The Respiratory System

Femi Otulaja, PhD

Gate House room 111
Office phone #: 0117176075
Email: Femi.Otulaja@wits.ac.za
 Topics to Cover on The Respiratory System
• Basic structures of the human respiratory system
and their functions
• Tissues associated with the respiratory system
• Mechanics and regulation of breathing
• Oxygen and Carbon dioxide exchange in the
lungs and the tissues
• Function of haemoglobin (transport of Oxygen &
Carbon dioxide in the blood) and factors
influencing the oxygen-haemologin dissociation
curve
 Lesson’s Learning Goals/Outcomes

• Identify and describe the organs and tissues of

the human respiratory system and their
functions

• Identify and describe the associated

organs/tissues of the respiratory system and
how they function to assist the respiratory
system

APES 1000 – Introduction to Medical Science (Half Course)

 The Respiratory System
• We can live for days without food or water but cannot
live for more than a few minutes without oxygen.
• Respiratory gases exchange is very important between
animals/humans and the environment, why?
• All cell require energy and certain raw materials to
survive, grow and reproduce
• To do so, cells rely on aerobic metabolism, i.e. use up
oxygen (O2) to create carbon dioxide (CO2) as wastes
product
• O2 is need to produce most of the ATP needed by the
cells. Without O2, cellular processes cannot continue
• Cells need to remove CO2 to survive also as build up of
CO2 is harmful
 The Respiratory System – Some Facts
• Normal atmospheric air contains approx. 21% Oxygen
when inhaled
• Air being exhaled contains approx. 17%
• Humans utilize 19% (4/21 x 100) of oxygen inhaled; 81%
of oxygen is available in exhaled air
• There are enough residual oxygen available for CPR when
you do a mouth-to-mouth CPR
• Oxygen available to a patient in a mouth-to-mouth is
about 16%
• If mouth-to-mouth is done through a mask, you can
increase oxygen available to 40%
• The greater the oxygen concentration, the more efficient
the gaseous exchange in the lungs
 Respiration
• What happens to the air we breath?
– C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (ATP)
• Respiration/Metabolism

– 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2

• Photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis  Cellular Respiration
• What are the processes of respiration?
 Respiration – Four (4) Processes
The term respiration encompasses are four (4)
processes
• Breathing (ventilation)
– Movement of air into & out of the lungs
• External respiration
– Exchanges of gases between inhaled air and blood
• Internal respiration
– Exchange of gases between the blood & tissue fluid
• Cellular respiration
– The process of using oxygen (O2) to produce ATP
within the cells
– Generates carbon dioxide (CO2) as waste product
Respiration takes place throughout the body
The Respiratory System – Two Major Parts

• The Respiratory System is divided into two

parts
– Upper Respiratory System or Tract
• Respiratory structures in the head and neck

– Lower Respiratory System or Tract

• Respiratory structures in the neck and chest
 http://serc.carleton.edu/download/images/37789/labeled_diagram_lungsrespirato.v2.png
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Res
https://serc.carleton.edu/details/images/37789.html
piratory_system_complete_en.svg
 Basic Structures - Anatomy
UPPER TRACT What apparatus do humans use to breath?
Nasal cavity
Nose Tongue
Mouth
Pharynx (Throat)
Epiglottis
Larynx (Voice box)
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT

Pleural membranes
Trachea (Windpipe)
Lung
Bronchi &
Intercostal Bronchioles
muscle Alveoli
Ribs
Left lung
Right lung

Diaphragm
 Components of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Sinuses
Nasal cavity
External nose
Opening of the auditory tube
Nostril
Pharynx
Mouth
Tongue
Epiglottis
Glottis

