PHYSIOLOGY OF RESPIRATORY

SYSTEM
 OBJECTIVES

•INTRODUCTION
• ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE OF RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
• RESPIRATORY UNIT
• PULMONARY VENTILATION
• DIFFUSION OF GASES
•REGULATION OF RESPIRATION
• APPLIED RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY
 INTRODUCTION
• Four component of respiration are :-
(i) Pulmonary ventilation :-

Inflow and outflow of air between atmosphere and

lung alveoli

(ii) Diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between

alveoli and blood
 INTRODUCTION….
(iii) Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in
blood and body fluids and from the body
tissue cells

(iv) Regulation of respiration

 INTRODUCTION….

• The main function of respiratory system is to provide

oxygen to tissue and remove carbon dioxide

• They require continious supply of oxygen and

removal of carbon dioxide
 ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES OF RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
• Lungs

• Conducting airway :-
 Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, respiratory unit

• The nerves that control respiration and respiratory

centre in CNS.
• Structure involved in moving air in and out of
the lungs are
i) Diaphragm
ii) Intercostal muscles
iii) Rib cage
iv) Abdominal muscles
 LUNGS
• Right and left lung

• Right lung :- divided into three lobes

I ) upper lobes
ii ) middle lobes
iii) lower lobes

Left lung :- divided into two lobes

i) upper lobes
ii) lower lobes
 LUNGS…..
• Lungs covered by thin membranous layer called
pleura
I ) Visceral pleura ii) Parietal pleura

• In between pleura , pleural fluid is present

 TRACHEA , BRONCHI, BRONCHIOLES

• Air is distributed to lungs by trachea, bronchi,

bronchioles

• Trachea divided into two main bronchi, which further

branch into lobar bronchi that connect each lobe

• Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles up to terminal

bronchioles constitute conducting zone
CONDUCTING ZONE
 RESPIRATORY UNIT

• It is composed of i) Respiratory bronchioles

ii) Alveolar duct
iii) Alveoli

• Alveoli :-
Gas exchange between alveolar air and
pulmonary blood occur in alveoli
RESPIRATORY UNIT
 PULMONARY VENTILATION

• Normal breathing is accomplished almost entirely by

movement of diaphragm

• During inspiration:

 Contraction of diaphragm pulls the lower surface of

the lungs downward
• During expiration:

 Diaphragm simply relaxes

 Elastic recoil of lung, chest wall, abdominal

structure compress the lungs and expels the
air
 Pulmonary ventilation….

• During deep breathing extra force is required , mainly

achieved by inspiratory and expiratory muscles
• Inspiratory muscles :
i) External intercostal muscle ( main)
ii) Sternocleidomastoid
iii) Anterior serrati
iv) Scaleni
v) Alae nasi
 Pulmonary ventilation…..

• Expiratory muscles
i) Rectus abdominis
ii) Internal intercostal muscle
iii) Internal & external obliques
iv) Transverus abdominis
 MECHANISM OF INSPIRATION

Respiratory centre initiate stimuli for

inspiration

The diaphragm ( and/or other inspiratory

muscle) contract

The chest wall expand increasing the volume

of the thorax

The intrapleural pressure become more

negative
 Mechanism….

Alveolar pressure decreases below

the atmospheric pressure

The alveoli inflate as air flow into them

until alveolar pressure reaches
atmospheric pressure
MECHANISM OF EXPIRATION

Respiratory centres terminate the

inspiratory impulse

diaphragm relax

Chest wall retracts and decrease the

volume of thorax

Intrapleural pressure become less negative

 Mechanism…

Alveolar pressure increase above the

atmospheric pressure

The alveoli undergo elastic recoil

forcing air out

The alveoli deflate as air flows out until the

alveolar pressure reaches atmospheric
pressure
Transpulmonary pressure

Difference between that In the alveoli & that on

outer surface of the lungs( pleural pressure)
 COMPLIANCE OF LUNG

• It is distensibility of lung

• Change in volume per unit change in

transpulmonary pressure
COMPLIANCE OF LUNG
Lung volume and capacity
DIFFUSION OF GASES:-

i) Diffusion of oxygen occurs from alveoli to

pulmonary blood and

ii) Diffusion of carbon dioxide occurs from

pulmonary blood to alveoli
Diffusion of gases
 Diffusion of gases….
• Pressure difference causes net diffusion of
gases :- there is net diffusion from high
pressure area towards low pressure area

