Respiratory
System
SYDNEE IS MY FAV
Consists of lungs and air passages
• Responsible for:
-Taking in oxygen (gas needed by
all body cells)
–Removing carbon dioxide (a gas
that is a metabolic waste
product produced by cells when
cells convert food into energy)
Parts of the Respiratory System
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Nose
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchi
Alveoli
Lungs
Nose
• Location of olfactory receptors for sense of
smell
• Has two openings called nostrils and/or nares
which is where air enters
• Has a nasal septum, which is a wall of cartilage
that divides the nose into two hollow spaces
• These hollow spaces are called the nasal
cavities
Nasal Cavities
• Lined with mucous membranes--- helps to
trap pathogens and germs
• Have a rich blood supply
• Air entering the nasal cavity is warmed,
filtered, and moistened
• Has Cilia which are tiny hairlike structures that
filter inhaled air to trap dust and pathogens
Pharynx (throat)
• Air leaves the nose and enters the pharynx
• Has three sections
– Nasopharynx (upper portion)
– Oropharynx (middle section)
– Laryngopharynx (bottom section)
• This section is what branches into the trachea—which
carries air to the lungs and esophagus which carries
food to the stomach
Larynx (voice box)
• Lies between the pharynx and trachea
• Has nine layers of cartilage, largest is the thyroid
cartilage called the “Adam’s apple”
• Has two folds called vocal cords
• Opening between the vocal cords is called the glottis
• As air leaves the lungs, vocal cords vibrate and produce
sound
• Tongue and lips act on the sound to produce speech
• Epiglottis--- piece of cartilage that closes the opening
into the larynx during swallowing and prevents
food/liquids from entering the respiratory tract
Trachea (windpipe)
• Tube that extends from the larynx to the
center of the chest
• Function is to carry air between pharynx and
bronchi
• Has C shaped cartilage (which are opened on
the dorsal (back) surface) that helps keep the
trachea opened
Bronchi
• Trachea divides into two bronchi near the center
of the chest--- a right bronchus and a left
bronchus
• Each bronchus enters a lung and carries air from
trachea to lungs
• In the lungs the bronchi continue to divide into
smaller and smaller bronchi until they finally
divide into smaller branches called bronchioles
• The smallest bronchioles (called terminal
bronchioles) end in air sacs called alveoli
Alveoli (Air Sacs)
• Resembles a bunch of grapes
• Adult lungs contain approx. 500 million
• Contain a rich network of blood capillaries
which allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to be
exchanged between blood and lungs
• Inner surface of alveoli are covered with
surfactant, which is a fatty substance that
keeps the alveoli from collapsing
Lungs
• Organs that contain the divisions of the bronchi and aveoli
• Right lung has three sections or lobes– superior, middle,
and inferior
• Left lung only has two sections or lobes-- superior and
inferior
• So, why is the left lung smaller??????
• Each lung is enclosed in a membrane (sac) called Pleura
– Pleura has two layers
• Visceral pleura is attached to the surface of the lung
• Parietal pleura is attached to the chest wall
• SPACE BETWEEN THESE TWO LAYERS IS CALLED THE PLEURA SPACE
AND IT IS FILLED WITH PLEURAL FLUID THAT LUBRICATES THE
MEMBRANES AND PREVENTS FRICTION AS THE LUNGS EXPAND
DURING BREATHING
• BOTH LUNGS (ALONG
WITH YOUR HEART AND
MAJOR BLOOD VESSELS)
ARE LOCATED IN YOUR
_______________ CAVITY
Ventilation
• What is ventilation??
– Process of breathing
– Has two phases– inspiration and expiration
– INSPIRATION (inhalation)
• Process of breathing in air
• Diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract and enlarge the
thoracic cavity, which creates a vacuum
• Air rushes in through airways to alveoli, where gas exchange
takes place
– Expiration (exhalation)
• Air leaves the lungs
• Diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax
• Air is forced out of the lungs and air passages
Respiration
• What is respiration?
• What controls respiration?
