Respiratory
System
What is the respiratory system?
• The respiratory system is the
system of the body that deals
with breathing.
• When we breathe, the body
takes in the oxygen that it
needs and removes the
carbon dioxide that it doesn't
need.
•
•
Major Organs
Upper
respiratory:
nose, phaynx
Lower
respiratory:
larynx,
trachea,
bronchi,
and lungs.
Parts of the respiratory
system
•
•
•
•
Lungs
The lungs are the main organs of the respiratory system. In the lungs oxygen is taken into the body
and carbon dioxide is breathed out. The red blood cells are responsible for picking up the oxygen in
the lungs and carrying the oxygen to all the body cells that need it. The red blood cells drop off the
oxygen to the body cells, then pick up the carbon dioxide which is a waste gas product produced by
our cells. The red blood cells transport the carbon dioxide back to the lungs and we breathe it out
when we exhale.
Trachea
The trachea (TRAY-kee-uh} is sometimes called the windpipe. The trachea filters the air we breathe
and branches into the bronchi.
Bronchi
The bronchi (BRAHN-ky) are two air tubes that branch off of the trachea and carry air directly
Diaphragm
Breathing starts with a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the lungs called the diaphragm (DYuh-fram). When you breathe in, the diaphragm contracts. When it contracts it flattens out and pulls
downward. This movement enlarges the space that the lungs are in. This larger space pulls air into the
lungs. When you breathe out, the diaphragm expands reducing the amount of space for the lungs and
forcing air out. The diaphragm is the main muscle used in breathing.
Within the lungs, the trachea branches
into a left and right bronchus, which
divide into increasingly smaller
branches called bronchioles. The
smallest bronchioles end in a cluster of
air sacs, collectively called an acinus.
The acinus comprises individual air sacs
called alveoli. Alveoli are like small
balloons that inflate and deflate with air
during respiration.
Gas exchange occurs in the lungs between
the alveoli and a capillary network within
the alveolar wall. Capillaries are microscopic
blood vessels that exchange material
between the blood and body tissues. In the
lung capillaries, blood from tissues where
cellular metabolism is occurring is called
deoxygenated blood because it contains
many carbon dioxide molecules and few
oxygen molecules.
•
The respiration process has two parts:
inspiration (inhaling) and expiration
(exhaling). During inspiration, the
diaphragm contracts, moves
downward, and causes the thoracic
cavity volume to increase. Because the
lungs are closely associated with the
interior chest wall, they expand as the
thoracic cavity expands. When the
diaphragm relaxes (upward position),
the thoracic volume decreases and the
lungs partially deflate. This process is
called expiration. The elastic recoil of
the expanded thoracic wall and lungs
also helps expiration.
•
After inhalation, the alveoli contain many
oxygen molecules. The alveoli are in close
contact with the capillary network. This
proximity enables the minuscule oxygen
molecules to diffuse (pass freely) from the
alveolus to the bloodstream, flowing from
a region of higher concentration to a region
of lower concentration. In the
bloodstream, the oxygen attaches to red
blood cells and is transported to the rest of
the body. Likewise, carbon dioxide diffuses
from the bloodstream into the alveolus
where it is transported out of the body
during exhalation.
During respiration, the pleurae (pleural membranes) help
the lungs to expand and contract. These membranes are
sacs that tightly cover the lungs and the chest inside wall.
Between these two linings is a space called the pleural
cavity that contains a thin layer of fluid. This fluid allows
the lungs to move freely against the thoracic cavity inside.
Interesting knowledge
The average person breathes in the equivalent
of 13 pints of air each minute.
People yawn because the brain detects low
levels of oxygen in the lungs and triggers the
response so the body will intake a large amount
of oxygen.
Hiccups are caused by several things,
and are the product of spasms, or
sudden movements, in the
diaphragm. Eating too fast is one
common cause of hiccups.
