Respiratory System

Chapter 8
SPS113
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Function - delivers O2 to the body tissues and

removes gaseous wastes mainly CO2.
• Nose (nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses)
• Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchi, Bronchioles,
Alveoli, Lungs, Pleurae,
• Diaphragm (respiratory muscles)
FUNCTIONALLY, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
CONSISTS OF 2 ZONES:
• Conducting zone – includes all respiratory passageways
that conduct air to and from the lungs. This zone also
cleanse or filter (purify), humidify (moisten), & warm
incoming air. Composed of nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea,
bronchial tree (bronchi, bronchioles, terminal bronchioles).

• Respiratory zone – the actual site of gas exchange,

composed of

1. respiratory bronchioles
2.alveolar ducts & sacs
3.alveoli
 NOSE

• Covered by skin, supported by bone and

cartilage
• Structures of nose are divided into
1.external nose
2.nasal cavity
▫ Nasal cavity fills the space between the base of the
skull and the roof of the mouth.
▫ Nasal cavity (mucosa-lined) is divided by nasal
septum & separate from oral cavity by the palate
• Passageway to pharynx
 NOSE
• Functions :

1.Provides an airway for

respiration

2.Moistens and warms entering

air

3.Filters inspired air and

cleanses it of foreign matter

4.Serves as a resonating chamber

for speech

5.Houses the olfactory (smell)

receptors
 PARANASAL SINUSES
•Consists of:
1.Frontal sinus
2.Maxillary sinus
3.Sphenoid sinus
4.Ethmoid sinus

• Paranasal sinuses & nasolacrimal

ducts drain into the nasal cavity

• Functions :
1. Produce mucus
2.Acts as resonators for
sound
3.Lighten the skull
4.Together with nasal cavity
– warm & moisten the air
 THROAT
• Mucosa-lined, muscular tube
extends from the base of the skull
to the level of C6

• Divided into:
1.Nasopharynx
2.Oropharynx
3.Laryngopharynx

• Functions
1.Passageway for air between nose
and larynx and for food from mouth
and esophagus.

2.Contains tonsils, which act as part

of the body’s defense system.
• Voice box
LARYNX
• Supported by 9 cartilages:
▫ 3 unpaired:
1.Thyroid cartilage (Adam’s apple)
2.Cricoid cartilage
3.Epiglottis (elastic cartilage)
▫ 3 paired:
1.Arytenoids cartilages
2.Cuneiform cartilages
3.Corniculate cartilages
• Functions :
1.Passageway for air between pharynx
and trachea
2.Produces sounds used in speech by
vocal folds (true vocal cords)
3.Acts as a switching mechanism to route
air and food into proper channels by
epiglottis
 TRACHEA
• Windpipe, smooth-muscle tube lined
with ciliated mucosa
• Anterior to esophagus
• Connected to larynx at 6th cervical
vertebra to the 5th thoracic vertebra
• Ends by dividing into the 2 primary
bronchi
• Kept open by 16-20 C-shaped rings of
hyaline cartilage

• Functions :
1. Air passage to lungs
2. Traps and removes dust
particles before entering the lungs
 BRONCHI AND BRONCHIOLES

Functions:
a. Bronchi
• Air passage to and from the
lungs
• Filters air

b. Bronchioles
Passage to and from alveoli
 ALVEOLI
• Functional units of the lungs

• A group alveoli with the common

opening into alveolar duct is called
alveolar sac

• Surrounded by capillaries

• Function :
Provide enough surface area for gas
exchange

*Pulmonary Venule :venule surrounding the

alveolus of the lung and carries oxygen-rich blood

* Pulmonary Arteries : arteries in the body that

carry deoxygenated blood
 FLOW OF GASES
Primary bronchi (Principal)
(Enter the right and left lungs, right primary
bronchus is larger and more vertical)

Secondary bronchi (Lobar)

Tertiary bronchi (Segmental)

Bronchioles

Terminal bronchioles

Respiratory bronchioles

Alveolar ducts

Alveoli
 LUNGS : ANATOMY
• Cone-shaped at the apex,
concave at the base.
• Divided into right (larger)
and left lungs, separated
by mediastinum.
• Enclosed by the
diaphragm and thoracic
cage.

*Mediastinum ; partition between two

body cavities or two parts of an organ
LUNGS : LOBES

Right lung is divided into 3

lobes:
1. Superior lobe
2. Middle lobe
3. Inferior lobe

Left lung is divided into 2 lobes:

1. Superior lobe
2. Inferior lobe
 LUNGS: SACS
Each lung covered by:
1.Visceral pleura (pulmonary
pleura) : inner
2.Parietal pleura (lined the
thoracic wall/cavity) : outer

Pleural fluid : reduces

friction during breathing
movement

The respiratory tree in the

lungs is supplied with blood
by pulmonary and bronchi
circulation
 RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY

respiratory system & cardiovascular system are

involved in respiration.
1) Pulmonary Ventilation(Breathing) : Movements of gases into and out of
the lung(Inspiration and expiration)

2) External Respiration (Pulmonary Diffusion) : Gases exchange between

the lungs and blood. Eg:
- O2 from lungs (alveoli) diffuses into the blood (lung
capillaries)
- CO2 from blood (lung capillaries) diffuses into lungs (alveoli)
3) Transport of respiratory gases : O2 & CO2 must be transported between
the lungs & tissue cells of the body. Cardiovascular system which uses blood as
the transport fluid.

4) Internal Respiration: Exchange of gases in the body tissue cells

- CO2 from the body cells exchange for O2 from the blood
 Inspiration (Inhalation)
• Ribs and sternum moved by the external
intercostals muscles.
• Diaphragm contracts, flattening down
toward the abdomen (move inferiorly).
• This actions expand the thoracic cage, in
turn expanding the lungs.
• The air within them has more space to fill
(the pressure within the lungs decrease).
• The pressure in the lung is less than the
pressure of the at outside the body - air
rushes into the lungs to reduce this
pressure difference.
• Force breathing/ inspiration
▫ The scalene and sternocleidomastoid
in the neck and the pectorals in the
chest help raise the ribs even more
than during regular breathing.
*intercostal muscle : muscle
between ribs
Expiration (Exhalation)
• Diaphragm relaxes and returns to its
normal upward position (move
superiorly).
• External intercostals muscle relax, the
ribs and sternum lower back into their
resting positions.
• The elastic nature of the lung tissue
causes it to recoil to its resting size.
• This increases the pressure in the thorax
- air is forced out of the lungs.
• Force breathing/expiration
▫ The internal intercostals muscles pull
the ribs down, assisted by the
latissimus dorsi and quadratus
lumborum muscles.
 NONRESPIRATORY AIR MOVEMENTS
Most of the air movements result from reflex
activity, but some are produced voluntarily.
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Crying (involved emotional induced mechanism)
• Laughing (involved emotional induced
mechanism)
• Yawning
• Hiccupping
• Snoring