Larynx
Trachea

Esophagus
 Upper Respiratory Tract
• The major passages and structures of the
upper respiratory tract include the nose or
nostrils (nares), sinuses (frontal & sphenoid),
nasal cavity (contains the conchae), mouth,
throat (pharynx), glottis, epiglottis and voice
box (larynx)
• The respiratory system is lined with a mucous
membrane that secretes mucus
 Nose – external (visible part) and internal (nasal cavity)
Forms Functions
External nose consists of The nose and nasal cavity form the main external
cartilage and two nasal bones opening for the respiratory system and are the
behind the cartilage; varies in first section of the body's airway that allow air to
size and shape. move air in and out of the body.
Nose is the entry point of air. Nostrils contains
Divided into two chambers by receptors for the sense of smell also nose hair
the nasal septum. that help filter inhaled air and screens foreign
Contain the nostrils or nares particles.
Internal nose (nasal cavity) There are paranasal sinuses in the nasal cochlea
lined with moist, mucus Nasal cavity is well supplied with blood vessels to
producing, epithelial tissues warms inhaled (incoming) air; epithelial tissue
that are covered with cilia (tiny produces mucus and with aid of cilia traps dust,
hair-like projections) pathogens and other particles which the cilia
moves to the back of the nasal cavity and
http://adrenalfatiguesolution.com/anatomy-of-the-
respiratory-system/
pharynx. Provides resonating chamber that give
voice its characteristic tone
 Sinuses, Mouth & Tongue, Pharynx (throat)
Air spaces inside the Produce mucus that traps foreign particles.
skull; lined with tissue Sinuses drain into the nasal cavity. Tear ducts from
that secretes mucus the eyes also drain into the nasal cavity
Bony chamber with Larger space for air – does not contain the warming
the muscular tongue; and filtering mechanism of the nose and nostril,
connected to the hence don’t breath through your mouth except in
pharynx yawning.
Space behind the Connects the mouth and the nasal cavity to the
tonsil. larynx. Upper pharynx (from nasal cavity to roof of
mouth) has the two auditory tubes (Eustachian
tubes that drains the middle ear and used to
equalize air pressure between the middle ear and
outside air) open into it.
Lower pharynx is the common passage for food,
liquids (to the esophagus) and air (to the trachea).
 Larynx (Voice box)
Extend 2 inches below 1. Keeps the airway open
the pharynx. The larynx 2. Route food, liquid and air
contains the Epiglottis 3. Assist in production of sound
and the vocal cords. Epiglottis (a flap of tissue) tips and closes the Glottis (space
below the Pharynx) during swallowing to direct food and liquids
Epiglottis is the flexible to the Esophagus; hence it is difficult to talk while swallowing.
flap of cartilage located Remains open when air is flowing through to the Larynx.
at the opening of the Vocal cord produces sound by vibration like a string instrument; it
Larynx is controlled by skeletal muscle.
Vocal cord relaxes when you are not talking. They stretch across
Vocal cord consists of the tracheal opening and vibrate as air passes through them
two folds of connective when you start talking
tissue that surrounds
the opening of the
airway (Glottis) - they
are supported by
ligaments and enclosed
within the Adam’s
apple (a cartilaginous
www.buzzle.com/articles/organs-of-the-respiratory-system.html
structure) http://www.buzzle.com/articles/organs-of-the-respiratory-system.html
 Components of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Epiglottis

Vocal
Larynx Closed
Cords
glottis

Opening
into larynx
Upper (glottis
trachea open)
Position of the vocal cords Position of the vocal cords
during quiet breathing during sound production

Structure associated with sound production

 Components of the Lower Respiratory Tract
Larynx
Trachea
Alveoli Pleural cavity

Pleural membrane
Thoracic lining thoracic cavity
cavity
Pleural membrane
attached to the surface of
the lungs
Three
lobes of Rib
the right
lung Two lobes of
the left lung

Muscle
Bronchi

Bronchioles Cardiac cavity (Note the notch on

Diaphragm the left lung; space for the HEART)
 Respiratory Organs & their Functions
Consist of a series of Transport air to the lungs. The cartilage keeps the trachea open
flexible C-shaped at all times and allows the trachea to change diameter slightly
incomplete rings of when you cough or breathe heavily.
cartilage held together by Inner surface is lined with cilia-covered epithelial tissue that
connective tissue and secretes mucus. The mucus traps foreign particles and the cilia
smooth muscle. The inside move the particles upward, away from the lungs. When foreign
is lined by epithelial tissue particle blocks the trachea, choking results and death can
happen within minutes

www.buzzle.com/articles/organs-of-the- www.buzzle.com/articles/organs-of-the-respiratory-system.html
respiratory-system.html
 Respiratory Organs & their Functions
Bronchi walls contain fibrous Bronchi and bronchioles transport air. In addition, they clean the air,
connective tissue and smooth warm it up to body temperature and moisturize/humidify (saturate the
muscle reinforced with air with water vapor) before the air reaches the delicate gas-exchange
cartilage lined with ciliated and surfaces of the lungs.
mucus secreting epithelial The thin, watery mucus produced by the epithelial cells of the bronchi
cells. As the bronchi become and bronchioles traps dust, bacteria and other smaller particles and the
smaller and smaller the cilia of these cells move in a wave-like motion to move the
amount of cartilage accumulated mucus and trapped particles upward to the pharynx to be
diminishes. The bronchioles swallowed or coughed out.
(air ways) lack cartilage. The
smaller bronchioles are 1 mm
or less in are mainly a thin
layer of smooth muscles
surrounded by small amount
of elastic connective tissue.
Smaller bronchioles terminate
in the alveoli (air sacs) inside
the lungs

