The RESPIRATORY System Unit 9
Respiration The exchange of gases between the atmosphere, blood, and cells Pulmonary Ventilation - the exchange of air between the atmosphere and lungs External (Pulmonary) Respiration - gas exchange between the lungs and blood Internal (Tissue) Respiration - gas exchange between the blood and cells
Functions of the Respiratory System Provides structures and mechanisms for gas exchange Intake of O 2 Elimination of CO 2 Helps maintains body s ph Sense of smell Speech and sound production
Organs of the Respiratory System Nose Pharynx Larynx Trachea Bronchi Lungs
Respiratory System
Respiratory Structures
Nose External Portion Supporting bony framework Cartilage- Skin Mucous membranes Nostrils or external nares Internal Portion - large cavity within the skull Connects the external nose to the pharynx through two openings (Internal Nares)
External Nose Structures
Nose Nasal Cavity - large cavity that contains both the external and internal nose cavities divided into the right and left sides by the NASAL SEPTUM
Internal Nose Structures
Functions of the Nose Warming, moisturizing and filtering incoming air Smell (reception of olfactory stimulus) Resonating chamber for speech
Pharynx Funnel-shaped tube about 13 cm long Extends from the internal nares down to the cricoid cartilage of the larynx Walls composed of skeletal muscle lined with a mucous membrane Divided into three areas Nasopharynx Oropharynx Laryngopharynx
Regions of the Pharynx
Functions of the Pharynx Passageway for food and air Only the oropharynx and laryngopharynx Resonating chamber for speech
Larynx (Voice Box) A short passageway that connects the pharynx with the trachea Walls of the larynx is composed of 9 pieces of cartilage Three single pieces of cartilage epiglottic cartilage (Epiglottis) thyroid cartilage (Adam s Apple) cricoid cartilage (attaches the Larynx to the Trachea) Three paired pieces of cartilage arytenoid - corniculate - cuneiform
Larynx Structures
Structures of the Larynx Epiglottis Glottis Hyoid Bone Thyroid Cartilage Cricoid Cartilage True and False Vocal Cords
Epiglottis Large leaf-shaped piece of cartilage lying on top of the larynx The stem of the epiglottic cartilage is attached to the thyroid cartilage Leaf portion of the cartilage is unattached and acts like a trap door covering the opening to the trachea which is called the glottis. Dependent upon breathing or swallowing
Epiglottis
Glottis The opening from the pharynx to the larynx that contains the vocal cords Vocal Cords - mucous membrane folds that extend across the glottis in two layers upper layer or folds - false vocal folds lower layer or folds - true vocal folds Sounds originate from vibration of these true vocal cords
Glottis and Vocal Cords
Vocal Cords
True Vocal Cords The most inferior of the horizontal folds in the larynx. Contain elastic fiber which vibrate to create sound.
False Vocal Cords The most superior of the folds in the larynx. Help the glottis close during swallowing to prevent food from entering the lower respiratory passages. Vocal Cords--Singing
Hyoid Bone Is located in the neck between the lower jaw and the larynx. It does not articulate with any other bones. It serves as the posterior attachment for the tongue and helps in swallowing.
Thyroid Cartilage The thyroid cartilage is the largest cartilage of the larynx. It give the larynx its characteristic triangular shape. Nicknamed the Adam s Apple because of its enlarged size due to the influence of testosterone.
Cricoid Cartilage The most inferior cartilage of the larynx. Used as a landmark to perform a tracheotomy.
Trachea Tubular passageway about 12 cm long and 2.54 cm in diameter Anterior to the esophagus Extends from the larynx to about the 5th thoracic vertebrae Composed of 16-20 C-shaped cartilage rings stacked upon one another Hyaline cartilage rings Covers the anterior and lateral walls
Trachea and Esophagus
Trachea Non-cartilaginous posterior softer portion of the trachea allows for expansion of the esophagus during swallowing Lined with ciliated epithelium The point where the trachea bifurcates is called the carina About the 5th thoracic vertebrae
Bronchi Tubes that branch off of the trachea at the carina and extend into the lungs Left Primary Bronchus (Left Mainstem Bronchus) Right Primary Bronchus (Right Mainstem Bronchus) Shorter and more vertical Swallowed objects more likely to lodge in the right primary bronchus than the left
Bronchi Also composed of cartilaginous rings Continue branching as they enter the lungs into a structure called the bronchial tree Trachea Mainstem (Primary) Bronchi Secondary (Lobar) Bronchi Segmental (Tertiary) Bronchi Terminal Bronchioles Respiratory Bronchioles Alveolar Ducts
Bronchial Tree
Bronchioles Bronchioles are smaller air passages which branch from the bronchi. Bronchioles are small, muscular tubes with a narrow diameter. Changes in the size of the bronchioles help direct the flow of air to various parts of the lungs.
Alveolar Ducts Alveolar ducts are enlarged chambers found at the end of the bronchioles. These very fine passageways end at the alveolar sacs and connect to the alveoli.
