THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
HEALTH TERMS:
Respiration- The exchange of gasses between the body and one’s environment
Diaphragm- The muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity and is
responsible for the act of breathing
Pharynx- The Throat
Trachea- The Wind Pipe
Bronchi- An Extension of the trachea that forks/ branches off to deliver O2 to the lungs
Larynx- The Voice Box
Pleurisy- Inflammation of the membrane lining the lungs and the chest cavity
Asthma- Inflammatory condition in which bronchioles become narrowed causing
difficulty in breathing
Exhalation- the act of breathing out CO2
Lobe- A section of the lung, the right has 3, the left has only 2
Bronchioles- A subdivision of Bronchi that forms a network of tubes that supply entire
lung with Oxygen
Alveoli- thin-walled air sacs that are covered by a vast number of capillaries
Uvula- skin flap that hangs down in the back of the mouth that prevents food from
traveling in the wrong direction.
Epiglottis- The flap of skin that protects the body from choking
FUNCTIONS of the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
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Responsible for Respiration
o The exchange of gasses between the body and one’s environment
o Two Kinds
 Internal- the exchange of gasses between blood and cells
 External- the exchange of gasses between blood and lungs
STRUCTURE of the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
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Pharynx - Throat
Epiglottiso Flap of skin that protects the body from choking
o When swallowing, it closes over the trachea
Larynx- Voice Box
o Made of two fibrous sheets of tissue
o Produces Sound as air passes over the cords
o Tissues vibrate
Trachea- Wind Pipe
Lungs
o Principle organs of the respiratory system
o Responsible for inhalation/ exhalation
o Gets their power from the Diaphragm
o Each lung is divided into sections—lobes
 Right lung = three lobes
 Left lung = two lobes
o Bronchus
 Connects Trachea to lungs
 splits into two bronchi
o Bronchi
 Feeds air into lungs
 splits into many bronchioles
o Bronchioles
 Subdivision of Bronchi
 Forms network of tubes that supply entire lung with Oxygen
o Alveoli
 thin-walled air sacs
 covered by vast number of capillaries
o Capillaries
 Responsible for CO2 / O2 exchange
Diaphragm
o Responsible for the act of breathing
 Contracts Inhale
 Diaphragm moves downward allowing extra room for
lungs to pull air in
 Relaxes Exhale
 Diaphragm moves back up to original position and pushes
air out of the lungs
CARE of the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
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Avoid putting hands near face and mouth
Wash Hands frequently
Avoid Smoking & Second-hand smoke
Workout Regularly to exercise lungs
PROBLEMS of the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
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Colds/ Sore Throat
o Considered Upper Respiratory Infection
o Symptoms include Runny Nose, Post Nasal Drip, Cough, Sore Throat,
Mild Fever
o Due to easy access for germs to invade – nose and mouth
Bronchitis
o Inflammation of the Bronchi
o Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing
o More common in smokers
o Can be acute (sudden onset) or Chronic (occurring over a period of time)
 Acute- clears up faster
 Chronic longer-lasting
 can be recurring
 can get progressively worse
Asthma
o Inflammatory condition in which bronchioles become narrowed causing
difficulty in breathing
o Mucous lining swells and secretions build up
o Triggered by allergens, overexertion, emotion, infection, changes in
weather
o Treated with Bronchodilators/ nebulizers/ inhalers
Pneumonia
o Inflammation of the lungs
o Not one specific single disease
 Two main types—Lobar and Bronchial
 Lobar- one lobe affected at first then spreads
 Bronchial- starts in the bronchi and spreads to the lung
tissue
o Symptoms include fever, chills, shortness of breath, severe cough, chest
pain, Pleurisy (inflammation of the membrane lining the lungs and chest
cavity)
Tuberculosis
o Infectious bacterial disease of the lungs
o Symptoms include fever, chills, sweating, weakness, poor appetite,
shortness of breath, severe coughing
o Treatment includes Quarantine, and immediate Medical supervision
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Emphysema
o Disease in which alveoli in the lungs burst and blend to form fewer, larger
sacs with less surface area.
o Normal exchange of O2 and CO2 is disrupted.
o Symptoms include difficulty in breathing, chronic cough
o Caused by breathing in foreign matter such as smoke and air pollutants
over a long period of time
o Condition can not be reversed
Sinusitis
o Inflammation of membrane lining the facial sinuses (air filled cavities in
the bones that surround your nose)
o Symptoms include fever, stuffy nose, throbbing ache in the affected area
o Treatments include use of antibiotics/ decongestants/ and steam inhalants