THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Respiration is defined as the process of releasing energy from the breaking down of food substances in the cells.
Respiration is made up of two types known as external respiration and internal respiration. External respiration
(breathing) involves the exchange of gases and this takes place in the lungs. Internal respiration involves the breaking
down of food substances in the cells of the body to release energy

Parts of the Human Respiratory System

Organs Involved in Respiration are:

i. Nose: Air normally enters the air passages through the nose. Hairs in the nose trap some dust particles that come with
the air we breathe in. The lining of the nose produces a watery liquid called mucus. It moistens the air and also traps
bacteria that are carried on the air currents.

ii. Larynx: prevents foreign objects from entering the trachea. It houses the vocal cords
It is an organ made of cartilage and connects the pharynx to the trachea.

iii. Windpipe (trachea): The windpipe is made up of rings of cartilage. These rings keep the air passages open. The inner
lining of the windpipe has two types of cells. They are mucus-secreting cells and ciliated epithelial cells. Dust particles
and bacteria are trapped in the mucus. The trachea branches into two bronchi (singular-bronchus)

iv. LUNGS: Inside the lungs, the bronchi branch into long, narrow, tiny tubes called bronchioles. The bronchioles branch
again into many air sacs called alveoli (singular alveolus). The alveoli Increase surface area for gaseous diffusion.

The covering of the lung is called the Pleural membrane or pleura. The function of the pleura is to allow optimal
expansion and contraction of the lungs during breathing.
Breathing and Respiration

Breathing and Respiration are not the same.

Breathing: - is described as an exchange of gases in which oxygen is breathed in which is known as inspiration or
inhalation and carbon dioxide is breathed out in a process known as expiration or exhalation. On the other hand,

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respiration is the process by which oxygen breathed in from the atmosphere is used for breaking down food substances
in our body cells to release needed energy with Carbon (IV) oxide and water as the waste products. This is known as cell
respiration. There are two types of cell respiration which are (a) aerobic respiration (b) anaerobic respiration
a. Aerobic respiration:- is the breaking down of food substance i.e. glucose in the presence of oxygen. This can be
represented as a word equation: Glucose + oxygen →carbon dioxide + water + large amount of energy. This can be
written in a chemical equation:

C6 H12 O6 +6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

b. Anaerobic respiration:- This process occurs when the body cannot get enough oxygen for aerobic respiration to take
place. For example, when you sprint you cannot breathe fast enough to get the energy you need to release energy for
your muscles. The body responds by releasing the energy In a process called anaerobic respiration i.e. the breaking
down of food substances i.e. glucose in the absence of oxygen. Represented by the word equation: Glucose →Lactic acid
+ Energy (small amount of energy).

Lactic acid is a poison. When it builds up in the muscles we need extra oxygen to break it down. This is called an oxygen
debt and we breathe heavily to produce the oxygen needed to repay that debt.

Breathing Movements
Breathing movement Inspiration Expiration
External intercostal muscles Contract Relax
Rib action Move up Move down
Diaphragm muscles Contract Relax
Change in chest volume Increases Decreases

Note: The diaphragm is the partition between the thoracic (chest) region and abdominal cavities.

Percentage Composition by Volume of Air we Inhale and Exhale

AIR Nitrogen Oxygen Carbon dioxide Water Vapour
INHALED 79.00% 20.96% 0.04% Trace
EXHALED 79.00% 16.02% 4.38% 0.60%

How Gaseous Exchange Takes Place in the Lungs

In the lungs, oxygen and carbon dioxide (a waste product of body processes) are exchanged in the tiny air sacs (alveoli)
at the end of the bronchial tubes. The alveoli are surrounded by capillaries. When a person inhales, oxygen moves from
the alveoli to the surrounding capillaries and into the bloodstream. At the same time, carbon dioxide moves from the
bloodstream to the capillaries and into the alveoli. The carbon dioxide is removed from the lungs when a person exhales.
The amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs, with each normal inspiration and expiration is called Tidal volume.
The greatest quantity of air that can be expired after a maximum inspiratory effort is its Vital capacity.

FUNCTION OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The respiratory system helps in the regulation of blood pH, and also contain receptors of smell, produces vocal sound
and filter inspired air.

RESPIRATORY DISEASES
1. Asthma: is caused due to spasms in bronchial muscles causing wheezing and shortness of breath. Allergy to a certain
type of protein in food or in dust, infections, or pollution can trigger asthma symptoms.
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2. Pneumonia: An infection of the alveoli, usually by bacteria.
3. Tuberculosis: A slowly progressive pneumonia caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium
tuberculosis.
4. Cold and catarrh: This is caused by a microorganism called a virus. It makes breathing
process difficult
because of the accumulation of watery mucus in the nostril.
5. Emphysema: results from damage to the fragile connections between alveoli.
Smoking is the usual cause.
(Emphysema also limits airflow, affecting the airways as well.)
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF SMOKING
There are over a thousand chemicals in cigarette smoke, including the highly addictive nicotine. These chemicals damage
the air passages in smokers. In a healthy person, dust particles are trapped in mucus and moved up the throat by the
beating of microscopic hairs called cilia. The small amount of dust is then swallowed. In smokers, the cilia stop beating
because of chemical damage by the smoke. More mucus is produced but instead of being carried up by the cilia it is
coughed up as dirty mucus which may be too much to swallow. In time, bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of the
bronchi) may develop and other complications such as emphysema - shortness of breath due to over-inflation of the
alveoli (air sacs in the lung).
ASSIGNMENT ON RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

1. In which part of the respiratory system, gaseous exchange takes place?

A. Alveoli B. Larynx C. Pharynx D. Trachea
2. _____is located between two pleural sacs and is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity.
A. Hilum B. Pleura C. Mediastinum D. Thoracic cage
3. Which of the following statements is true about involuntary breathing?
A. It is controlled by the bronchioles
B. It is controlled by the pulmonary arterioles
C. It is controlled by the alveolar-capillary network
D. It is controlled by the neurons, located in the medulla and pons
4. Which of the following gas is released during the process of respiration?
A. Oxygen B. Hydrogen D. Carbon dioxide E. None of the above
5. The tiny air sacs present in the lungs are called________.
A. Alveoli B. Bronchus C. Bronchioles D. All of the above
6. Which of the following functions is by filtering and keeping the mucus and dirt away from our lungs?
A. Cilia B. Bronchioles C. Hairs in the lungs D. All of the above
7. The exchange of gases between the external environment and the lungs
A. Respiration B. External respiration
C. Cellular respiration D. None of the above
8. Which one of the following statements is false about the trachea?
A. Has C-shaped rings B. It is covered by epiglottis
C. It splits into the right and left lungs D. None of the above
9. The maximum volume of air contained in the lung by a full forced inhalation is called
A. Tidal volume B. Vital capacity D. Ventilation rate D. Total lung capacity
10. Which one of the following is correct regarding the larynx?
A. It houses the vocal cords
B. It prevents the invading pathogens into the trachea
C. It is an organ made of cartilage and connects the pharynx to the trachea
D. All of the above.
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