• Alveoli Capillary
PO2 = 104 mm Hg PO2 = 40 mm Hg
(high pressure ) (low pressure )
PCO2 = 40 mm Hg PCO2 = 45 mm Hg
( low pressure) ( high pressure )
• Oxygen transport in blood:

Combine with Dissolve in

hemoglobin plasma
( 97 % ) (3%)
• Carbon dioxide transport in blood :

Bicarbonate Carbamino Dissolve CO2

( 70 %) compound (7%)
( 23 % )
REGULATION OF RESPIRATION

Chemical regulation Neuronal regulation

Central Peripheral
Chemoreceptor Chemoreceptor
 CENTRAL CHEMORECEPTOR PERIPHERAL CHEMORECEPTOR
Location : location :
Chemosensitive area in Carotid ( IX ) and Aortic (X)
Medulla Body
Stimuli : stimuli:
Increase CO2 in blood Decrease O2 arterial conc.
stimulate receptor stimulate these receptor
indirectly by increasing ( increase CO2 & H⁺ in
H⁺ in brain extracellular blood also stimulate )
fluids
Response : Response :
Slow response fast response
NEURONAL REGULATION
• Respiratory centre is located in medulla oblongata &
pons of midbrain

• It is divided into three major groups:

1) Dorsal respiratory group :
 Located in dorsal portion of medulla
 Mainly causes inspiration

2) Ventral respiratory group

 Located on ventrolateral part of medulla
 Mainly causes expiration
 Neuronal regulation….

3) Pneumotaxic centre :

 Located in pons

 Control rate & depth of breathing

 Neuronal regulation…..

DORSAL RESPIRATORY GROUP:

• Basic rhythm of respiration is generated

• Play fundamental role in control of respiration

• Most of its neuron are located in nucleus of tractus

solitarius ( NTS )
• NTS is the sensory termination of both
 Vagal ( X)
 Glossopharyngeal nerves(IX)

• It transmit sensory signals into respiratory

centre from peripheral chemoreceptors
VENTRAL RESPIRATORY GROUP
• Found in
 Nucleus ambiguus rostrally
 Nucleus retroambiguus caudally

• Neuron of ventral respiratory group remain inactive

during normal quite respiration

• Normal quite breathing is caused only by repetitive

inspiration signals from dorsal respiratory group
transmitted mainly to diaphragm
 VENTRAL RESPIRATORY GROUP….

• They are especially important in providing the

powerful expiratory signals to the abdominal muscles
during deep expiration
PNEUMOTAXIC CENTRE

• Neurons located in nucleus parabrachialis of upper

pons

• Main function of pneumotaxic centre is to limit

inspiration
 Acid-Base Balance
• Normal blood pH: 7.40 (7.35- 7.45)

 Alkalosis: pH up
 Acidosis: pH down

H20 + C02 H2C03 H+ + HC03-

Hypoventilation: PC02 rises, pH falls (acidosis)

Hyperventilation:PC02 falls, pH rises (alkalosis)

 Ventilation is normally adjusted to keep pace

with metabolic rate

 So homeostasis of blood pH is maintained

 Other Functions of the Respiratory System

• BEHAVIORAL- talking, laughing, singing, reading

• SECRETIONS- mucus (goblet cells, mucus glands)

• DEFENSE:
 Humidification,
 Particle expulsion (coughing, sneezing)
 particle trapping
 Immunoglobulins from tonsils and adenoids
 α-1 antitrypsin, lysozyme, interferon,
complement system
APPLIED RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY
• The main pulmonary abnormalities are

i) Chronic pulmonary emphysema

ii) Atelectasis

ii) Asthma
 Emphysema

• Chronic progressive condition

• Cigarette smoking stimulate macrophages and

WBC to secrete enzymes which digest proteins

• Genetic inability to stop trypsin

 Atelectasis

i) Atelectasis means collapse of the alveoli

ii) Common causes are :-

a) Total obstruction of the airway
b) Lack of surfactant in the fluids lining the
alveoli
Pneumothorax – collapse lung
 Asthma

 Characterized by spasmodic contraction of

smooth muscles in bronchiole

 Usual cause of asthma is hypersensitivity of

bronchiole in response to foreign substance in
the air
THANK YOU