Jamhuriya University

of Science and
Technology
(JUST)

Respiratory system
Dr Marian Abdirahman

MLS221 Physiology
Introduction
 The cells of the body need energy for all their
metabolic activities.
 Most of this energy is derived from chemical
reactions, which can take place only in the presence of
oxygen (O2).
 The main waste product of these reactions is carbon
dioxide (CO2).
 The respiratory system provides the route by which
atmospheric oxygen enters the body, and the route for
carbon dioxide excretion.
Functions of the Nose
 Respiratory function of the nose
 Warming:
 Vascularityof the mucosa permits rapid warming as the
air flows past.
 Altering and cleaning
 Hairsat the anterior nares trap larger particles.
 Smaller particles such as dust and bacteria settle and
adhere to the mucus.
 Humidification
Functions of the Nose
 The sense of smell
 The nose is the organ of the sense of smell
(olfaction).
 Specialized receptors that detect smell, the
olfactory epithelium, are located in the roof of the
nose in the area of the cribriform plate
Lining of the nasal cavity
 The nasal cavity is lined with highly vascular ciliated
columnar epithelium (respiratory mucosa), which
contains mucus-secreting goblet cells.
 The blood vessels help to warm incoming air and the
epithelial tissue secretes mucus, which humidifies the
air.
 Anteriorly, the epithelium has coarse hairs, covered in
sticky mucus, that filter air passing towards the back
of the nose.
 The walls of the pharynx consist of three layers:

 Mucosa layers:
 Nasopharynx: ciliated columnar epithelium
 Oropharynx and laryngopharynx: stratified squamous
epithelium
 Submucosa layer: rich in mucosa-associated lymphoid
tissue (MALT) involved in protection against infection.
Tonsils are masses of MALT that bulge through the
epithelium.
 Outer layer consists of involuntary muscles that are
involved in swallowing.

8
Functions of the pharynx
1. Passageway for air and food
2. Warning and humidifying
3. Hearing
 The auditory tube, extending from the nasopharynx to each
middle ear, allows air to enter the middle ear.
 This leads to air in the middle ear being at the same pressure
as the outer ear.
4. Protection
5. Speech
 The pharynx functions in speech; by acting as a resonating
chamber for sound (together with the sinuses)
Functions of the Larynx (Voice Box 0r
'Adam's apple' ):
 Respiratory function:
 One of the respiratory passage.
 (conduct air in and out of the lung)
 Phonation:
 organ of phonation (voice production)
 Forced expiration:
 this is done by closing the rima glottis during expiration
were the intrathoracic pressure is raised.
Functions of the Trachea
 Support and patency
 Tracheal cartilages hold the trachea permanently open
(patent)
 Cough reflex
 Warning and humidifying and filtering
Lungs
The lungs: are the vital organ of respiration they are two
in numbers lies within its own side of the thoracic cavity
Left lung
 smaller than the right lung
 divided into 2 lobes by oblique fissure
 has a cardiac notch accommodates the heart

Right
 divided into 3 lobes by oblique and horizontal fissure
 located more superiorly in the body due to liver on right
side
Lungs
 Lungs
 The Apex: the superior portion of the lungs
 The base: it is the inferior portion of the lungs
 The hilum: enter and exit by the bronchi, pulmonary vessels and
nerves
 Each lung is enclosed by double layer membrane called “Pleural
membrane”
 Parietal Pleura: superficial layer (covers thoracic cavity)
 Visceral Pleura: deep layer (covers the lung)
 Between the parietal layer and visceral layer is small space called
“ Pleural cavity”
 Pleural cavity contain pleural fluid which lubricates the membranes.
 The pleural fluid: reduces friction and allows the two membranes to adhere
each other.
Different between lungs

