Functions of the Respiratory
System

Breathing process

Exchange of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

Enable speech production

Gas exchange between blood and air
Respiration

external respiration - exchange of gases in lungs

internal respiration - exchange of gases within cells of
the body organs and tissues

ventilation - movement of air
External Respiration

Ventilation

exchange of gases in lungs

Gas Exchange in pulmonary capillaries

Breathing largely an involuntary activity
Internal Respiration

All cells require oxygen for metabolism

All cells require means to remove carbon dioxide

Gas exchange at cellular level
External Respiration

Ventilation

exchange of air between lungs and atmosphere

Gas Exchange in pulmonary capillaries

Breathing largely involuntary activity
Structures of Respiratory
System

upper respiratory tract


nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx and trachea
lower respiratory tract

bronchial tree and lungs
Nose

nasal cavity

nasal septum

mucous membrane
 Traps
pathogens and
dirt
 Cilia
push particles
towards esophagus
 Moistens
air
NASAL SEPTUM

PARTITION OR WALL

CARTILAGE DIVIDES THE NOSE INTO
HOLLOW SPACES

CAN BE DAMAGED DUE TO TRAUMA
8
CILIA




TINY HAIRLIKE STRUCTURES IN NASAL CAVITY
TRAPS DIRT
TRAPS PATHOGENS
TRAPPED PARTICLES PUSHED TOWARD ESOPHAGUS
 SWALLOWED
9
Pharynx

Nasopharynx


oropharynx


adenoids or pharyngeal tonsils
palatine tonsils ( 1st phase of swallowing)
laryngopharynx

Larynx ( Houses vocal cords)

Thyroid is housed here
Epiglottis

Oropharynx and laryngopharynx serve as a common
passageway for both food and air

Epiglottis acts as a lid or flap that covers the larynx and
trachea (airway) so food does not enter the lungs.
Larynx

Houses vocal cords in voice box

glottis (vocal apparatus)” True Vocal Cords”

vocal bands or vocal cords
Trachea

Windpipe or airway that is 12.5cm long

mucous membrane lining with cilia

smooth muscle with c-shaped cartilage rings

divides into two branches: bronchi

no gaseous exchange
Bronchi

Bronchus, singular

c-shaped cartilage rings with smooth muscle

Bronchus divides into l & R Bronchi

Bronchi divide into bronchioles

terminate in air sacs called alveoli
Thoracic Cavity

“Thoracic “ means related to
thorax

Thorax ( Chest Cavity)
contains:
 heart
 aorta
 esophagus
 bronchi
 Thymus
( Lymphoid organ)
ALVEOLI

Gas Exchange takes place here

Alveolar wall one cell thick
surrounded by blood capillaries

Resemble bunches of grapes

CAPILLARIES
 ALLOW
OXYGEN &
CARBON DIOXIDE TO
EXCHANGE BETWEEN
LUNGS & BLOOD
16
Lungs
Right-3 lobes
Left-2 lobes
trachea
PLEURA

Serous membrane enclosing each
lung

TWO LAYERS

Visceral pleura comes in
contact with the lungs

Parietal pleura comes in
contact with the ribcage

Lubricating fluid: stops
friction
18
Diaphragm

muscle separating chest and abdomen

inspiration, diaphragm contracts and pushes down increasing thoracic
space


expiration, diaphragm relaxes and returns to decreases thoracic space


air flows in
air flows out
phrenic nerve: originates in the neck (C3-C5) and passes down
between the lung and heart to reach the diaphragm.Passes motor
information to the diaphragm
Pathologic
Breathing Disorders

Many Chronic Disorders

Asthma
( COPD UMBRELLA)

Chronic Bronchitis

Emphysema
Disorders Continued



Asthma

bronchospasms, parosysmal, productive cough,

mucolytics, bronchodilators
Chronic Bronchitis

mucosal swelling, productive cough, chest pain

expectorants, bronchodilators, steroids
Emphysema

barrel-chest, dyspnea, orthopnea
Influenza

Acute infectious respiratory disease

Viral

Fever, chills, headache, myalgia,
anorexia

Avoid aspirin in children ( can trigger
Asthma)
Pleural Effusions

Excess fluid in pleural cavity

associated with congestive heart failure, ascites,
infectious lung diseases, trauma

diagnosis

auscultation, percussion

Empyema, hydrothorax, hemothorax, pnrumothorax,
pyopneumothorax

thoracentesis
Tuberculosis

Infectious, highly communicable disease

aerosol transmission

primary tuberculosis

immunocompromised

Client requires 9 months medication regime

drug resistant strains ( AIDS)
Bronchopneumonia

Inflammatory disease of lungs

lobar, bilateral

hemoptysis

consolidation

Pneumocystis carinii (AIDS)
Cystic Fibrosis

Hereditary disorder, affects exocrine glands

systemic involvement

lungs, pancreas, digestive tract

Viscous mucus blocks bronchioles

Gas exchange impaired
Respiratory Distress
Syndrome

Surfactant

decreases the surface tension of the alveoli

needed for alveoli to fill with air and expand
(compliance)

Infant respiratory distress
syndrome (hyaline membrane
disease)

Adult respiratory distress
syndrome
Oncology

Primary Pulmonary Cancer

Diagnosed by PET scan

Smoking is leading cause of ALL TYPES OF LUNG CANCERS

common site: epithelium of bronchi

bronchogenic carcinoma

masses form and block air passages

metastasizes frequently to lymph noes, liver, bones, brain, or
kidney
Endotracheal Intubation

passage of a tube through the mouth, pharynx, and
larynx into the trachea to establish an airway.