Respiration and Breathing

What is respiration?

• Chemical process
• Allows the exchange of gases between the external environment
and the body
• Provides oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the tissues
• Responsible in regulating the appropriate acid-base balance of the
blood
Pulmonary ventilation or breathing

• Mechanical process
• Allows the inflow and outflow of air across exchange surfaces
How do toads respire?
Cutaneous Respiration Pulmonary Respiration

 The thin membranous skin of the  Allows the exchange of gases in

toad enables the diffusion of gases and out of the lungs.
between its blood vessels and the
surroundings.
Toad’s Respiratory System
Toad’s Respiratory System
First Stage of Pulmonary Respiration

The toad closes its mouth and lowers the floor of its buccal cavity
The air enters through the external nares
Air is further drawn into the internal nares
Air cannot pass through into the lungs yet because the glottis
remains closed
Second Stage of Pulmonary Respiration

The spent air from the lungs is released as the glottis opens
rapidly
The air moves through the buccal cavity and is released through
the open nares
Third Stage of Pulmonary Respiration

The fresh air held in the buccal cavity is drawn to the lungs as the
nares close, the floor of the buccal cavity rises, and the glottis
opens
Fourth Stage of Pulmonary Respiration

The glottis closes while retaining the air in the lungs and the nares
open again
Respiratory System of Humans vs Toads

Humans
• Have diaphragms
• Respire mainly through lungs
Toads
• Do not have diaphragms
• Breathes through buccal pumps
• Respire through both lungs and
skin
Inspiration and Expiration

Inspiration (Inhalation) Expiration (Exhalation)

 The diaphragm contracts in order
to increase the volume of the chest
cavity
 Leads to the air movement from
the atmosphere into lungs due to
the build-up of negative pressure
 The diaphragm relaxes and the
pressure in the chest cavity
increases beyond the atmospheric
pressure
 Allows the air to move out of the
lungs

Air moves from regions of higher pressure to lower pressure