Alveoli A cup shaped out pouching of epithelial tissue Place where external respiration occurs (gas exchange between the lungs and the blood) Lungs contain 300-500 million alveoli Surface area of about 750 sq. ft. The size of a Tennis Court
Bronchioles, Alveolar Ducsts, Alveoli
Lungs Paired - cone shaped organs that occupy most of the thoracic cavity Separated from each other by the heart and other structures of the mediastinum Surrounded by a double layered serous membrane called the pleural membrane
Lungs
Left Lung
Pleural Membrane Parietal Pleura - outer layer of the pleural membrane Attached to the thoracic wall Visceral Pleura - inner layer of the pleural membrane Attached to the lungs themselves Between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura is a potential space called the pleural cavity Contains pleural (serous) fluid (reduces friction)
Pleural Membrane
Pleural Membrane
Gross Anatomy of the Lungs Extend from the diaphragm to an area about 2.54 cm above the clavicles on both sides of the thoracic cavity Base Apex Hilus Lobes Fissures
Gross Anatomy of the Lungs Apex - the pointed, superior portion of the lungs Base the broad, inferior surface of the lungs which rests on the diaphragm Hilum - wedge-shaped area on the central portion of each lung where the bronchi, arteries, veins, and nerves enter and exit the lungs
Lobes and Fissures Each lung is divided into lobes by one or more fissures There are three lobes in the right lung and two lobes in the left lung Right lung: Superior lobe Horizontal fissure Middle lobe Oblique lobe Inferior lobe Left lung: Superior lobe Cardiac notch Accommodates the shape of the heart Oblique fissure Inferior lobe
Lobes and Fissures
Pleural Cavity The mediastinum divides the thoracic cavity into two pleural cavities, each of which contains one lung.
Gas Exchange Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli due to the difference in the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the capillary blood and the alveoli. Since the concentration of oxygen is greater in the alveoli, it diffuses into the capillary blood. Since the level of carbon dioxide is higher in the capillary blood than in the alveoli, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and into the alveoli.
Lung Parameters Tidal Volume (TV) - 500 ml - volume of air moved in and out of the lungs during breathing Vital Capacity (VC) - 4500 ml - maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after taking the deepest possible inhalation Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) - maximum volume of gas that can be inhaled beyond a normal resting inspiration Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) - the maximum volume of gas that can be exhaled after a resting volume exhalation VC = TV + IRV + ERV
Spirometry measures how much air you can inhale and exhale measures how fast you can exhale
Physiology of Ventilation Ventilation - the process of inhaling and exhaling air in and out of the lungs Pulmonary Ventilation - the process by which air flows between the lungs and the external environment Due to a change in pressure between the atmosphere and the air in the lungs
Physiology of Ventilation
Inspiration (Inhalation) Bringing air into the lungs from the external environment The lungs themselves contain no muscles and thus depend upon the relationship with the muscles of the walls of the thoracic cavity to alter lung volumes
Ventilation
Muscles of Ventilation
Expiration (Exhalation) Movement of air from the lungs to the external environment Normally a passive process (no energy or muscular contractions required) Dependent upon muscle and lung elasticity May become active during high levels of physical activity Most people require ventilation rates above 55% - 65% of their vital capacity for expiration to become active ~ 2400-2900 ml
Physiology of Respiration
Respiratory Center
Chemical Stimuli Determines how fast and how deeply an individual breathes Very sensitive to the levels of CO 2 and H + ion concentration in the blood Monitored by chemoreceptors at: carotid arteries, aorta, and the medulla oblongata.
Ventilatory Homeostasis
RESPIRATORY DISORDERS AND HOMEOSTATIC IMBALANCES
Bronchiogenic Carcinoma (Lung Cancer) Most fatal cancer in the U.S. Highly metastatic Usually linked with cigarette smoking Starts in the walls of the bronchi due to irritation of the bronchiole epithelium Common irritants include smoking, pollution, dust particles 20 times more prevalent in smokers than non- smokers
Lung Cancer
Emphysema Blown up or full of air A condition where the alveolar walls lose their elasticity and remain filled with air during expiration Alveoli become damaged and eventually merge together to form large air sacs with reduced overall volume Patients often develop a barrel chest Generally caused by cigarettes, pollution, industrial dust particles
Emphysema
Influenza Caused by one of many viruses Antibiotics cannot help Medications used to treat the symptoms sneezing - coughing congestion - rhinorrhea May result in rhinitis: inflammation of the nasal mucosa Commonly known as the flu
Pneumonia Acute infection or inflammation of the alveoli of the lungs Most common infectious cause of death in the U.S. Alveolar sacs fill with fluid and dead white blood cells reducing the amount of functional surface area of the lungs Most commonly caused by bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae Affects those in poor health or compromised immune system
Pneumonia
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) 10,000 infant deaths per year in the U.S. Cause is not known but thought to be caused by an infectious agent or compressed carotid artery Most deaths occur in the fall or winter Over 50% of SIDS death children had an upper respiratory infection within the past two weeks May also be caused by improper positioning for sleeping in the crib
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Tuberculosis (Tb) Caused by a bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis An infectious communicable disease that destroys the lung tissue and pleura Replaced by fibrous connective tissue called tubercles Disease is spread by inhalation of the bacterium
Tuberculosis (Tb)