DMI ST EUGENE UNIVERSITY

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

(ANP 120)
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

DR. SIMWINGA
The Respiratory System
• The circulatory system transports oxygen from the
lungs to cells and carries carbon dioxide from the
cells to the lungs.
• It is the function of the respiratory system to
transport gases to and from the circulatory system.
Respiration
• The main function of the respiratory system
is to get oxygen into the body and waste
gases out of the body.
• It is the function of the respiratory system to
transport gases to and from the circulatory
system.
• Respiration is a vital function of all living
organisms.
• Respiration occurs at two different levels:
Respiration
1.The level of the cell.
• In the mitochondria, aerobic respiration
requires oxygen to break down glucose,
releases carbon dioxide, and produces large
amounts of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
• This level of respiration is called internal
respiration or cellular respiration.
The Respiratory System
• Internal Respiration is the exchange of gases
between the blood and the cells of the body.
• Usually by Aerobic Respiration which involves
the use of oxygen to break down glucose in
the cell.
Respiration
2. The level of the organism
• An organism must get oxygen into its cells and
carbon dioxide back out.
• This level of respiration is called external
respiration because the exchange of gases takes
place with the external environment.
• The exchange of gases, oxygen (o2) and carbon
dioxide (co2) between air and blood.
• External respiration involves the respiratory
system.
Respiration
• A respiratory system is a group of organs
working together to bring about the
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with
the environment.
• The oxygen easily diffuses across the cell
membrane.
Respiration
• Carbon dioxide also diffuses across the cell
membrane; thus single-celled organisms do
not need a respiratory system.
• In multicellular organisms, each cell
consumes oxygen and produces carbon
dioxide.
• Large multicellular organism must have a
respiratory system to ensure the effective
exchange of gasses with the atmosphere
quickly and efficiently to survive.
Respiration

• Ventilation: movement of air into and out of the lungs

• External respiration: gas exchange between air in lungs and
blood transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
• Internal respiration: gas exchange between the blood and
tissues
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• The human respiratory system consist of the
nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea,
smaller conducting passageways (bronchi and
bronchioles), and lungs.
• The respiratory system may be divided into the:
1. Upper respiratory tract and
2. Lower respiratory tract.
Functions of the Respiratory System
• Gas exchange: oxygen enters blood and carbon dioxide
leaves
• Regulation of blood pH: altered by changing blood carbon
dioxide levels carbonic acid buffer system
• Sound production: movement of air past vocal folds
• Olfaction(smelling): smell occurs when airborne molecules
drawn into nasal cavity
• Thermoregulation(warming air): heating and cooling of
body
• Protection: against microorganisms by preventing entry and
removing them
Divisions Respiratory System

