The Respiratory System

Anatomy and Mechanism of Breathing

Lungs are located in the thoracic cavity.
Anatomy
 Gas exchange occurs in the lungs. This gas (Air) is brought in through the external nares
(nostrils) and then pass through the nasal cavity in which they are filtered by a mucous
membrane and nasal hairs (vibrissae)
 Air then passes through the pharynx. This structure lies near the nasal cavity at the back
of the mouth. It is a common location for both food and air.
 Larynx lies below the pharynx and is only for air. Has an opening called the glottis that is
covered by an epiglottis during swallowing in order to prevent food from entering.
o Contains two vocal cords
 Air then passes to the trachea and then into one of the two bronchi.
o These contain ciliated epithelial cells to catch materials that made it past the
membrane.
 The lungs are now reached, and the bronchi differentiate into smaller bronchioles,
which divide further into tiny balloon like structures called alveoli. This is the location of
gas exchange
o Each Alveoli is coated with surfactant which is a detergent that lowers surface
tensions and prevents them from collapsing.
o Each Alveolus is surrounded by a network of capillaries to carry O2 & CO2.
o Branching and small size allow for a large surface area ~100 m2.
 Each lung is surrounded by a membrane known as pleurae. This forms a closed sac
which the lung expands against
o Parietal pleura is the outer part and the visceral pleura is the surface next to the
lung
 Diaphragm is a thin muscle between the thoracic cavity and the abdominal cavity, and it
is the main muscle responsible for producing the negative pressures within the lung.
o Additional muscles in the chest wall, back and neck may also help
o Under somatic control, but breathing itself is under autonomic control
Breathing
The intrapleural space is the space between the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura. This
space contains a thin layer of fluid and helps to lubricate the two surfaces. The pressure
difference that drives breathing is created across this space.
Inhalation
 Diaphragm + external intercostal muscles are used to expand the thoracic cavity. This
increases the intrathoracic volume (volume of chest cavity) increases.
 Intrapleural space has its volume increase first since it is closest to the chest cavity. This
causes a decrease in pressure.
 The lungs then expand into the intrapleural space and air will then be sucked in from the
higher atmospheric pressure environment. This is called negative pressure breathing.
Exhalation
 Does not have to be an active process such as inhalation. Just needs the simple
relaxation of the external intercostal muscles and diaphragm.
 Pressure will increase in intrapleural space and this will cause the air in the lungs to be
pushed out by the higher pressures.
 Internal Intercostal Muscles and abdominal muscles can be used to make exhalation an
active process.
 Surfactant prevents the complete collapse of alveoli during exhalation by lowering the
surface tension.
 Lungs connection to the chest wall prevents the lungs from collapsing on recoil.
Lung Capacity and Volumes
A spirometer is a measurement tool used to test the capacities of the lung.
 Total Lung Capacity (TLC): Max volume of air in the lungs when one inhales completely
 Residual Volume (RV): Min volume of air in the lung when one exhales completely
 Vital Capacity (VC): Diff between the min and max volume of air in the lungs (TLC – RV)
 Tidal Volume: volume of air inhaled or exhaled in a normal breath
 Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): volume of additional air that can be forcibly exhaled
after a normal exhalation
 Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV): Volume of additional air that can be forcibly inhaled
after a normal inhalation.
Regulation of Breathing
 Ventilation is regulated by a collection of neurons in the medulla oblongata called the
ventilation center.
o These neurons fire rhythmically to cause regular contraction of resp muscles.
o Neurons contain chemoreceptors that are sensitive to CO2.
 As CO2 increases, respiratory rate increases to expel more gas.
 Sometimes respond to changes in oxygen concentration, but only during
periods of significant hypoxemia.
o Have some voluntary control over breathing with our cerebrum, but overall the
medulla oblongata can override it.
Functions of the Respiratory System
Gas Exchange
 Primary function of the lungs. Capillaries bring deoxygenated blood from the pulmonary
arteries (from right ventricle of heart) to the alveoli.
 Alveoli have very thin walls which help in the facilitation of diffusion. Oxygen goes into
the capillaries while carbon dioxide goes into the lungs. The oxygenated blood is then
carried back to the heart through the pulmonary veins
 Driving force of this gas exchange is the pressure differential between the gases.
Thermoregulation
 Since the respiratory tract is highly vascularized and has a large surface area, it can be
used in thermoregulation.
 The capillaries within the nasal and tracheal capillary beds are frequently vasodilated
(allows larger amount of heat to escape through large blood flow rate) or
vasoconstricted (conserves thermal energy).
 Can also transfer heat to the environment by evaporating water in mucous secretions.
This mechanism is taken advantage of by dogs through panting.
Immune Function
 Large area provides ample room for pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi to
infect the lungs. Additionally, can gain easy access to rest of the body due to high
vascularity of the lungs.
 First line of defense is within the nasal cavity: small hairs (vibrissae) help trap particulate
matter and potentially infectious matter. Also contains the enzyme lysozyme, which is
able to attack the peptidoglycan walls of gram-positive bacteria.
 Mucociliary Escalator: Internal airways are lined with mucus, which can further trap
foreign invaders. Cilia lining the walls then propels the particulate matter up into the
oral cavity for expulsion.
 Also contain many immune cells. Especially in the alveoli
o Macrophages engulf bacteria and digest pathogens and signal the rest of the
immune system on a potential invasion.
o IgA antibodies are also found on mucosal surfaces to protect against pathogens
o Mast Cells have preformed anti-bodies on their surfaces. If cell attaches to the
antibody, the mast cell releases inflammatory chemicals in order to promote an
immune response. Also the cause of a lot of allergies since they are sensitive to
molds and pollen
Control of pH

 Body always attempts to maintain a pH between 7.35-7.45. A lower pH indicates higher

H+ concentration (academia). Acid-sensing chemoreceptors (just outside the blood-
brain barrier) send signals to the brain to increase the respiratory rate. Additionally, the
buffer system will shift to create more carbon dioxide which will also promote an
increase in respiratory rate.
 Increased respiration rate causes the buffer system to shift even more to the left
through expulsion of carbon dioxide.
 If blood is too basic (alkalemia), respiration rate is slowed which results in higher
concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, which will shift the buffer system to the
right.