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/organs-of-the-respiratory-system.html
 Basic Structures – Lower Respiratory Tract
Pleural cavity – Pulmonary pleural
is a thin space (parietal) membrane lining
filled with a thoracic cavity
clear fluid Rib
Trachea
Muscle

Thoracic cavity Pulmonary pleural

membrane (visceral)
Three
attached to the lung
lobes of
the right Two lobes of
lung the left lung

Diaphragm
Heart (enclosed in pericardium
in the cardiac cavity)
 Lower Respiratory Organs & their Functions
The Right and Left Lungs are very soft and frothy organs The lungs are a system of branching
consisting of supportive tissues enclosing the bronchi, airways. They are soft and frothy organs
bronchioles, blood vessels, and areas of gas exchange. containing three million air-filled sacs
Both right and left lungs occupy the chest (thoracic) cavity. called alveoli (singular: alveolus). Main
The two lungs are separated from each other by the heart. function of the lungs is gas exchange.
Right lung has three lobes and left lung has two lobes and
partially surrounds the heart (cardiac notch). Each lobe can Lungs do not have skeletal muscles to
function independently of each other. move them. The lungs expand passively as
Shape of the lungs follows the contour of the rib cage and the surrounding bones and muscles
the chest cavity with the base shaped to fit against the expand the size of the chest cavity.
convex surface of the diaphragm.
Each lung is enclosed in two layers of thin epithelial
membranes called the Pleural membranes. One part of the
pleural membrane lines the surface of the lungs and the
other lines the surface of the thoracic cavity. The two
linings are separated by a small space called the pleural
cavity and contain a small amount of watery fluid. The
fluid reduces friction in the pleural membranes as the
lungs and chest walls move during breathing

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/organs-of-the-respiratory-
system.html
Basic Structures – Inside Trachea & Bronchi

Healthy airway Smoker’s airway

Alveoli - arranged in clusters at the
end of every bronchiole like grape
clusters.
A single alveolus is a thin bubble of
living squamous epithelial cell only
one cell layer thick.
Each alveolus contains epithelial cells
that secrete surfactant (a lipoprotein)
that coats the inside of the alveoli and
reduce surface tension – the attraction
of water molecules to each other.
Without surfactant, hydrostatic forces
of surface tension can collapse the
alveoli
https://naturalscience2.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/alve
oli.jpg
The combine surface area of all the alveoli in the lungs covers
nearly 800 square feet, approx., 40 times the surface of the
skin. This large surface area and the thinness of the squamous
epithelial cell facilitate gas exchange with nearby pulmonary
capillaries.
In the pulmonary capillaries (arterioles and venules) carry
blood into close contact with air in the alveoli. Only two living
cells membranes (one that makes up the alveoli and one that
makes up the capillaries) separate blood and air.
A series of arteries and arterioles terminating in the
pulmonary capillaries bring deoxygenated blood in contact
with the alveoli and venules and veins of the pulmonary
capillaries collect oxygenated blood from the alveoli and
return it to the heart
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/organs-of-the-respiratory-system.html
 Basic Structures - Alveoli
Small pulmonary vein Capillary
Blood flow Air in Alveolus

Bronchiole

Small pulmonary artery

Epithelial cell of alveolus

Bronchioles end in clusters of alveoli, each surrounded Pulmonary venule

by capillaries

Pulmonary arteriole

Capillary network on
surface of alveolus
Surface of alveoli covered with capillaries

