Respiratory system in Man (Dr Mais)

 You have read how the blood 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. External respiration is the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and

the blood. Cellular respiration is the way that cells obtain their energy – usually using oxygen to

break down glucose in the cell (aerobic respiration). This Module examines the structures and

mechanisms that carry oxygen to the cells for use in aerobic respiration and that eliminate the

carbon dioxide that is produced as a by-prod uct.

1. The function of the breathing system is to get oxygen into

the body and waste gases out. These are involved in

respiration - a vital function of all living organisms.

2. Respiration occurs at two different levels:

 A. The level of the cell. In the mitochondria of Eukaryotic

cells, aerobic respiration needs O2 to break down glucose.

Thus releasing CO2, water and producing large amounts of

ATP in a process known as cellular respiration.

 B. The level of the organism. An organism must get O2

into its cells and CO2 out. This is known as external

respiration because the exchange of gases takes place with the

external environment. In vertebrates, this involves the gases

entering and leaving the animal’s blood.

3. The breathing, or respiratory, system is a group of organs

working together to bring about the exchange of O2 and CO2

with the external environment.

4. A single-celled organism living in water gets its oxygen

directly from its surroundings by diffusion. The gases can

easily cross the cell membrane by simple diffusion, obeying Fick’s Law

5. Because unicellular and other very small organisms have a large Surface Area/Volume ratio,  

they do not need a respiratory system.

6. In larger, multicellular organisms, each cell consumes oxygen and produces CO2. Such

organisms must have a respiratory system to ensure the effective and efficient exchange of gasses

with their external environment if they are to survive.

THE PASSAGE OF AIR AND THE RESPIRATORY STRUCTURES

1. The human respiratory system

comprises the: nose, nasal cavity,

pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi,

bronchioles, and alveoli (together

forming the lungs).

2. This may be divided into the

upper and lower respiratory tracts.

3. The upper respiratory tract

comprises all structures before the

lungs; the lower respiratory tract

consists of the lungs themselves

and the structures within them.

4. Air enters the body through the

nose or mouth.

5. Air entering the nose passes into

the nasal cavity, which is richly

supplied with arteries, veins, and

capillaries. It is these blood vessels

which swell up when you have a

cold, thus blocking the air

passages.

6. Air passes through the nasal cavity, into the pharynx. The pharynx is the back of the mouth and

serves as a passageway for both air and food. When food is swallowed, a flap of cartilage, called

the epiglottis, presses down and covers the opening to the air passage (ever have food go "Down the wrong way"?).  

7. From the pharynx, the air moves through the larynx and into the trachea, which leads directly into the lungs.  

8. These passageways provide a direct connection between the outside air and some of the most

delicate tissues in the body, and so these passageways must filter out dust, dirt, smoke, bacteria, and

a variety of other contaminants found in air.

9. Preliminary cleaning takes place in the nose, where air is:

 A. Cleaned of large particles (dust, insects)

 B. Warmed

 C. Moistened

before it passes on into the rest of the respiratory system.

10. The trachea, bronchi and bronchioles are lined with cilia and kept moist by mucus secretions.

The combination of cilia and mucus filters out solid particles from the air and warms and moistens the air, preventing damage to the delicate tissues that form the lungs. 

11. The surface of the alveoli must be moist for them to function and so it is important that the air  reaching them is moist to prevent their delicate membranes from drying out.  

12. Similarly, their membranes would be ineffective if allowed to become too cold, so it is important that the air is warmed before it enters the lungs.  

13. When air enters the body through the mouth, the air reaches the lungs in a less satisfactory state, so it is better to breathe through your nose than your mouth.  

14. At the top of the trachea is the larynx (or Adam's Apple). Stretched across the larynx are two highly elastic folds of tissue (ligaments) called the vocal cords. Air rushing through the voice box causes the vocal cords to vibrate producing sound waves. The larynx of a baby is higher in the throat, allowing them to breathe and feed (suckle) at the same time.  

15. From the larynx, the warmed, filtered and moistened air passes downward into the thoracic cavity through the trachea.  

16. The walls of the trachea are made up of C-shaped rings of tough flexible cartilage. These rings of cartilage protect the trachea, make it flexible, and keep it from collapsing or over-expanding. They also allow the oesophagus (which is attached to the back of the trachea) to expand when a bolus of food is swallowed.  

17. The epidermal cells lining the trachea produce mucus which helps to capture things still in the air (fine dust and microbes). This is swept out of the air passageway by tiny ciliary cells, into the throat, where it is swallowed.  

18. Within the thorax, the trachea divides into two branches, the

right and left bronchi - one bronchus entering each lung. Inflammation of these passageways (e.g. by cigarette tar), causes bronchitis. 

19. The lungs are the site of gas exchange between the atmosphere and the blood. The right lung has three lobes, and is slightly larger  than the two-lobed left lung (the extra space is taken up by the  heart).  

20. The lungs are inside the thoracic cavity, surrounded by the rib-cage and diaphragm. Lining the

entire cavity and encasing the lungs are the two pleural membranes. These secrete pleural fluid

that:

a) reduces friction from the movement of the lungs during breathing and

b) attaches the lungs to the inside of the ribs (by surface tension), so allowing them to move with the ribs.  

21. The further branching of the bronchi is often called the bronchial tree. Imagine the trachea as the trunk of an upside-down tree with extensive branches that become smaller and smaller; the bronchioles.  

22. Both bronchi and bronchioles contain smooth muscle in their walls. This muscle tissue controls the size of the air passage.  

23. Asthma occurs when these smooth muscles constrict, narrowing the air passage – ‘Ventolin’ and other inhalers contain a smooth muscle relaxant to relax these muscles and allow air to flow freely again

24. The bronchioles continue to subdivide until they finally end in  clusters of tiny hollow air sacs or alveoli. Groups of alveoli look like bunches of grapes and this is the ONLY site of gas exchange.  

25. The alveoli consist of thin, flexible membranes (epithelium) that contain an extensive network of capillaries, thus providing a large surface area, a short diffusion distance and, by having a good supply  of fresh blood, maximises the concentration difference.  

26. Each lung contains nearly 300 million alveoli and has a total surface area about 40 times the surface area of your skin.

Incase you have questions or you have useful information to share with us.. Contact Dr  Mais on 09036938312 (WhatsApp only)