Anatomy of Respiratory System

Respiratory System
By
Dr Nahed Kandeel
Survival
• Oxygen is required by cells in the body

to allow various metabolic reactions to
take place and to produce energy, and
is therefore essential to life.
Respiratory System
• The primary function of the respiratory

system is to allow oxygen from the air
to enter the blood and carbon dioxide
from the blood to exit into the air.
Function of Respiratory System
• Breathing: the entrance and exit of air into

and out of lungs.
• External respiration: the exchange of
gases between air and blood.
• Internal respiration: the exchange of
gases between blood and tissue fluid.
Structure of Respiratory System
Upper Respiratory Tract Lower Respiratory

Tract
• Nasal cavity • Trachea
• Pharynx • Bronchi
• Larynx • Bronchioles
• Lungs
The Nose
• The only external portion of the respiratory system.
• Air enters the nose through external openings
called nostrils.
• The nose contains two nasal cavities, which are
narrow canals separated by a septum composed of
bones and cartilages.
• Filter, warm, and moisten the air before it is brought
further into the body.
• It is this part of the body that houses our sense of
smell.
The Pharynx (throat)
• The pharynx is a funnel-shaped passageway
that connects the nasal and oral cavities to the
larynx.
• It has three parts:

• Nasopharynx
• Oropharynx
• Laryngopharynx
• It carries foods and liquids into the digestive

tract and also carries air into the respiratory
tract.
The Larynx
• The larynx is a cartilaginous structure that
serves as a passageway for air between the
pharynx and the trachea.
• The larynx is called the voice box because it

houses the vocal cords. It is responsible for
sound production.
• When food is swallowed, the larynx moves

upward against the epiglottis, a flap of tissue
that prevents food from passing to the larynx.
The Trachea
• The trachea, commonly called the windpipe,
is a tube connecting the larynx to the primary
bronchi (10-12 cm in length).
• It is the passage of air to bronchi.
• The trachea is held open by C-shaped
cartilaginous rings.
• The cilia that project from the epithelium keep
the lungs clean by sweeping mucus,
produced by goblet cells, and debris toward
the pharynx.
The Bronchial Tree
• The trachea divides into right and left primary
bronchi (sing.bronchus), which enter into
right and left lungs.
• The bronchi is the passage of air to lungs.
• The bronchi branch into a great number of

secondary bronchi that eventually lead to
bronchioles.
• The bronchial tubes divide and subdivide,

their walls become thinner, and the small
rings of cartilage are no longer present.
The Bronchial Tree
• At the end of all the bronchioles are the
alveoli, the microscopic air sacs that serve as
the exchange system of the lungs.
• Bronchioles are the passage of air to each

alveoli…
The Bronchial Tree
The right bronchus The left bronchus
• is a wider, shorter tube • is about 5 cm long and is

(2.5cm) than the left narrower than the right.
bronchus.
• it divides into two branches,
• it lies in a more vertical one of which goes to each
position. lobe.
• it divides into three branches • each branch subdivides into
one of which passes to each progressively smaller tubes
lobe. within the lung substance.
• Each branch then subdivides • Each branch then subdivides

into numerous smaller into numerous smaller
branches. branches.
The Lungs
• The lungs are paired, cone-shaped organs
that occupy the thoracic cavity except for the
mediastinum.
• The mediastinum is a central area that

contains the primary bronchi, the heart, and
other organs.
• The right lung has three lobes, and the left

lung has two lobes allowing room for the
heart whose apex points left.
The Lungs
• Each lung is enclosed by a double layer
of serous membrane called the pleura:
– The visceral pleura (adheres to surface of
the lung).
– The parietal pleura (lines the thoracic
cavity).
• The pleura produces a lubricating
serous fluid that allows its two layers to
slide against one another.
• The main function is gas exchange.
The Lungs
• Each lung has:
– Apex
– Base
– Costal surface
– Mediastinal surface (presents the hilum of
the lung)
• Primary bronchus (P)
• Pulmonary artery (I)
• Two pulmonary veins (A)
– Anterior border
– Posterior border
Differences between Rt and Lt lungs
The right lung The left lung

• Larger, wider & shorter • Smaller, narrower & longer
• The anterior border is • The anterior boarder includes

straight a cardiac notch and projects
below it forming the lingula.
• Has two fissures (oblique &
horizontal) • Has only one fissure (oblique)
• Has three lobs • Has two lobes

The Alveoli
• The alveoli are tiny air sacks that are enveloped
in a network of capillaries.
• With each inhalation, air passes by way of the
bronchial tree to the alveoli.
• Gas exchange occurs between the air in the
alveoli and the blood in the capillaries
surrounding the alveolar sac.
• Oxygen diffuses across the alveolar and
capillary walls to enter the bloodstream, while
carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood across
these walls to enter the alveoli.
The Alveoli
• The alveoli are lined with a surfactant, a
film of lipoprotein that lowers the
surface tension and prevents them from
closing.
lobule
bronchiole
pulmonary
arteriole pulmonary
artery
pulmonary
venule Capillary network of one alveolus
Respiratory Muscles
• Diaphragm
 Is a large, sheet-like muscle.

 It separates the thoracic cavity, and the abdominal
cavity.
• Intercostal muscles
 External
 Internal
 Innermost

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Respiratory System

• Oxygen is required by cells in the body

• The primary function of the respiratory

• Breathing: the entrance and exit of air into

Upper Respiratory Tract Lower Respiratory

• Nasal cavity • Trachea

• It has three parts:

• It carries foods and liquids into the digestive

• The larynx is called the voice box because it

• When food is swallowed, the larynx moves

• The bronchi is the passage of air to lungs.

• The bronchi branch into a great number of

• The bronchial tubes divide and subdivide,

• Bronchioles are the passage of air to each

• is a wider, shorter tube • is about 5 cm long and is

• Each branch then sub­divides • Each branch then sub­divides

• The mediastinum is a central area that

• The right lung has three lobes, and the left

The right lung The left lung

• The anterior border is • The anterior boarder includes

• Has three lobs • Has two lobes

 Is a large, sheet-like muscle.

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• Each branch then subdivides • Each branch then subdivides