Upper respiratory tract

- nose, pharynx, larynx and associated structures
- respiratory passages that carry air to the site of gas
exchange
- filters, humidifies and warms air
Lower respiratory tract
- trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, lungs
- site of gas exchange
• composed of:
• respiratory bronchioles
• alveoli
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• Air entering the nose passes into the nasal cavity.
• The nasal cavity is richly supplied with arteries,
veins, and capillaries, which bring nutrients and
water to its cells.
• As air pushes back from the nasal cavity, it enters
the pharynx.
• The pharynx is located in the back of the mouth
and serves as a passageway for both air and
food.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• When food is swallowed, a flap of
cartilage, called the epiglottis, presses
down and covers the opening to the air
passage.
• From the pharynx, the air moves through
the larynx, the upper end of the trachea,
and into the trachea (windpipe), which
leads directly to the lungs.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• These passageways provide a direct
connection between the outside air and
some of the most delicate tissue in the
body.
• These passageways must filter out dust,
dirt, smoke, bacteria, and a variety of
other contaminants found in air.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• The first filtering is done in the nose.
• The nose will do three things to the air we
breathe in:
1. Filter the air.
2. Warm the air.
3. Provide moisture (water vapour or humidity) to
the air.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• As air passes through the nasal cavities it is
warmed and humidified, so that air that
reaches the lungs is warmed and moist.
• The Nasal Airways are lined with Cilia and
kept moist by Mucous secretions.
• The combination of Cilia and Mucous helps to
filter out solid particles from the air and
Warm and Moisten the air.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• This prevents damage to the delicate tissues that
form the Respiratory System.
• The moisture in the nose helps to heat and humidify
the air, Increasing the amount of Water Vapor the
air entering the Lungs contains.
• This helps to keep the air entering the nose from
Drying out the Lungs and other parts of our
Respiratory System.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• When air enters the Respiratory System through the
Mouth, much less filtering is done.
• It is generally better to take in air through the Nose.
• At the top of the Trachea is the larynx (Voice Box or
Adam's Apple).
• Inside, and stretched across the Larynx are two
highly elastic folds of tissue (Ligaments) called the
vocal cords
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• Air rushing through the voice box causes the vocal
cords to vibrate producing sound waves.
• From the Larynx, the Warmed, Filtered, and
Moistened air passes downward into the Thoracic
Cavity through the Trachea.
• The Walls of the Trachea are made up of C-Shaped
rings of tough flexible Cartilage.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• These rings of cartilage Protect the Trachea, make it
Flexible, and keep it from Collapsing or over
expanding.
• The Cells that line the trachea produce Mucus.
• The mucus helps to capture things still in the air
(Dust and Microorganisms), and is swept out of the
air passageway by tiny Cilia into the oesophagus of
the Digestive System.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• Within the Thoracic Cavity, the Trachea divides into
two Branches, the right and left bronchi.
• Each bronchus enters the lung on its respective
side.
• Right bronchus is more vertical than left bronchus
• The Right Lung has three Divisions or Lobes, and is
slightly larger than the two Lobed Left Lung.
 The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• The Lungs are inside the Thoracic Cavity, bounded by
the Rib Cage and Diaphragm.
• Lining the entire cavity and encasing the Lungs are
pleura membranes that secrete a Mucus that
decreases friction from the movement of the Lungs
during Breathing.
• The further branching of the bronchial tubes is often
called the bronchial tree.
The Bronchial tree
The Bronchial tree
◦ Upper respiratory tract is for
all intensive purposes a
single large conductive tube
◦ The lower respiratory tract
starts after the larynx and
divides again and again…
and again to eventually get
to the smallest regions which
form the exchange
membranes
 Trachea
conductive portion
 Primary bronchi
 Secondary bronchi
 Tertiary bronchi
 Bronchioles
 Terminal bronchioles exchange portion
 Respiratory bronchioles with
start of alveoli outpouches
 Alveolar ducts with
Bronchioles
• Both Bronchi and Bronchioles contain Smooth
Muscle Tissue in their walls.
• This muscle tissue controls the size of the Air
Passage.
• The Bronchioles continue to subdivide until they
finally end in Clusters of tiny hallow air sacs called
alveoli.
• Groups of alveoli look like bunches of grapes.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• All exchange of gases in the lungs occurs in the
alveoli.
• The alveoli consist of thin, flexible membranes that
contain an extensive network of capillaries.
• Gases are exchanged between the alveoli and the
the blood through the capillaries.
The passage of air and the
respiratory structures
• The functional unit of the lungs is the alveoli.
• It is here that the circulatory and respiratory
systems come together, for the purpose of gas
exchange.
• All exchange of gases in the lungs occurs in the
alveoli.
• Each lung contains nearly 300 million alveoli and
has a total surface area about 40 times the surface
area of your skin.
STRUCTURE OF THE
ALVEOLI
• Two cell types form the alveolar wall. The
predominant cell is an alveolar type I cell.
This simple squamous epithelial cell promotes
rapid gas diffusion across the alveolar wall.
• Then there is alveolar type II cell, is part of a
smaller population of cells within the alveolar wall
which secrete pulmonary surfactant.
• Surfactant is a fluid composed of lipids and
proteins that coats the inner alveolar surface to
reduce surface tension, prevent the collapse of
the alveoli and promotes lung compliance.
• There are also Alveolar Macrophages for immune function.
Mechanism of breathing
• Breathing is the entrance and exit of air into and
from the lungs.
• Ventilation is the term for the movement of air
to and from the alveoli.
• Every single time you take a breath, or move air
in and out of your lungs, two major actions take
place.
1. Inhalation
• Also called inspiration, air is pulled into the
lungs.
Mechanism of breathing
2. Exhalation
• Also called expiration, air is pushed out of the
lungs.
• These two actions deliver oxygen to the alveoli,
and remove carbon dioxide.
• The continuous cycles of inhalation and
exhalation are known as breathing.
• Most of us breathe 10 to 15 times per minute.
Mechanism of breathing
• Inhalation and exhalation are actually produced
by movements of the large flat muscle called the
diaphragm and the intercostal (between the ribs)
muscles.
• The diaphragm is located along the bottom of
the rib cage and separates the thoracic cavity
from the abdominal cavity.
Mechanism of breathing
• Before inhalation the diaphragm is curved
upward into the chest.
• During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and
moves down, causing the volume of the thoracic
cavity to increase.
• When the diaphragm moves down, the volume
of the thoracic cavity increases and the air
pressure inside it decreases.
Mechanism of breathing
Mechanism of breathing