Left Right
 Tall & thin  Short & wide
 Two lobes & one fissure  Thee lobes & two fissures
 Deep cardiac notch  Slightly cardiac notch
 It hilum contain (one  It hilum contain ( two
opening of bronchus, opening of bronchus, two
one opening of opening of pulmonary
pulmonary artery, two artery, two opening of
opening of pulmonary pulmonary veins)
veins)
Main bronchi
Right main bronchus Left main bronchus
 Short
 Long
 Wide
 Narrow lumen
 Vertical
 Horizontal
The main function of the lungs is the process of gas exchange called
respiration (or breathing).
Respiration
 The term respiration encompasses four processes:
 Breathing (also called ventilation). The movement of air
into and out of the lungs.
 External respiration. The exchange of gases between
inhaled air and blood.
 Internal respiration. The exchange of gases between the
blood and tissue fluids.
 Cellular respiration. The process of using oxygen to
produce ATP within cells. Cellular respiration generates
carbon dioxide as a waste product.
Process of Breathing
 Breathing is facilitated by the respiratory system and
its associated bones, muscles, and nerves.
 During Normal quiet breathing, inspiration is active
(requires muscular activity) and Expiration is passive
(no muscular activity).
 The bones and muscles of respiration include:
 Ribs
 Intercostal muscles (external and internal intercostal ms)
 Main muscle of respiration (diaphragm).
 The intercostal muscles and the diaphragm are
skeletal muscles.
 Process of Breathing
Inspiration
 Inspiration: is a process by pulling air into the respiratory system.
 Diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract pulling the
ribs upward, the lung expands allowing air to rush inside.
 The process of inspiration is active (needs energy).

Expiration
 Expiration: is a process by expelling air out of the respiratory
system.
 Diaphragm and external intercostal relaxes and the ribs move
downward resulting air to flow out.
 At relaxed state: both diaphragm and intercostal muscles relaxes.
Physiological variables affecting breathing

1. Elasticity
 Elasticity is the ability of the lung to return to its
normal shape after each breath.
 Less of elasticity of the connective tissue in the
lungs, e.g. in emphysema, necessitates forced
expiration and increased effort on inspiration.
Physiological variables affecting breathing

2. Compliance
 This is the stretchability of the lungs, i.e. the effort required
to inflate the alveoli.
 The healthy lung is very compliant and inflates with very
little effort.
 When compliance is low the effort needed to inflate the
lungs is greater than normal. e.g. when insufficient surfactant
is present.
 Note that compliance and elasticity are opposing forces.
3. Airway resistance
 When this is increased, e.g. in bronchoconstriction, more
respiratory effort is required to inflate the lungs.
Lung volumes and Lung Capacities
 The air in the lung is classified into two types
• Lung volumes
• Lung Capacities

 In normal quiet breathing there are about 15

complete respiratory cycles per minute.
 The lungs and air passages are never empty, Exchange
of gases takes place only in the alveoli.
 The remaining capacity of air in the respiratory
passages (nose to terminal bronchiole)is called the
anatomical dead space (about150mL).
Lung Volumes

 It is volume of air breathed by an individual.

Types of lung Volumes

1. Tidal Volumes
2. Inspiratory reserve volume
3. Expiratory reserve volume
4. Residual volume
 Tidal Volume (TV): it is volume of air breathed in and out of the
lungs in single quiet respiration.
- Tidal volume= 500 mL
 Inspiratory Reserve volume (IRV): it is the additional volume of
air that can be inspired forcefully after the end of normal inspiration
- Inspiratory reserve volume= 3300 mL
 Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): it is the additional volume of
air that can be expired out forcefully after normal expiration
- Expiratory Reserve Volume= 1000 mL
 Residual Volume (RV) : it is the volume of air remaining in the
lungs after forced expiration ( because lungs can not be emptied
completely after forceful expiration)
- Residual Volume= 1200 mL
Lung Capacity
 Lung capacities are the combination of two or more lung
volumes.
Types of Lung capacities
1. Inspiratory capacity(IC): maximum volume of air
inspired after normal expiration (end expiratory position)
IC= TV+IRV
= 500+3300= 3800mL
2. Vital Capacity (VC): maximum volume of air expelled
out forcefully after deep inspiration.
VC= IRV+TV+ERV = 3300+500+1000= 4800 mL
3. Functional Residual Capacity (FRC): it the volume
of air remaining in the lungs after normal expiration
FRC= ERV+RV
= 1000+1200 = 2200 mL
4. Total Lung capacity (TLC): it is the volume of air
present in the lungs after deep (maximum)
inspiration.
TLC= IRV+TV+ERV+RV
= 3300+500+1000+1200=6000 mL
 Pulmonary Functions Test
 Pulmonary or lung function test are used to measure
volume of air breathed in and out in quiet breathing
and forced breathing.
 Measurement of Lung
volumes and lung
capacities
 It is measured by
Spirometry
37 Dr Marian Abdirahman