respiration, so CO2 levels in the
cell are higher than in the blood coming
to them. How does this help cells get rid
of oxygen?
Diffusion of O2 from lungs to blood is
rapid because:
1. Active transport 33% 33% 33%
moves oxygen.
2. Hemoglobin takes
up oxygen, keeping
plasma
concentration low.
3. Blood plasma is
oxygen-rich.

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Most of the oxygen in blood is:
25% 25% 25% 25%
1. In the white cells.
2. Bound to
hemoglobin.
3. Combined with
carbon to make
carbon dioxide.
4. Dissolved in the
plasma.

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 Effects of smoking
Gross, isn’t it?
• Inhaled smoke contains:

• CO2, which affects the

CO2 diffusion gradient.

• carcinogenic chemicals
that can trigger tumors.

• toxic nicotine, which

paralyzes cilia that
normally clean the
lungs.
 Emphysema
• Besides cancer, smoking
can also lead to
emphysema. Alveoli
become dry and brittle,
and eventually rupture.

• Both active and passive

smoking (“second-
hand” smoke) can lead
to can lead to lung All types of smoke, not just tobacco, can
problems. cause cancers and emphysema.
 Cystic Fibrosis
• Cystic fibrosis is one of
the most common
inherited disorders in
the Caucasian
population in the U.S.

• CF is caused by
mutation of a single
gene, the CFTR gene,
which controls salt
balance in the lungs.
“Two lies and a truth” – which one is
true?
1. Cigarette smoke cures 33% 33% 33%
colds because it kills
bacteria in the lungs.
2. Nicotine is one of the
most potent
neurotoxins on earth.
3. “Passive” smoking is
less harmful than
“regular” smoking.

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