Respiratory System

Dr Harry Chummun
n.h.chummun@gre.ac.uk

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 Aim & Outcomes
Aim
 To explore the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory
system

Outcomes
 Identify the main structures in the respiratory system
 Identify the main function of those structures
 Consider the process of internal and external respiration
 Begin to understand common abnormal respiratory features
 Explain 3 common drugs acting of the system (class, actions,
side effects & your roles)

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 Function of the lungs
Ventilation
Oxygen intake & carbon dioxide output

Water loss

Heat removal

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 Main structures
Nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea
Left and right bronchus
Left and right lungs
Bronchioles
Alveoli
Arteries, veins and capillaries

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 Function of the upper airways
Provide a passageway for air to pass in and out of
the body
Warm and moisten the external air prior to
entering the lungs
Filter particles from the external air
Removal of particles via the cilia, coughing or
swallowing
Directs air, food and fluids into the correct organs

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 Trachea
10 – 12 cm in length
Rigid walls reinforced with C shaped rings of hyaline
cartilage
These support the trachea wall and keep it patent
Lined with ciliated mucosa that beat in the opposite
direction of the incoming air to expel foreign bodies

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 Lungs
 Occupy the entire thoracic cavity except for mediastinum

 Apex of each lung located just below the clavicle

 Base rests on the diaphragm

 Each lung is divided into lobes by fissures

 Left has 2 right has 3 lobes

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 Lung (cont…….)
Lung covered by a lining called the ‘visceral pleura’

Thoracic cavity covered by a lining called the parietal

pleura

Contain pleural fluid which allow the lungs to glide

easily over the thorax wall

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 Bronchioles
Primary bronchi subdivide into bronchioles

Often referred to as bronchial tree

Terminal bronchioles lead into respiratory zone

structures

Terminate at alveoli (air sacs)

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 Alveoli
Walls composed of a single thin layer of squamous
epithelial cells

Millions of clustered alveoli which resemble bunches

of grapes and make up bulk of the lungs

Makes lungs soft and spongy

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 Air – blood barrier
 Alveoli covered by ‘cobweb’ of pulmonary
capillaries

 Has air flowing past on one side and blood flowing on the
other

 Gas exchange occurs by simple diffusion through

respiratory membrane

 Area for gas exchange approximately 40x greater than the

surface of the skin

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 INTERNAL RESPIRATION

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 Mechanics of breathing
Structures involved
Diaphragm
Intercostal muscles
Rib cage

Phases
Inspiration
Expiration

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 Associated structures
 Chemoreceptors – CO & ? O
2 2

 Afferent nerve to brain from:

 Intercostal muscles
 Diaphragm

 Medulla oblongata

 Efferent nerve to rib cage, intercoastal muscles &

diaphragm

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 Inspiration
 Diaphragm and external intercostals contract

 Dome shaped diaphragm contracts, moving inferiorly and

flattening thereby increasing the height of the thoracic cavity

 Contraction of the external intercostals lifts the rib cage up

and the sternum forward thereby increasing the anterior-
posterior dimension of thorax

 Pressure in the lungs is decreased and air flows in

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 Expiration
In health is a passive process dependant upon the
elasticity of the lungs

As the inspiratory muscles relax the rib cage descends

and the lungs recoil

Gases flow out

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 Chemical control
Blood gas composition monitored continuously by
chemoreceptors that respond to changes in oxygen or
carbon dioxide

Chemoreceptors found carotid body and aortic body

(peripheral receptors)

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 Cont……..
Changes in carbon dioxide levels trigger impulses to
the respiratory centre of the brain stem.

In turn triggers phrenic and intercostal nerves and so

increases the respiration rate in order to lower the
carbon dioxide

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 Lung volumes
Tidal volume = the amount of air moved in and out
of the lungs with each breath = 500 ml
Minute volume = respiratory rate x tidal volume eg
12 x 500 = 6 litres
Residual volume – air left in the lungs after the
most strenuous expiration = 1200ml
Dead space where air remains in the conducting
zone = 10 ml

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 Functions of the respiratory system

• Gas Exchange – oxygen and carbon dioxide.

• Breathing – movement of air.

• Sound Production.

• Sense of smell.

• Protection – from dust and microbes

entering body through mucus production, cilia,
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and coughing. 22/04/2024
 Normal sputum
Colour
Odour
Amount
Consistency
Abnormalities eg blood
Frequency

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 Drugs
Ventolin:
 Effects- to relieve symptoms of asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as
coughing, wheezing and feeling breathless by relaxing
the muscles of the airways into the lungs to breathe
easier

 S/Es- feeling shaky, faster heartbeat for a short while

(but no chest pain), headaches & muscle cramps
muscle pain or weakness,


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 Drugs
Surfactant:

 Effects- lines the alveolar surfaces in the lung, reducing surface

tension and preventing atelectasis & used to treat and prevent
respiratory distress syndrome in new born babies &
improves cerebral perfusion

 S/Es-bradycardia and hypoxemia during instillation, as well

as blockage of the endotracheal tube

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 Drugs & Roles of nurse/midwife
Prednisolone-
 Effects-( corticosteroids) to treat conditions such as arthritis, severe
allergies & decreases the immune system's response to various diseases to
reduce symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions
 S/Es- gastric disturbances eg nausea & vomiting, muscle pain/cramps,
irregular heartbeat, swelling hands/ankles/feet, blurred vision &
mental/mood changes (such as depression, mood swings, agitation), as well
as menstrual disorders

 Roles of nurse/midwife???
 ADME, assessment of effectiveness/side effects, Royal
Pharmaceutic Society (?NMC Code for medicine Management –not
in use anymore but info can still be useful)

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