Gas exchange between the blood and alveoli

 Associated Organs of Respiration & their Functions
Intercostal Intercostal muscles Receives nerve impulse from the
muscles and consist skeletal muscle respiratory center of the medulla oblongata
bones of the attached to the bones to contract or relax. Contracting moves the
rib cage of the ribs ribs upward and outward during inhalation
(inspiration) and relaxing moves the ribs
downward and inward (back to position)
during exhalation (expiration)

http://christineshipjoint.blogspot.co.za/2
014/11/intercostals.html
http://christineshipjoint.blogspot.co.za/2014/11/intercostals.html
Pulmonary Circulation – Cardiovascular System
 Associated Organs of Respiration & their Functions
The Diaphragm Receives nerve impulse from the respiratory center of the medulla
A broad sheet of oblongata to contract or relax. When diaphragm contracts, it
skeletal muscle that flattens and pulls its center downward; this increases the volume
separates the of the pleural space causes the pressure in the lungs to reduce
thoracic cavity from compare to outside air (atmosphere), air rushes into the lungs
the abdominal cavity. (inhalation or inspiration). When the diaphragm relaxes and
It is dome-shaped returns to its dome shape, the volume of pleural cavity becomes
when relaxed smaller, the pressure in the lungs increase higher than the outside
air (atmosphere) and air flows out of the lungs (exhalation or
expiration)

https://www.mada.org.il/en/about/engineer/challenge/respiratory-system
 Associated Organs of Respiration & their Functions
Neurons in the respiratory The NS regulates the rate and depth of breathing in order
center (group of nerve to maintain homeostasis of the concentration of CO2, H+
cells) in the pons and and O2.
medulla oblongata

http://www.emptynosesyndrome.org/respirator
y-system/control-of-respiration/

https://naturalscience2.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/regulation-of-breathing.jpg
 Mechanism of Respiration - Four Processes (revisit)
• Breathing (Ventilation)
– Air moving into (inhale) & out (exhale) of the lungs
• What muscles & cartilages are responsible?
• Is the brain involved?
• External Respiration
– Gas exchange between inhaled air and the blood
• Where does this take place?
• Internal Respiration
– Gas exchange between blood & tissue fluid
• Where does this take place?
• Cellular Respiration
– Use of oxygen within the cells to produce ATP &
generating carbon dioxide as waste product
 Mechanism of Breathing
• Process of breathing involves a pressure gradient
– Getting air in and out of the lungs is cyclic and requires muscular
(skeletal muscles) actions
– Lungs do not have skeletal muscle; hence lungs expand passively
as a result of associated bones, muscles and nerve actions
which expands and contracts the chest cavity and which
changes in pressure gradient to happen
• Understand that (Boyles law):
– Gas pressure is caused by colliding molecules of gas
– When volume of gas in a closed space increases ( ), the pressure
inside the space decreases ( )
– When volume in a closed space decreases ( ), the gas pressure
increases ( )
– Gases flow from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower
pressure
• Because lungs do not have skeletal muscle of their own, the
expansion of contraction of the chest cavity also expands or
contract the lungs
Mechanism of Breathing

Relaxed state
• At rest both the diaphragm
and the intercostal muscles
are relaxed. The relaxed
diaphragm is dome-shaped.
But not for long

https://naturalscience2.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/respiratory-cycle.jpg
Mechanism of Breathing

Inspiration (Inhalation)

• Inspiration (inhalation) begins when the

diaphragm receive signal to contract; by
contracting, it flattens by pulling the
center downward.
• At same time, the intercostal muscles
also contract, pulling the ribs upward
and outward.
• These two actions increase the volume
of the pleural cavity and lowers the
pressure within the pleural space.
• The elastic lungs expand; this
lowers/reduces air pressure inside the
lungs (compared or relative to the
outside (atmospheric pressure) and also
increasing the volume of the lungs.
• So, naturally, air rushes into the lungs

https://naturalscience2.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/respiratory-cycle.jpg
Mechanism of Breathing

Expiration (Exhalation)
• Muscles contraction ends as they
receive impulses from the
respiratory center and they begin
to relax
• Diaphragm returns to its dome-
shape and intercostal muscle relax
returning the rib cage downward
and inward (their resting state)
• Pleural cavity decreases thereby
decreasing the volume of the lungs.
• Decreased volume cause pressure
inside the lungs to increase relative
to outside (atmospheric) pressure
and air obeys Boyles law and flows
out

https://naturalscience2.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/respiratory-cycle.jpg
Mechanisms of Breathing

https://naturalscience2.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/respiratory-cycle.jpg
Regulation of breathing by chemoreceptors
Inadequate breathing - Negative feedback
correction

Increased blood CO2

concentration (Pco2) Decreased
Decreased blood pH
cerebrospinal fluid pH

Central Chemoreceptors

Peripheral chemoreceptors
(aortic and carotid bodies)

Increased breathing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medulla_oblongata

Brain stem respiratory center

Medulla oblongata
Regulation of breathing by chemoreceptors

http://www.slideshare.net/LawrenceJames/regulation-of-respiration