RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
Respiratory system function
◦ Respiratory systems allow animals to move oxygen (needed for cellular
respiration) into body tissues and remove carbon dioxide (waste product of
cellular respiration) from cells.
HOW MUCH OXYGEN DO
WE HAVE?
◦ FOUR TO SIX MINUTES SUPPLY
Human respiratory system
◦ Parts of the respiratory system include:
◦ Trachea
◦ Bronchi
◦ Bronchioles
◦ Alveoli
◦ Nose
◦ Pharynx
◦ Larynx
CILIA
◦ TINY HAIRLIKE STRUCTURES IN NASAL CAVITY
◦ TRAPS DIRT AND PATHOGENS
◦ THE TRAPPED PARTICLES ARE THEN PUSHED TOWARD ESOPHAGUS AND
SWALLOWED.
LACRIMAL DUCTS
◦ DRAIN TEARS FROM EYES INTO THE NOSE
◦PROVIDES ADDITIONAL MOISTURE
SINUSES
◦ CAVITIES IN THE
SKULL
◦ CONNECTED TO
NASAL CAVITY BY
SHORT DUCTS
◦ ALSO LINED WITH
MUCOUS MEMBRANE
◦ PROVIDE RESONANCE
FOR THE VOICE
LARYNX
◦ CONTAINS 2 FOLDS CALLED VOCAL CORDS
A) GLOTTIS – OPENING BETWEEN
THE VOCAL CORDS
AS AIR LEAVES THE LUNGS,
THE VOCAL CORDS VIBRATE
AND PRODUCE SOUND.
LARYNX
B) EPIGLOTTIS
◦ LEAF LIKE STRUCTURE
◦ CLOSES THE OPENING INTO LARYNX
DURING SWALLOWING
◦ PREVENTS FOOD & LIQUIDS FROM
ENTERING RESPIRATORY TRACT
Epiglottis
TRACHEA (WINDPIPE)
◦ TUBE EXTENDING FROM LARYNX TO CENTER OF THE CHEST
◦ CARRIES AIR BETWEEN PHARYNX & BRONCHI
◦ CONTAINS A SERIES OF C-SHAPED CARTILAGE WHICH OPENS IN
BACK AND HELPS KEEP THE TRACHEA OPEN
BRONCHI
◦ TWO DIVISIONS OF TRACHEA
◦ NEAR CENTER OF CHEST
◦ BRONCHUS
◦ ONE ENTERS EACH LUNG
◦ CARRIES AIR FROM
TRACHEA TO LUNGS
◦ IN LUNGS
◦ BRONCHI DIVIDE INTO SMALLER
BRONCHI
SMALLEST BRANCHES
◦ BRONCHIOLES
◦ END IN AIR SACS
CALLED ALVEOLI
Alveoli
◦ The alveoli are moist, thin-walled pockets which are the site of gas exchange.
◦ A slightly oily surfactant prevents the alveolar walls from collapsing and sticking
together.
LUNGS
ORGANS
DIVISIONS OF
THE BRONCHI
AND ALVEOLI
LOCATED IN
THE THORACIC
CAVITY
LUNGS
RIGHT LUNG
◦ HAS 3 SECTIONS/LOBES
◦ SUPERIOR
◦ MIDDLE
◦ INFERIOR
LEFT LUNG
◦ HAS 2 SECTIONS/LOBES
◦ SUPERIOR
◦ INFERIOR
SMALLER BECAUSE HEART LIES MORE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF
THE CHEST
Moving air in and out
◦ During inspiration
(inhalation), the diaphragm
and intercostal muscles
contract.
◦ During exhalation, these
muscles relax. The
diaphragm domes
upwards.
Circulation and Gas Exchange
◦ Recall the interconnection
between circulation and
the respiratory system.
◦ Gas exchange at the lungs
and in the body cells
moves oxygen into cells
and carbon dioxide out.
In the alveolus
◦ The respiratory surface is
made up of the alveoli and
capillary walls.
◦ The walls of the capillaries
and the alveoli may share
the same membrane.
Gas exchange
◦ Air entering the lungs
contains more oxygen and
less carbon dioxide than the
blood that flows in the
pulmonary capillaries.
◦ How do these differences in
concentrations assist gas
exchange?
Oxygen transport
◦ Hemoglobin binds to
oxygen that diffuses
into the blood stream.
◦ What are some
advantages to using
hemoglobin to
transport oxygen?
Carbon dioxide transport
◦ Carbon dioxide can
dissolve in plasma, and
about 70% forms
bicarbonate ions.
◦ Some carbon dioxide
can bind to hemoglobin
for transport.
At the cells
◦ Cells use up oxygen quickly for cellular respiration. What does this do to the
diffusion gradient? How does this help cells take up oxygen?
◦ Cells create carbon dioxide during cellular respiration, so CO 2 levels in the cell
are higher than in the blood coming to them. How does this help cells get rid of
oxygen?
NORMAL LUNGS
Effects of smoking
◦ Inhaled smoke contains:
◦ CO2, which affects the CO2
diffusion gradient.
◦ carcinogenic chemicals that
can trigger tumors.
◦ toxic nicotine, which
paralyzes cilia that normally
clean the lungs.
Emphysema
◦ Besides cancer, smoking can
also lead to emphysema.
Alveoli become dry and
brittle, and eventually
rupture.
◦ Both active and passive
smoking (“second-hand”
smoke) can lead to can lead
to lung problems.
All types of smoke, not just
tobacco, can cause cancers and
emphysema.
Cystic Fibrosis
◦ Cystic fibrosis is one of the
most common inherited
disorders in the Caucasian
population in the U.S.
◦ CF is caused by mutation of
a single gene, the CFTR
gene, which controls salt
balance in the lungs.
Cystic Fibrosis
◦ A normal CFTR protein
regulates the amount of
chloride ions across the cell
membrane of lung cells.
◦ If the interior of the cell is
too salty, water is drawn
from lung mucus by osmosis,
causing the mucus to
become thick and sticky.
Cystic Fibrosis
◦ At this point there is no cure
for CF, though there are
therapies that have extended
the lives of CF patients,
including lung transplants.
◦ Gene therapy may one day
insert “good” CFTR genes
into lung cells to make them
operate normally.
