RESPIRATION -part 1

Respiration is one of the Syllabus

characteristics of living Coverage
things. Respiration is a 2.1 explain the importance
of breathing in humans;
chemical process that occurs
2.2 relate the structures of
in all living cells where the respiratory tract to their
energy is release from food functions; Diagram of
respiratory system
molecules such as sugars and fat. The food molecules are
. 2.3 describe the
absorbed from food during the digestion process in the breathing mechanism; *
Emphasis on principles
digestive system. involved. Demonstrate
using a model.
Aerobic respiration is respiration that involves the use of oxygen gas and
2.4 outline the factors
carbon dioxide gas is produced as a waste products thus needed to be
affecting rate of breathing;
release from the body. Therefore, there need to be exchange of gases. Exercise, smoking, anxiety,
Gaseous exchange occurs in the lungs. drugs, environmental
factors, altitude, weight.
The aerobic respiration equation: (Link to Specific Objective
D5)
Glucose + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + water+ energy
2.5 explain the concept of
vital capacity; Graphical
C6H12O6 + 602 6CO2 + 6H20 + 36 ATP representation required.

Breathing is the movement of air in to and out of the lungs. This 2.6 distinguish between
gaseous exchange and
refreshes the air in your lungs; brings in oxygen and releases carbon breathing; Inclusion of
dioxide. gaseous exchange in the
alveoli; diagram of alveolus
All cells need oxygen to function properly for cellular required.

respiration in the mitochondria of the cells. 2.7 identify characteristics

common to gaseous
exchange surfaces

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 The respiratory System: Structures and their functions

Fig1. Structure of the Respiratory System Tract.

The respiratory system is an organ system which comprises of organs which aids in the process of
respiration. The structure of the respiratory systems includes:
 Nasal cavity: a passage for air both oxygen and carbon dioxide enters and leaves respectively
to and from the body. The nose is a structure of the face made of cartilage, bone, muscle, and
skin that supports and protects the anterior portion of the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity is a
hollow space within the nose and skull that is lined with hairs and mucus membrane. The
function of the nasal cavity is to warm, moisturize, and filter air entering the body before it
reaches the lungs. Hairs and mucus lining the nasal cavity help to trap dust, mold, pollen and
other environmental contaminants before they can reach the inner portions of the body.
 mouth cavity: The mouth, also known as the oral cavity, is the secondary external opening for
the respiratory tract. Most normal breathing takes place through the nasal cavity, but the oral
cavity can be used to supplement or replace the nasal cavity’s functions when needed. Because
the pathway of air entering the body from the mouth is shorter than the pathway for air entering
from the nose, the mouth does not warm and moisturize the air entering the lungs as well as the
nose performs this function. The mouth also lacks the hairs and sticky mucus that filter air
passing through the nasal cavity. The one advantage of breathing through the mouth is that
its shorter distance and larger diameter allows more air to quickly enter the body.

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 Pharynx: the membrane-lined cavity behind the nose and mouth, connecting them to the
oesophagus. Allow for the flow of air from both the nasal (nose) and oral (mouth) cavity into
the larynx.
 Larynx: The larynx is a tough, flexible segment of the respiratory tract connecting the pharynx
to the trachea in the neck. It plays a vital role in the respiratory tract by allowing air to pass
through it while keeping food and drink from blocking the airway using a flap od tissues called
an epiglottis. The larynx is also the body’s “voice box” as it contains the vocal folds that
produce the sounds of speech and singing.
 Trachea: also called the wind pipe is a wide, hollow tube that connects the larynx (or voice
box) to the bronchi of the lungs. It is an integral part of the body’s airway and has the vital
function of providing air flow to and from the lungs for respiration. The trachea has C-
shaped cartilage which prevents the trachea from collapsing with the constant flow of air. The
trachea branch into a pair of bronchi.
 Bronchus (bronchi-plural): At the inferior end of the trachea, the airway splits into left and
right branches known as the primary bronchi. The left and right bronchi run into each lung
before branching off into smaller secondary bronchi. The secondary bronchi carry air into the
lobes of the lungs—2 in the left lung and 3 in the right lung. The secondary bronchi in turn split
into many smaller tertiary bronchi within each lobe. The tertiary bronchi split into many
smaller bronchioles that spread throughout the lungs. Each bronchiole further splits into many
smaller branches less than a millimeter in diameter called terminal bronchioles. Finally, the
millions of tiny terminal bronchioles conduct air to the alveoli of the lungs.
The main function of the bronchi and bronchioles is to carry air from the trachea into the
lungs. Smooth muscle tissue in their walls helps to regulate airflow into the lungs. When greater
volumes of air are required by the body, such as during exercise, the smooth muscle relaxes to
dilate the bronchi and bronchioles. The dilated airway provides less resistance to airflow and
allows more air to pass into and out of the lungs. The smooth muscle fibers can contract during
rest to prevent hyperventilation. The bronchi and bronchioles also use the mucus and cilia of
their epithelial lining to trap and move dust and other contaminants away from the lungs.
 Bronchiole- fine connections that connects the bronchus to the alveolus.

 Alveolus (alveoli -plural): these are air sacs. This is the site of gaseous exchange. These air
sacs are connected to network of blood capillaries for efficient gaseous exchange. Oxygen is
inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream through the thin wall of each alveolus, and carbon
dioxide is passed the other way (from the blood to the lungs) to be exhaled. There are about 300
million alveoli in each lung.

