RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

ANATOMY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM RESPIRATORY ZONE

o Small air tubes in the lungs and the alveoli where
o The respiratory system consists of the structures
gas exchange occurs.
used to acquire O2 and remove CO2 from the blood.
o CO2 is a by-product of ATP production and must be
FUNCTIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
removed from the blood.
VENTILATION
o All cells in the body require O2 to synthesize the
o Breathing, the movement of air and out of the
chemical energy molecule, ATP. lungs.
o Increased levels of CO2 will lower the pH of the
blood.
EXTERNAL RESPIRATION
o The exchange of O2 and CO2 between the air in the
lungs and the blood.

GAS TRANSPORT
o O2 and CO2 travel in the blood to and from cells.

INTERNAL RESPIRATION
o The exchange of O2 and CO2 between the blood and
the tissues.

REGULATION OF BLOOD PH
o The respiratory system can alter blood pH by
EXTERNAL NOSE changing CO2 levels.
o Encloses the chamber for air inspiration.
PRODUCTION OF CHEMICAL MEDIATORS
PHARYNX o The lungs produce enzyme called angiotensin-
o Commonly called the throat, it serves as a shared converting enzyme (ACE), which regulates blood
passageway for food and air. pressure.

NASAL CAVITY VOICE PRODUCTION

o A cleaning, warming, and humidifying chamber for o Air moving past the vocal folds makes sound and
inspired air. speech possible.

LARYNX OTHER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

o The voice box. OLFACTION
o The sensation of smell occurs when airborne
molecules are drawn into nasal cavity.
FUNCTION OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT PROTECTION
o Structures from the nose to the larynx. o The respiratory system provides protection against
some microorganisms by preventing them from
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT entering the body and removing them from
o Structures from the trachea through the alveoli in respiratory surfaces.
the lungs.

CONDUCTING ZONE
o Structures from the nose to the air tubes within the
lungs used strictly for ventilation.
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT HUMIDIFIES AND WARMS THE AIR
o EXTERNAL NOSE o Moisture is added to the air as it passes through the
o NASAL CAVITY nasal cavity.
o PHARYNX
o LARYNX CONTAINS THE OLFACTORY EPITHELIUM
o The sensory organ for smell, is located in the most
superior part of the nasal cavity.

HELPS DETERMINE VOICE SOUND

o The nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are
resonating chambers for speech.

NOSE
PARANASAL SINUSES
o Air filled spaces within bone.
o Open into nasal cavity.
o Lined with mucous.
NOSE
EXTERNAL NOSE CONCHAE
o Composed of mainly of hyaline cartilage. o Bony projections on each side of nasal cavity.
o Increase surface area of nasal cavity.
NASAL CAVITY o Help in cleaning, humidifying of air.
o Extends from nares (nostrils) to the choana which
are the openings to pharynx. NASOLACRIMAL DUCTS
o Carry tears from eyes.
HARD PALATE o Open into nasal cavity.
o Is its roof.

NASAL SEPTUM
o Divides it in half.

NASAL CAVITY
o The space inside the nose.

PHARYNX
o A passageway for the respiratory and digestive
systems.

FUNCTIONS OF THE NASAL CAVITY

SERVES AS PASSAGEWAY FOR AIR
o Remains open even when the mouth is full of food.

CLEANS THE AIR

o The nasal cavity is lined with hairs, which trap some
of the large particles of dust in the air.
 NASOPHARYNX VESTIBULAR FOLDS
o Takes in air. o False vocal cords.

OROPHARYNX VOCAL FOLDS

o Extends from uvula to epiglottis. o Source of voice production.
o Takes in food, drink, and air. o Air moves past them, they vibrate, and sound is
produced.
LARYNGOPHARYNX o Force of air determine loudness.
o Extends from epiglottis to esophagus. o Tension determines pitch.
o Food and drink pass through.

UVULA
o “little grape”
o Extension of soft palate.

PHARYNGEAL TONSIL
o Aids in defending against infections.

LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT

o TRACHEA
o BRONCHI
o TRACHEOBRONCHIAL TREE IN LUNGS
o ALVEOLI

TRACHEA
o Windpipe
o Consists of 16 to 20 C-shaped pieces of cartilage
called tracheal rings.
o Lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar
LARYNX epithelium.
o Located in the anterior throat and extends from the o Smoking kills cilia.
base of the tongue to the trachea. o Coughing dislodges materials from trachea.

CONSISTS OF 9 CARTILAGES
THYROID CARTILAGE
o Largest piece of cartilage.
o Called Adam’s apple.

EPIGLOTTIS
o Piece of cartilage.
o Flap that prevents swallowed materials from
entering larynx.

