a u n ch

Chapter 2
Respiratory System
 Summary
2.1 Human Respiratory System
2.2 Movement and exchange of gases
in human body
2.3 Health of the human respiratory
system
2.4 Adaptations in the respiratory
systems
2.5 Exchange of gases in plants

2
2.1 human Respiratory System
 Human Respiratory System Nasal
cavity

• Breathing involves the exchange Nostril

Pharynx

of gases in lungs. Larynx

Epiglottis
Trachea
Bronchus
Intercostal Muscle

Bronchiole
 Human Respiratory System
1. Nostril: Walls lined with hair or cilia to trap dust.
2. Nasal cavity: lined with sticky mucus to trap bacteria and foreign particles
3. Nostril -- Nasal cavity -- Trachea -- Bronchi -- Bronchioles -- Alveoli

Lungs
Surrounded by
blood capillaries for
gases exchanges
Inhalation Exhalation

External intercostal
muscle
Rib cage

Diaphragm

Thoracic cavity

Air pressure
 Mechanism of breathing
Mechanism of breathing consist of process of
inhaling and exhaling air.

Intercostal muscle:
Move ribs up and down during breathing

Diaphragm:
Control the volume of thoracic cavity

Content Inhaled air Exhaled air

Oxygen 21.0% 16.4%
Carbon dioxide 0.03% 4.1%
Nitrogen 79.0% 79.0%
 Content of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli and blood capillaries of the lungs

In lungs
Parts Oxygen content Carbon dioxide content
Alveoli High Low
Pulmonary Low High
capillaries

In body tissue
Parts Oxygen content Carbon dioxide content
Tissue High Low
capillaries
Body cells Low High
2.2 Movement and Exchange of Gases in
Human Body
 Movement and Exchange of Gases in Human Body
1. Higher content of oxygen in alveoli causes diffusion of
oxygen into blood capillaries.
Higher content of carbon dioxide in blood capillaries cause
diffusion of carbon dioxide into alveoli.
1. Oxygen combines with haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin
2. Haemoglobin is pigment that transport oxygen in red blood cell

2. Oxygen is transported as oxyhaemoglobin in

4. Carbon dioxide is transported
red blood cell to the heart and then to body
to heart and then to alveoli to
tissues
be expelled

3. Higher content of oxygen in blood capillaries causes diffusion of

oxygen into body cells. Higher content
of body cells in body cells cause diffusion of carbon dioxide into
blood capillaries.
1. Oxyhaemoglobin releases oxygen and oxygen diffuse into body cells.
2. In the body cells, oxygen is used to oxidise food during cellular
respiration.
3. Carbon dioxide released by cellular respiration diffuses from body into
tissue capillaries
Adaptation of structure of an alveolus for maximum exchange of gases

Alveolus is the site of exchange of respiratory gases

2.3 Health of human respiratory system
 Health of Human Respiratory System
1. Emphysema
• Causes: Cigarette smoke, exposure to
chemicals and dust
• Effects
• Permanent damage to alveoli
• Surface area of alveoli become smaller
• Symptoms: Difficulty in breathing

2. Lung cancer
• Causes: Cigarette smoke, exposure to
asbestos and carcinogen
• Effects
• Uncontrolled lung cell division
• Can spread to other organs
• Symptoms: Difficulty in breathing,
continuous breathing, coughing out blood
 Health of Human Respiratory System
3. Bronchitis
• Causes: Virus/bacteria infection, Tar &
irritation in cigarette smoke
• Effect: Bronchiole tube is inflamed with
overproduction of mucus
• Symptoms: Difficulty in breathing,
continuous coughing and sore throat

4. Asthma
• Causes: Cigarette smoke, allergen
(pollen grain)
• Effect: Bronchiole tube is inflamed,
swollen and smaller
• Symptoms: Difficulty in breathing,
continuous coughing and wheezing
Air pollution

Dangerous substances Effects to the respiratory system

in polluted air

Sulphur dioxide Irritate the throat, Damage lung tissue and cause difficulty in breathing

Nitrogen dioxide Irritate the throat, Difficulty in breathing

Dust Deposits on alveoli and respiratory tract and cause difficulty in breathing

Carbon monoxide Compete with oxygen to combine with haemoglobin and cause difficulty in
breathing.
Bacteria or Viruses Cause flu, cough and pneumonia

Pollen grains Cause asthma

Asbestos Cause lung cancer

Cigarette smoke 1. Tar – Cause lung cancer

2. Nicotine- Cause addiction
3. Cause Emphysema, Bronchitis, Inflamed throat
Colour of cotton wool

Colour of litmus solution

2.4 Adaptations of respiratory system
 Adaptations of Respiratory System
1. Gills (Fish)
• Each gill consists of thin
filaments.
• Numerous filaments provide
large surface area for faster
gaseous diffusion
• Thin membrane enable easier
gaseous diffusion.
• Filaments have many blood
capillaries for efficient gaseous
exchange.
 Adaptations of Respiratory System
2. Tracheal system (insects)
• Trachea is divided into tracheoles
• Numerous tracheoles provide large surface area for gaseous exchanges
• End of tracheoles are thin and moist for gases to dissolve
 Adaptations of Respiratory System
3. Outer moist skin and lungs (Frogs)
• Outer skin
• Thin and permeable allow faster and
easier diffusion
• Always moist because it is coated with
mucus which dissolve respiratory gases
• Many network of capillaries to transport
respiratory gases
Adaptation of respiratory system in different situation

1. High altitude
Low atmospheric pressure cause difficulty in breathing, hence rate of breathing increase

2. Vigorous activities
↑ rate of cellular respiration
↑ breathing
↑ heartbeat

3. Sickle-cell Anemia
Abnormal shape → smaller surface area → ↓ haemoglobin,
less oxygen is transported to the cells, patient is pale and weak
2.5 Exchange of gases in plants
 Exchange of Gases in Plants
• Plants need oxygen for cellular respiration
• Cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide and energy.
• Stoma
• Exchanges of gases through diffusion
• Size of opening controlled by two guard cells
• Inner wall thicker then outer wall
• Contain chloroplast for photosynthesis
• Opens during day and closes at night
Stoma intakes carbon dioxide, release
oxygen for photosynthesis

Stoma intakes oxygen, release carbon

dioxide for cellular respiration

During the day During the night

Rate of photosynthesis is high Photosynthesis does not occur

Water enter guard cells through osmosis Water leaves guard cells through osmosis

Guard cells become turgid Guard cells lose turgidity

Stoma open Stoma close

Gaseous exchanges rate is high Gaseous exchanges rate is low

Both photosynthesis and respiration Only respiration occurs

occurs
 Effect of pollution on plants

1. Smoke, soot , dust, small particles, haze

• Effects
• Smoke particles block stoma, prevent exchanges of gases,
• Haze prevent penetration of sunlight, reduces rate of
photosynthesis
• Prevention
• Stop forest burning and open burning

2. Toxic gases (nitrogen, sulphur dioxide)

• Effects
• Gases dissolve in rain water, becomes acid rain
• Acid rain damages leaves and roots
• Prevention
• Filter gases emitted from industries
• Use catalytic converters to clean up gases emitted from car