The Respiratory System

Breathing
 is the process that delivers oxygen to where it is needed in the body and removes carbon dioxide.
 All animals need oxygen to live. Land animals get oxygen from the air. We breathe in to allow oxygen to move into our
bloodstream and we breathe out to remove carbon dioxide from our blood. The oxygen is carried in the blood to all cells of
the body. And did you know that the air we breathe out has 100 times more carbon dioxide than the oxygen we breathe in.
And what organ is in charge when it comes to breathing?
 If you guessed your lungs, you are right. Your lungs make up one of the largest organs in your body, and they work in your
respiratory system to allow you to breathe.
 Air flows into your body through the nose or mouth and enters a specific pathway for air. These pathways carry air into our
lungs. Then these split off where they become smaller and smaller. In the end, the pathways are attached to small air sacs
where the exchange of oxygen from the air for carbon dioxide occurs.
Parts and Its Functions
The human respiratory system is composed of the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. It is liable for the
method of respiration that's vital to the survival of living beings.

Nose and Mouth (Nasal Cavity- the organ through which the air enters and is filtered)
 The nose is what we normally use to inhale and exhale. It has two holes called nostrils through which air passes. The skin
lining both nostrils is embedded with tiny hairs called cilia, which act like a filter to catch dust and other small particles in
the air we breathe.
 The mouth is what we use to breathe when we need more air than what can be taken in through the nostrils, as when we
pant or puff when we are exhausted.
Pharynx and Larynx
 The pharynx is the opening just behind the nose and mouth and is part of both the respiratory and digestive systems. Both
food and air pass through the pharynx; it is lined with tissues called tonsils which can partially obstruct the passage of either
of the two. Like when swallowing, respiration is interrupted. The pharynx ends in the esophagus and the larynx.
 The larynx is also known as the "voice box" because it houses the vocal chords and the different muscles used in producing
sounds. The epiglottis, a cartilage found at the top of the larynx, aids in closing it tightly to prevent the passage of food or
liquids.
Trachea and Bronchi
 The trachea, also referred to as the windpipe, is a tube through which respiratory gas transport takes place. It is lined with
ciliated cells to push particles out, and cartilage rings to guard it against pressure when breathing.
 The end of the trachea is split into two tubes called the bronchi, which also have several thin-walled branches called
bronchioles (the finer subdivisions of bronchi; hair like tubes that connect to alveoli). These bronchioles lead to air sacs
called alveoli, where most of the gas exchange happens.
Lungs
 The lungs are the most essential organ for respiration. They consist of a cluster of bronchioles and alveoli, blood vessels,
and elastic tissue. Their main function is to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream, and to excrete carbon dioxide into the air.
Diaphragm
 muscular wall below the rib cage that contracts when we exhale.

Gas Exchange in Humans

Ventilation- is the process of drawing air in and out of the lungs. It involves changes in pressure and volume in the chest cavity.
Mechanism of Breathing
Inhalation (inspiration) and exhalation (expiration) are the processes by which the body takes in oxygen and expels carbon
dioxide during breathing. You breathe with the help of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles between your ribs. The diaphragm
is shaped like a parachute and located below your lungs. It divides the chest cavity from the abdomen, while intercostal muscles are
located between your ribs.
● Breathing in (Inhalation)
- When you breathe in (inhale), your diaphragm contracts (tightens) and moves downward. In this way, it could provide a bigger
space for your lungs to expand in the chest cavity.
- Also, the intercostal muscles help widen the area in the chest cavity. They contract to pull your rib cage both upward and outward
when you breathe.

As your lungs expand, air enters the nose and mouth, traveling towards your windpipe and into your lungs.
● Breathing out (Exhalation)
When you breathe out (exhale), your diaphragm relaxes and moves upward into the chest cavity.

The intercostal muscles also relax to decrease the area in the chest cavity. As the space in the chest cavity reduced, carbon dioxide is
pushed out of your lungs and windpipe, and then out of your nose or mouth.
Artificial ventilator is a device or machine that move air with extra oxygen into or out of the lungs. This can help people to breathe
who cannot breathe by themselves due to general anaesthetic, lung injury, or other diseases.

Lung Capacity
- is the total amount of air that the lungs can hold. The normal value range for an adult is approximately 5000ml to 6000ml.
As we age, our lung capacity and lung function decrease gradually.

Healthy Respiratory System

The government health warning on cigarette packs informs the public of the health dangers that accompanies smoking. Even non-
smokers can develop diseases brought by smooky environment.
Tobacco smoke chemicals Properties of Chemical Effects on the body
Tar Contains cancer causing chemicals; Coat air sacs which slow down the gas
Paralyzes the air passages exchange; dust particles trapped in the mucus
lining cannot be removed.
Nicotine Addictive drug; Makes blood clot rapidly; Heartbeat and pressure increase; Blood clots
Causes the release of hormone adrenaline. easily in blood vessels.
Carbon monoxide Minimizes oxygen transport; Increases the May cause death if concentration is increased
amount of fatty deposits on the arterial by 1%; Increased risk of blood clotting in the
wall. arteries; Increased risk of Atherosclerosis.
Carcinogens and other irritants Cancer causing chemicals; Paralyzes the Increased risk of chronic bronchitis and
(acrolein, hydrogen cyanide, lining of the air passages. emphysema; Cancer in the lungs, throat, and
formaldehyde) other parts of the respiratory tract.

Studies have shown that the risk of having lung cancer depends on how often a person smokes. Non-smokers can also develop effects
of smoking by being in a smoky atmosphere.
Number of Risk of lung cancer vs. Non-
Cigarette sticks smokers
5 sticks 5% greater
10 sticks 10% greater
20 sticks 20% greater
30 sticks 30% greater
40 sticks 40% greater

Seven of the most common respiratory diseases are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer,
tuberculosis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes breathing problems when the airways become narrowed by inflammation or
blocked by mucus. The condition’s severity varies from person to person, but most people take daily preventive medication to control
their symptoms and prevent flare-ups.1
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe two primary types of obstructive lung disease
that used to be classified separately: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.3
 Emphysema lead to a lack of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia) and a buildup of toxic waste products. Smoking is a leading
contributor to emphysema, but exposure to other pollutants and chemicals can also cause it. Age and obesity are also risk
factors for emphysema.
 Chronic bronchitis is a condition where the lining of the bronchial tubes becomes irritated and inflamed. The swelling can
make it more difficult to breathe and cause an overproduction of mucus.
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, ranking third in the United States with more than 218,000 people
affected.9 It can develop as either small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer. The latter is the more common of the two.
Cigarette smoking—both direct and secondhand—is one of the biggest risk factors for lung cancer.

Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a bacterial lung disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. More than 1.8 billion people around the world have
tuberculosis, but the disease is only considered active in 10 million of them.
People with strong immune systems sometimes carry an inactive form of the disease, called latent tuberculosis. In people with
weaker immune systems, the bacteria attacks lung tissue. It can also spread and cause damage to other parts of the body. 12
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a generic diagnosis. Even though there are different types of pneumonia, the way that the condition affects the lungs is
similar in each one.