RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

- To supply every cell in our bodies with one Process:

particular component of the atmosphere, Nose
Oxygen.
- Our cells need Oxygen to perform cellular - Starting with the nose, the air enters the
respiration, which generates the energy we nostrils.
use to think and move around. - The dividing partition between the nostrils is
the nasal septum, which forms two nasal
How do respiratory system work? cavities.
- The major function of respiratory system is to - Each cavity is divided into 3 air passages:
supply the body with oxygen, and it also the superior, middle, and inferior conchae.
collect carbon dioxide, a byproduct of cellular They are separated by Nasal Meatuses -
respiration, and remove it from the body filter, heat, and moisten air.
when we exhale. (GAS EXCHANGE) - Nasal Vestibule: with hairs for filtering.

Hemoglobin: blood that carries oxygen. Nasal Cavity: the palate separates nasal cavity
from oral cavity.
How does Oxygen make it to the bloodstream? • Two Sections:
- Pulmonary Ventilation (breathing) – the - Hard Palate (bony)
way oxygen enters the lungs from the - Soft Palate (muscular)
surroundings. : It is separated by paranasal sinuses (frontal
- External Respiration – the way oxygen gets sinus and sphenoidal sinus) – produces mucus
from the lungs to the blood and how carbon that flows into the nasal cavity.
dioxide gets from the blood to the lungs. : The nose has 5 functions:
• It serves as an air passageway.
The Respiratory System • It warms and moistens inhaled air.
• Its cilia and mucous membrane trap dust,
pollen, bacteria, and foreign matter.
• It contains olfactory receptors, which
smell odors.
• It aids in phonation and the quality of
voice.
: The conchae passages lead to the passageway
called the pharynx. Here, the ear is connected to
the sinuses, the ears through the eustachian
tubes, and even the eyes through the
nasolacrimal ducts.

Pharynx “Throat”
The nose, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses,
- It connects nasal cavity and mouth to larynx.
trachea, larynx, bronchi, and lungs (with alveoli)
It is a muscular and membranous tube that is
belong to one of two zones of the respiratory
about 5 inches long, extending downward
system which is the RESPIRATORY ZONE.
from the base of the skull. It eventually
Respiratory Zone – where gas is exchanged in continues down to the esophagus (for food).
lungs. • Three Regions:
- Nasopharynx – behind the nose.
Conducting Zone – where air goes in and out of
- Oropharynx – behind the mouth.
the lungs.
- Laryngopharynx – behind the larynx.
 Alveoli: where gas exchange takes place.
The pharynx has 3 functions: These structures have very thin walls made
1. serves as a passageway for air. of single layer of squamous epithelial cell
2. serves as a passageway for food. which is what allows for the diffusion of
3. aids in phonation by changing its gasses, and they are covered by a cobweb
shape. of pulmonary capillaries (small vessels), so
But as far as the air goes, it continues to Larynx. blood vessels are right up against the alveoli,
ready to make a trade. The air in the sacs has
Larynx “Voice Box” plenty of oxygen and blood doesn’t, so
- This provides and air way and serves as a diffusion occurs spontaneously, and the
site for voice production. blood have many amounts of carbon dioxide,
- It is comprised of variety of cartilages: and that will diffuse in opposite directions, so
epiglottis, hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage, that it can be exhaled.
cricoid cartilage, trachea.
- Short, tense vocal cords produce high Pulmonary Arteries: carries deoxygenated
notes; long relaxed vocal cords produce blood.
low notes. Pulmonary Veins: carries oxygenated
blood.
Epiglottis: stays open for air flow but when
swallowing, it will cover up the laryngeal inlet Lungs
so that we don’t end up breathing our food. - Houses all internal structures.
o Vestibular Fold (false vocal cord) - Located in the thoracic cavity.
o Vocal Fold (true vocal cord) o These cone-shaped organs occupy
o Trachea most of thoracic cavity, and they are
o Corniculate Cartilage surrounded by visceral pleura and
Thyroid Cartilage or Adam’s Apple: is parietal pleura while in contact with
usually larger in the male, allowing longer the ribs from apex down to the base.
vocal cords and contributing to a deeper o Right Lung – two fissures and three
male voice. lobes.
o Left Lung – one fissure and two
Trachea “Windpipe” lobes.
- It descends and divides into two primary o The left lung has an indentation
bronchi (left and right). Each primary called the cardiac depression or
bronchi will divide into lobar or secondary notch… for placement of the heart.
bronchi, which in turn branch into segmental Hilum: where blood vessels and nerves enter pr
or tertiary bronchi. It continues until it gets to exit the lungs.
passageways less than a millimeter in Cardiac Notch: accommodates the heart.
diameter called bronchioles. Stroma: lung tissue, which is made of elastic
- As these tubes get smaller, the epithelium connective tissue.
gets thinner, the amount of cartilage
decreases, and smooth muscle increases. Within the lungs, there is:
- This ends at the terminal bronchioles, Intrapulmonary Pressure – a pressure in the
which feed into the respiratory bronchioles, alveoli
and this marks the boundary between Intrapleural Pressure – pressure in the pleural
conducting zone and respiratory zone. cavity that sits between the two pleurae. It is
negative which keeps the lungs open.
Bronchioles: have structures that protrude Ventilation – breathing. It is the result of the
called “alveoli”, which are collected in gape- activity of inspiratory muscles, namely the
like structure called alveolar sacs. diaphragm and intercostal muscles, which
 produces a change in volume, thereby a change
in pressure, allowing air to enter along the
pressure gradient. As they relax, expiration
occurs. In between, oxygen diffuses and binds to
hemoglobin present in the blood, so that it can
be transported to tissues all around the body.
• Inspiration/Inhalation (inhale, breathe
in) – thoracic cavity expands, intercostal
muscles contract, and diaphragm
contracts.
• Expiration/Exhalation (exhale, breathe
out) – thoracic cavity reduces, intercostal
muscles relax.
• Tidal volume refers to the amount of air
inhaled or exhaled during normal
breathing… about 500 ml.
• Pathogens, white cells and immune
proteins present during an infection may
cause the air sacs to become inflamed
and filled with fluid.
• This is characteristic of pneumonia. If
both lungs are involved, it is termed as
double pneumonia. If someone is
unconscious, it’s possible to aspirate
stomach contents into the lungs, causing
aspiration pneumonia.

Additional Infos:
The respiratory system is comprising of two parts:
Upper Respiratory Tract and Lower Respiratory
Tract.
• Upper - nose or nostrils, nasal cavity, mouth,
throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx).
• Lower - trachea (windpipe), bronchial tubes
(left and right), alveoli, bronchioles and
lungs.

Normal Respiration – 12-20 breaths per minute

(adult). Newborns 30-60 breaths per minute. For 5 5
years old, 20-25 breaths per minute.
DOB – Difficulty of Breathing
• Bradypnea – refers to abnormal slow
breathing (respiratory) rate.
• Tachypnea – refers to an elevated/fast
breathing rate in which the breathing is
shallow.
• Apnea – when you stop breathing while
asleep or have almost no airflow.