Hiccups are sudden,
involuntary contractions of
the diaphragm muscle. As
the muscle contracts
repeatedly, the opening
between your vocal cords
snaps shut to check the
inflow of air and makes the
hiccup sound. Irritation of
the nerves that extend
from the neck to the chest
can cause hiccups.
?Bourgeois Questions?
•
What does the respiratory system control?
The respiratory system controls breathing. It also exchanges gases in your lungs and tissue.
What is the main purpose of the respiratory system?
The main purpose of the respiratory is supplies oxygen and carbon dioxide.
What are the tiny hairs in your nose that warm and filter air called?
the tiny hairs in your nose are called Cilia.
What kind of respiratory diseases are there that are caused by smoking tobacco products?
Lung cancer, and emphysema
What is the process that brings oxygen into your body?
Breathing is the process that brings oxygen into your body.
What contains the vocal cords in your body?
Your Larynx
Where does air pass through to go to your lungs?
It goes past the epiglottis.
Wha
t
does
the
resp
irato
ry
syst
em
cont
rol?
The
resp
irato
ry
syst
em
cont
rols
brea
thing
.It
also
exch
ange
s
gase
s in
your
lung
s
and
tissu
e.
Wha
t is
the
mai
n
purp
ose
of
the
resp
irato
ry
syst
em?
The
mai
n
purp
ose
of
the
resp
irato
ry is
supp
lies
oxyg
en
and
carb
on
dioxi
de.
Wha
t are
the
tiny
hair
s in
your
nose
that
war
m
and
filter
air
calle
d?
the
tiny
hair
s in
your
nose
are
calle
d
Cilia
.
Wha
t
kind
of
resp
irato
ry
dise
ases
Lung
are
canc
ther
er,
e
and
that
emp
are
hyse
caus
ma
ed
by
smo
king
toba
cco
prod
ucts
?
Wha
t is
the
proc
ess
that
brin
gs
oxyg
en
into
your
body
?
Brea
thing
is
the
proc
ess
that
brin
gs
oxyg
en
into
your
body
.
Wha
t
cont
ains
the
Your
voca
Lary
l
nx
cord
s in
your
body
?
Whe
re
does
air It
pass goes
thro past
ugh the
to go epigl
to
ottis.
your
lung
s?
In
the
diag
ram
belo
w,
Diagram of lung alveoli below. .
Your everyday Respiratory Diseases
• Asthma - constriction of hypersensitive airways;
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - lung disease
causing shortness of breath;
• Chronic Bronchitis - inflammation and permanent scarring of the
bronchial tubes
• Emphysema - damage to air sacs walls causing loss of elasticity;
• Pleurisy - inflammation of the pleural membrane lining lungs and
the chest cavity;
• Lung Cancer - malignant tumors that develop in lung tissue
• Acute Bronchitis-inflammation of the bronchial tubes;
• Influenza - serious infection cause by the influenza virus;
• Pneumonia - infection of the lungs caused by a virus or bacteria;
• Sinusitis - inflammation of the sinus cavities;
• Common Cold - infection caused by a virus;
• Why Do I Yawn?
When you are sleepy or drowsy the lungs do not take enough oxygen
from the air. This causes a shortage of oxygen in our bodies. The brain
senses this shortage of oxygen and sends a message that causes you to
take a deep long breath---a YAWN.
• Why Do I Sneeze?
Sneezing is like a cough in the upper breathing passages. It is the
body's way of removing an irritant from the sensitive mucous
membranes of the nose. Many things can irritate the mucous
membranes. Dust, pollen, pepper or even a cold blast of air are just
some of the many things that may cause you to sneeze.
• What Causes Hiccups?
Hiccups are the sudden movements of the diaphragm. It is
involuntary --- you have no control over hiccups, as you well know.
There are many causes of hiccups. The diaphragm may get irritated, you
may have eaten to fast, or maybe some substance in the blood could
even have brought on the hiccups.