Stages of Respiration
• 2 main stages
– External respiration-- exchange of oxygen and
carbon dioxide between the lungs and
bloodstream
– Internal respiration– exchange of carbon dioxide
and oxygen between the tissue cells and
bloodstream
Diseases of Respiratory System
• Asthma
– Usually caused by sensitivity to an allergen such as
dust, pollen, animals, medications, or foods
– Stress, overexertion, and infections can also cause an
asthma attack
• Symptoms
– Occur when bronchospasms narrow openings of bronchioles,
mucus production increases, and edema develops in mucosal
lining
– Dyspnea and wheezing
– Coughing with expectoration of sputum
– Tightness in chest
• Treatment
– Bronchodilators to enlarge the bronchioles
– Epinephrine and anti-inflammatory medications
– Oxygen therapy
**** Identification and elimination of allergens is
important to prevent asthma attacks ****
• Bronchitis
– Inflammation of the bronchi and bronchial tubes
• Acute bronchitis
– Usually caused by and infection
– Sx- productive cough, dyspnea, rales (bubbly/noisy breath sounds), chest
pain, fever
– Tx- antibiotics, expectorants to remove excess mucus, rest, increase fluids
– Chronic bronchitis
» Occurs after frequent attacks of acute bronchitis and long term
exposure to pollutants or smoking
» Signs- chronic inflammation, damaged cilia, enlarged mucous glands
» Sx- Excessive mucus resulting in productive cough, wheezing,
dyspnea, chest pain
» Tx- (NO CURE) antibiotics, bronchodilators, respiratory therapy
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
– Any chronic lung disease that results in obstruction of
the airways
– Disorders such as chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, and tuberculosis lead to COPD
– Smoking is the primary cause, but allergens and
chronic respiratory infections are also factors
– TX- bronchodilators, mucolytics, cough meds
– Prognosis is poor because damage to the lungs causes
a deterioration of pulmonary function leading to
respiratory failure and death
• Emphysema
– Noninfectious chronic respiratory condition
– Occurs when walls of the alveoli deteriorate and lose their elasticity
(CO2 remains trapped in the alveoli/ poor exchange of gases)
– Most common causes are heavy smoking and prolonged exposure to
air pollutants
– Sx: Dyspnea and a feeling of suffocation, pain and a barrel chest,
chronic cough, cyanosis, rapid respirations with prolonged expiration,
eventual respiratory failure and death
– Tx (NO CURE)
• Avoid smoking, bronchodilators, breathing exercises
prompt treatment of respiratory infections, O2 therapy
and respiratory therapy
• Epistaxis
– Occurs when capillaries in nose become
congested and bleed
• Causes: Injury, hypertension, chronic infections, blood
diseases
– Tx: Compress nostrils, elevate head and tilt it
slightly forward, apply cold compresses, may have
to do nasal pack
• Influenza
– Highly contagious viral infection of upper respiratory
system with a sudden onset
– Sx: chills, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose,
muscle pain, fatigue
– Tx: bed rest, fluids, analgesics for pain, antipyretics for
fever
– *** FLU VACCINE ***
» Different viruses every year
» Yearly vaccine
• Laryngitis
– Inflammation of the larynx and vocal cords,
frequently occurs with other respiratory infections
– Sx: hoarseness or loss of voice, sore throat,
dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
– Tx: rest, fluids, limit use of voice, meds if infection
present
• Lung Cancer
– Leading cause of cancer death in men and women
– A preventable disease because the main cause is
exposure to carcinogens in tobacco through smoking
or exposure to secondhand smoke
– Sx: none in the early stages, chronic cough, coughing
up blood tinged sputum, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue,
and weight loss
– **Prognosis is poor since disease is usually advanced
before it is diagnosed
– Tx: surgical removal of the cancerous sections,
radiation, and/or chemotherapy
• Pleurisy
– Inflammation of pleura
– Usually occurs with pneumonia or other infections
– Sx: sharp, stabbing pain while breathing, dyspnea,
fever
– Tx: rest, pain meds, if fluid collects in the pleural
space- a thoracentesis (withrawal of fluid through
a needle) is done to remove fluid
• Pneumonia
– Inflammation or infection of the lungs with a
buildup of fluid in the alveoli
– Usually caused by a bacteria, virus, chemicals
– Sx: chills, fever, chest pain, productive cough,
dyspnea, fatigue
– Tx: bedrest, Ox therapy, fluids, antibiotics,
respiratory therapy, pain meds
• Rhinitis
– Inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane
– Sx: runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, soreness,
congestion
– Causes: infections and allergens
– Tx: fluids, meds to relieve congestion
• Sinusitis
– Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of
the sinuses
– Usually caused by a bacteria or virus
– Sx: headache, pressure, dizziness, thick nasal
discharge and congestion
– Tx: antibiotics, pain meds, decongestants, surgery
in chronic sinusitis to open the cavities and
encourage drainage
• Sleep Apnea
– Condition in which an individual stops breathing while
asleep, causing a measurable decrease in blood
oxygen levels
– 2 main kinds:
• Obstructive sleep apnea: caused by blockage in air passage
that occurs when muscles that keep airway open relax and
allow the tongue and palate to block the airway
• Central sleep apnea: caused by a disorder in the brain’s
respiratory control center (Tx: meds to stimulate breathing)
• Sleep apnea (con’t)
– More common in men
– Risk factors include: obesity, hypertension,
smoking, alcohol, use of sedatives
– Diagnosed when more than five periods of apnea
lasting at least ten seconds each occur during an
hour of sleep
• Periods of apnea lower the blood oxygen level; causes
the brain to awaken the individual, who then gasps for
air and snores loudly; interruption of the sleep cycle
leads to excessive tiredness/drowsiness during the day
• Sleep apnea (con’t)
• Tx: lose weight, abstain from smoking, alcohol,
sedatives; sleep on side or stomach
• In severe cases CPAP (continuous positive airway
pressure) is used to deliver pressure to the airway
to keep it open while person sleeps
– Mask fits securely against the face
– Tubing connects the mask with a blower device that
can be adjusted to deliver air at different levels of
pressure
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Infectious disease of the lungs caused by the
bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Sx: fatigue, chest pain, fever, night sweats,
weight loss, coughing up blood
• Tx: Admin. of drugs for one or more years to
destroy the bacteria, good nutrition, rest
• Upper Respiratory Infection
– Common cold– inflammation of the mucous
membrane lining of the upper respiratory tract
– Sx: fever, runny nose, watery eyes, congestion,
sore throat, hacking cough
– Tx: no cure, sx may last up to a week; take meds
for fever, rest, increase fluids, take meds to relieve
congestion