 Blood Capillary: single-celled blood vessel that allow for the exchange for gases transported
in the blood: carbon dioxide transfers from the blood and exhaled and oxygen enter into lungs
is transfer into the blood.
 Diaphragm: The diaphragm is the primary muscle used in the process of inspiration, or
inhalation. It is a dome-shaped sheet of muscle that is inserted into the lower ribs. Lying at the
base of the thorax (chest), it separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity.

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 Pleura: pleura is a smooth membrane folded over itself to create a two-layered membrane with
a space in between known as the pleural cavity, according to Wikipedia. During inhalation and
exhalation, the pleurae easily slide against each other with the aid of the slippery fluid in the
pleural cavity, allowing for optimal functioning of the lungs. The surface tension created by the
pleurae also keep the lungs' surfaces close to the chest wall, allowing the alveoli to take in more
air when breathing.

 Pleural Cavity: The pleural cavity, with its associated pleurae, aids optimal functioning of the
lungs during breathing. The pleural cavity also contains pleural fluid, which acts as a lubricant
and allows the pleurae to slide effortlessly against each other during respiratory movements.

 Rib Cage- protects the lungs from puncturing. Expands and contracts to allow for breathing.

MECHNISM OF BREATHING
The action of breathing in and out is due to changes of pressure within the thorax, in comparison
with the outside. This action is also known as external respiration.
Breathing in
When we inhale the intercostal muscles (between the ribs) and diaphragm contract to expand the
chest cavity. The diaphragm flattens and moves downwards and the intercostal muscles move the
rib cage upwards and out.
This increase in size decreases the internal air pressure and so air from the outside (at a now higher
pressure that inside the thorax) rushes into the lungs to equalize the pressures.
Breathing out
When we exhale the diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax and return to their resting positions.
This reduces the size of the thoracic cavity, thereby increasing the pressure and forcing air out of
the lungs.

Fig 2. Mechanism of Breathing

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 FACTORS AFFECTING RATE OF BREATHING
The rate of breathing is affected by several factors. Breathing can increased and decreased due to
these factors:
Breathing rate increases due to:
 Exercise
 Anxiety
 Excitement
 Moving to high altitudes eg visiting countries like Mexico.
 Increase in weight smoking sitting stuffy places without fresh air.
 Taking stimulants: drugs, steroids, power drinks
Breathing rate decreases due to:
 Sleeping
 Returning to low altitude
 Person with asthma and bronchitis
 Taking depressants
Internal factors that affect breathing rate is the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. High levels
of carbon dioxide concentration in the blood can be toxic. Therefore, the body regulates the CO2
in the blood by having faster breathing to get rid of the CO2 by breathing out.

THE CONCEPT OF VITAL CAPACITY

Vital capacity is the amount of air that the lungs can expel after having been filled completely. The
vital capacity represents the change in volume from completely emptied lungs to completely filled
lungs. A healthy adult will have a vital capacity between 2 and 5 liters. A severely decreased vital
capacity is an indication of restrictive lung disease, in which the lungs cannot expand fully.

Fig 3. Apparatus to measure vital capacity.

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Fig 4. Graph explaining Vital capacity.

TLC Total lung capacity: the volume in the lungs at maximal inflation, the sum of VC and RV.

TV Tidal volume: that volume of air moved into or out of the lungs during quiet breathing (TV indicates a

subdivision of the lung; when tidal volume is precisely measured, as in gas exchange calculation, the

symbol TV or VT is used.)

RV Residual volume: the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation

ERV Expiratory reserve volume: the maximal volume of air that can be exhaled from the end-expiratory position

IRV Inspiratory reserve volume: the maximal volume that can be inhaled from the end-inspiratory level

VC Vital capacity: the volume of air breathed out after the deepest inhalation.

VT Tidal volume: that volume of air moved into or out of the lungs during quiet breathing (VT indicates a

subdivision of the lung; when tidal volume is precisely measured, as in gas exchange calculation, the

symbol TV or VT is used.)

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 GASEOUS EXCHANGE VS BREATHING

Breathing in the intake(inspiration) and the release(exhalation) of air in the body. Breathing is a
process mandatory to facilitate gaseous exchange. Gaseous exchange on the other hand involves
the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide in the alveoli of the lungs.
The alveoli are surrounded by blood vessels which contain blood that transport the gases through
the body. In the alveoli, toxic carbon dioxide is extracted from the plasma of blood to be breathed
out. The oxygen inhaled now is transferred into the red blood cells in the blood in the capillaries.
The oxygen is attached specially to the haemoglobin molecules in the red blood cells which is
special feature of the red blood cells which facilitates the transport oxygen to cells of around the
body.
The gas transfer happen by which transport process? _______________________________
The blood capillaries are one-celled thick therefore the transfer of the gases is faster as there is
a short diffusion distance. Each blood vessel has many capillaries around it.

Fig 5. Gaseous Exchange of

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in
the alveoli of the lungs.

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 COMMON FEATURES OF GASEOUS EXCHANGE SURFACES

Gaseous exchange surfaces are designed so that there is maximized gaseous exchange of gases;
oxygen and carbon dioxide. These features of gaseous exchange surfaces are not limited to humans
but applies to other organism such as gills of fishes the breathing tube of insects and the internal.
Common features include:
 A large surface area for the diffusion of gases
 A moist surface so that gases can dissolve before diffusion of gases from the alveoli to the
blood capillary vice versa.
 Thin walls of both blood capillary and alveoli tissue to allow fast transfer of gases vice
versa.
 A good blood supply that helps to maintain a good concentration gradient to facilitate the
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.