TODAY IN PHYSIOLOGY:
The Respiratory System
CO2
O2 Camilo C. Roa, Jr., MD, FPCP, FPCCP
Professor of Physiology and Medicine
UP College Medicine - PGH
CO2 O2
O2
Why a respiratory system?
“Because this is where the action is going to be baby!”
Dateline: Paleozoic Era, Devonian period, 408 to 360 million yrs ago.
Appearance of the first amphibious creatures.
Objectives
• To list the functions of the respiratory system
• To point out how the anatomic, histologic,
biochemical properties of the respiratory system
facilitate gas exchange between man and his
environment
• To review physical laws governing gas exchanges
• To trace the pathway of oxygen transport from the
lungs to the tissues and the reverse route used in
CO2 transport
• To discuss the need to control breathing and the
mechanisms involved
Functions of the
Respiratory
System
• Gas Exchange
• Heat Exchange
• Blood Gas
Homeostasis
• Phonation
• Defense
• Bioactive substrate
metabolism
The Atmosphere Law of Partial Pressures:
Patm = PN2+PO2+PH20+Petc
PO2 = FiO2 x Patm
N2 N2
N2 N2
N2 O N2
2
CO2
N2 N2
N2 N2
O2 O2
H2O
N2
Patm =
760mmHg
Functions of the Respiratory
System
Chest Bellows
Breathing: Applying Boyles’ Law
The
Click Respiratory
on the ribs and the
diaphram to see animations
Muscles
Uncoupling the Lungs and the Chest Wall
Pneumothorax
Statics and Dynamics of Breathing
Patmosphere = “0”
At end expiration
Statics and Dynamics of Breathing
-8 Patm = 0 Patm = 0
Palv Palv
= (-) = (0)
Ppleural Ppleural
Mid- End-
At inspiration inspiration inspiration
The Dynamics of Breathing
Portable Spirometer
Airway Bronchodilator Response
Liters
0
F
E
V
1
1
2
Obstructive
3 pattern
Asthm
COPD
a
4
1 2 3 4 5
6 Seconds
Respiratory Tract
Vtidal = Valveolar + Vdeadspace
Ventilation
Vminute = Vtidal X resp. rate
AI R
Intrapulmonary
Gas Flow
Mass Flow
CO2 O2
Diffusion
Partial Pressures of Gases in Inspired Air
and Alveolar Air
Insert fig. 16.20
Respiratory Di
ffu
s ion
Zone
O2
1m
m
CO2 Diffusio
n
Conducting
Zone
Dipalmitoyl
phosphatidyl
choline (DPPC)
Effect of Surfactant Loss
Rabbit
Normal
Lung: Before and After AcidSurfactant
ApplicationLack
Neonatal Respiratory Distress
Syndrome
*Pores of Khun
Alveolar compartment
O2
ion
s
ffu
Di
n
sio
ffu
Di
2
CO
ion
s
ion
ffu
s
Di
ffu
Di
O2
Alveolar compartment
Alveolo-Capillary GasbyExchange
simple diffusion
Basic Gas Exchanging Unit in the Lungs
C02 02
O2 Diffusion during Normoxia
Distribution of Perfusion
Regional Distribution of Ventilation
Lung Ventilation/Perfusion Ratios
• Functionally:
– Alveoli at
apex are
underperfused
(overventilated).
– Alveoli at the
base are
underventilated
(overperfused).
Picture 4
Gas Exchange
and Transport
At Steady State
“pay-as-you-go”
• Lung O2 Uptake rate
= Cell O2 Utilization rate
• Cell CO2 Production rate =
Lung CO2 Release rate
Blood Gas Transport
A IR
O2
• Transfer of O2 from lungs to
tissues. BLOOD
• Transfer of CO2 from tissues
to lung.
CELLS O2
ADP * ATP
Hemoglobin in Gas Transport
(280 million
Hbs/RBC)
Hemoglobin and 02 Transport
Hemoglobin in Gas Transport
Hb02 Dissociation Curve
Oxyhemoglobin Dissociation Curve
Insert fig.16.34
Carbonic
anhydras CO2
e
Transport
Carbon Dioxide Transport
Insert fig. 16.38
C02 Transport
• C02 transported in the blood:
– HC03- (70%).
– Dissolved C02 (10%).
– Carbaminohemoglobin (20%).
C.A.
H20 + C02 H2C03
High PC0 2
Special Considerations
• Lung defense
• Lung function measurement
• Control of breathing
Cough Reflex
Lung Defense:
The Cough Reflex
Center
Receptors Effectors
Process of
Respiratory Control
Central Controller
•Brainstem
•Cerebrum OUTPUT
INPUT
Sensors Effectors
Chemoreceptors Respiratory
Lung receptors muscles
Peripheral receptors
Brain Stem Respiratory Centers
• Neurons in the reticular
formation of the
medulla oblongata form Insert fig. 16.25
the rhythmicity center:
– Controls automatic
breathing.
– Consists of interacting
neurons that fire either
during inspiration (I
neurons) or expiration
(E neurons).
Other Factors Affecting
Respiration
• Physical Factors
– exercise
– temperature
• Volition (Conscious
control)
• Emotional Factors
– excitement
– fear
– anger