BRONCHI
o Divides into right and left main (primary) bronchi in
the lugs at the carina.
o Lined with cilia.
o Contain C-shaped pieces of cartilage.

TRACHEOBROCHIAL TREE
o Structures become smaller and more numerous
from primary bronchi to alveoli.
o Primary bronchi.
 o Lobar (secondary) bronchi. SURFACTANT
o Segmental (tertiary) bronchi. o A mixture of lipoproteins.
o Bronchioles o Is produced by secretory cells of the alveoli.
o Terminal bronchioles o Is fluid layer on the surface lining the alveoli.
o Respiratory bronchioles o Reduces surface tension.
o Alveolar ducts o Keeps lungs from collapsing.
o Alveoli
ALVEOLI
o Respiratory bronchioles have a few attached alveoli.
o Alveolar ducts arise from the respiratory
bronchioles and open into alveoli.
o Alveolar sacs are chambers connected to two or
more alveoli at the end.

RESPIRATORY MEMBRANE
o In lungs where gas exchange between air and blood
occurs.
o Formed by walls of alveoli and capillaries.
o Alveolar ducts and respiratory bronchioles also
CHANGES IN AIR PASSAGEWAY DIAMETER contribute.
BRONCHODILATION o Very thin diffusion of gases.
o The smooth muscle relaxes, making the bronchiole
diameter larger.

BRONCHOCONSTRICTION
o The smooth muscle contracts, making the
bronchiole diameter smaller.

ASTHMA ATTACK
o Contraction of terminal bronchioles leads to
reduced air flow.

ALVEOLI
o The sites of external respiration are the alveoli. THORACIC WALL AND MUSCLES OF RESPIRATION
o Small air-filled sacs where air and blood come into o The thoracic wall consists of:
close contact. ▪ Thoracic vertebrae
o Where gas exchange occurs. ▪ Ribs
o Surrounded by capillaries. ▪ Costal cartilages
o 300 million in lungs. ▪ Sternum
▪ Associated muscles

o Thoracic cavity – the space enclosed by the thoracic

wall and the diaphragm.
o Diaphragm – a sheet of skeletal muscle separating
the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.
 o The diaphragm and skeletal muscles of the thoracic PLEURA MEMBRANES AND CAVITIES
wall change thoracic volume during ventilation. PLEURA CAVITY
o Space around each lung.

PLEURA
o Double-layered membrane around lungs.

PARIETAL PLEURA
o Membrane that lines thoracic cavity.

VISCERAL PLEURA
o Membrane that covers lung’s surface.

LUNGS
o Primary organ of respiration.
o Cone shaped.
o The base rests on the diaphragm.
o The apex extends above the clavicle.
o Right lung has 3 lobes.
o Left lung has 2 lobes.
VENTILATION (breathing)
o The process of moving air in and out of the lungs.

TWO ASPECTS TO VENTILATION

o Actions of the muscles of respiration.
o Air pressure gradients.

MUSCLES OF RESPIRATION
MUSCLES OF INSPIRATION
o Increase the volume of the thoracic cavity.
BLOOD FLOW TO LUNGS ▪ Diaphragm
o Oxygenated blood has passed through the lungs ▪ External intercostals
and picked up O2 ▪ Pectoralis minor
o Deoxygenated blood has passed through the tissues ▪ Scalene muscles
and released some of its O2
o Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood to PULMONARY VOLUMES
pulmonary capillaries. SPIROMETER
o Blood becomes oxygenated and returns to the heart o Device that measures pulmonary volumes.
through pulmonary veins.
TIDAL VOLUME (TV)
LYMPHATIC SUPPLY TO THE LUNGS o Volume of air inspired and expired during quiet
SUPERFICIAL LYMPHATIC VESSELS breathing.
o Deep to the connective tissue that surrounds each
lung. INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME (IRV)
o Drain lymph from the superficial lung tissue and the o Volume of the air that can be inspired forcefully
visceral pleura. after a normal inspiration.

DEEP LYMPHATIC VESSELS EXPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME (ERV)

o Follow the bronchi. o Volume of the air that can be expired forcefully
o Drain lymph from the bronchi and associated after a normal respiration.
connective tissues.
 RESIDUAL VOLUME (RV)
o Volume of air remaining in lungs after a maximal
expiration (can’t be measured with spirometer).

PULMONARY CAPACITIES
FUNCTIONAL RESIDUAL CAPACITY (FRC)
o The amount of air remaining in the lungs at the end
of a normal expiration.
o FRC = ERV + RV

TOTAL LUNG CAPACITY (TLC)

o TLC = IRV + ERV + TV + RV

FACTORS AFFECTING VENTILATION

o GENDER
o AGE
o BODY SIZE
o PHYSICAL FITNESS

Diana