• The air outside is still at atmospheric pressure,

to equalize the pressure inside and out, the air
rushes through the trachea into the lungs -
inhaled.
• When the diaphragm relaxes, it returns to its
curved position.
• This action causes the volume of air in the
thoracic cavity to decrease.
Mechanism of breathing

Muscles of Inspiration
• Primary inspiratory muscles are the diaphragm
and external intercostal muscles.
• These contract during inspiration.

Expiratory Muscles
• Primary expiratory muscles are the internal
intercostal
muscles.
• They contract during expiration.
Lung Volumes and Capacities

• Lung volumes and capacities are

measurements used to assess lung function
and understanding both normal respiratory
physiology and respiratory disorders.
Lung Volumes

There are four primary lung volumes.

1. Tidal Volume (TV):The amount of air inhaled
or exhaled during a normal, relaxed breath.
Average: ~500 mL in adults.
2. Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV):The
additional amount of air that can be inhaled with
maximum effort after a normal inspiration.
Average: ~3,000 mL in adults.
Lung Volumes

3. Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV):The additional

amount of air that can be exhaled with maximum
effort after a normal expiration.
• Average: ~1,100 mL in adults.
4. Residual Volume (RV):The amount of air remaining
in the lungs after a maximal exhalation, which
prevents lung collapse and maintains gas exchange.
• Average: ~1,200 mL in adults.
• This volume cannot be measured directly by
spirometry
Lung Capacities

Lung capacities are combinations of two or more lung volumes.

• There are four primary lung capacities:
1. inspiratory Capacity (IC):The maximum amount of air that can
be inspired after a normal expiration.
• Formula: IC = TV + IRV
• Average: ~3,500 mL.
2. Functional Residual Capacity (FRC):The amount of air
remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration.
• This volume allows continuous gas exchange between breaths.
• Formula: FRC = ERV + RV
• Average: ~2,300 mL.
Lung Capacities

3. Vital Capacity (VC):The total amount of air that can

be exhaled after a maximal inhalation.
• It reflects the maximal functioning capacity of the
lungs.
• Formula: VC = TV + IRV + ERV
• Average: ~4,600 mL.
4. Total Lung Capacity (TLC):The maximum amount of
air the lungs can hold after a maximum inspiration.
• Formula: TLC = TV + IRV + ERV + RV
• Average: ~5,800 mL.
Common respiratory conditions

• Pneumonia
• COPD
• Tuberculosis
• Covid-19
• Asthma
END