Respiratory System
JESSICA GARCIA
ANA RODARTE
DANELIS ACOSTA
Respiratory System
Functions
 Delivers air to sites where gas exchange can occur
between the air and circulating blood.
 Exhalation and Inhalation
 Supplies the blood with oxygen in order for the blood
to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body through
breathing
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiT621PrrO0
Nasal Cavities/Paranasal Sinuse
Filter, warm, humidify air, and detect
smells.
 Cilia and mucus along the inside wall of
the nasal cavity trap and remove dust
and pathogens from the air as it flows
through the nasal cavity. The cilia move
the mucus down the nasal cavity to the
pharynx, where it can be swallowed.
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Two Parts:
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The respiratory segment is lined with
ciliated pseudostratified columnar
epithelium. The conchae are located in
this region. The respiratory segment has a
very vascularized lamina propria allowing
the venous plexuses of the conchal
mucosa to engorge with blood, restricting
airflow and causing air to be directed to
the other side of the nose
The olfactory segment is lined with a
specialized type of pseudostratified
columnar epithelium, known as olfactory
epithelium, which contains receptors for
the sense of the smell
Pharynx
 Cone-shaped passageway leading
from the oral and nasal cavities
in the head to the esophagus and
larynx. The pharynx chamber
serves both respiratory and
digestive functions. Thick fibers
of muscle and connective tissue
attach the pharynx to the base of
the skull and surrounding
structures. Both circular and
longitudinal muscles occur in the
walls of this organ; the circular
muscles form constrictions that
help push food to the esophagus
and prevent air from being
swallowed, while the longitudinal
fibers lift the walls of the pharynx
during swallowing.
Larynx
 Protects the opening to the trachea and contains
vocal chords
 Four basic anatomic components: a cartilaginous
skeleton, intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, and a
mucosal lining.
 Functions in deglutition (swallowing), respiration
(breathing), and phonation (voice production)
Sound Production
• Sound production occurs due to the vibration of
the mucosa at the inner edge of each vocal cord.
• Final modification of the voice occurs in the
mouth, nose and throat, where the tongue,
palate, cheek and lips are involved in articulation
• In both genders, children’s vocal cords are
relatively narrow and short, so the vibrations are
rapid and produce high-pitched sounds. At
puberty, when testosterone levels increase in
boys, the vocal cords elongate and thicken. As a
result, cord vibrations became slower and
produce lower pitched, deeper sounds. As a
general role, due to the influence of testosterone,
adult males have thicker and longer vocal cords
than females. This anatomical difference is the
primary reason for gender differences in voice.
Trachea/Bronchi
 Windpipe, tubular structure that delivers air to the
bronchial tree
 Filters air, branches into the bronchi, traps particles
in mucus; cartilages keep airway open.
 Bronchi are two air tubes that branch off of the
trachea and carry air directly into the lungs.
Lungs
 Responsible for air movement through volume
changes resulting from movements or ribs and
diaphragm; includes airways and alveoli.
 Separated by the mediastinum) the central space in
the thorax where the heart is found)
 Lined by a double serous membrane known as the
pleural membrane.
Diaphragm
 Breathing starts with a dome-shaped muscle at the
bottom of the lungs called the diaphragm. 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
Fun Facts
 Why do we yawn?
When you are sleepy/drowsy the lungs do not take enough oxygen form the
air. This causes a shortage of oxygen in our bodies. The brain senses this
shortage of oxygen and sends a message that causes u to take a deep long
breath- a yawn.
Why do we sneeze?
o Sneezing is like a cough in the upper breathing passages. It is the body’s way
of removing hazardous materials from the (sensitive mucous membranes of
the nose. Many things can irritate the mucus membranes. Dust, pollen,
pepper or even a cold blast of air are some of many things that may cause
you to sneeze.
Why do we get hiccups?
 Sudden movements of the diaphragm. It is involuntary. There are many
causes of hiccups. The diaphragm may get irritated, you may have eaten too
fast, or maybe some substance in the blood could even have brought on the
hiccups.
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Asthma
 Generally more common in
children than adults. Children
often out grow asthma by the time
they reach adulthood, but this is
not always the case.
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An asthma attack involves muscle
contractions of the airways, which
reduce airflow and cause shortness
of breath, wheezing and coughing.
Imtants such as dust, pollens,
animal hair or cigarette smoke, and
exercise can trigger asthma.
While asthma can’t be cured, mild
symptoms can be controlled by use
of prescribed inhaled medication.
Serious or severe asthma attacks
require professional medical
attention, but with on going
treatment, most asthmatics manage
the disease and live normal, long
lives.
Lung Cancer
 Lung cancer is the deadliest
type of cancer for both men and
women.
 Cigarette smoking is the
leading cause of lung cancer.
 avoid breathing in the smoke
from other people's cigarettes,
cigars, or pipes.
 There are two main types of
lung cancer:
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Non-small cell cancer- (NSCLC)
is the most common type of lung
cancer.
Small cell lung cancer- makes up
about 20% of all lung cancer
cases.
Inhalation/Exhalation
Inhalation/Exhalation
 Inhalation is the process of
taking air into the lungs. For
this to occur, the air pressure
inside the lungs must be lower
than that of the external
atmosphere as air flows from
areas of higher pressure to
lower pressure. This is achieved
by the contraction of the
external intercostal muscles
and the relaxation of the
internal intercostals which acts
to pull the ribcage upwards and
outwards, hence, increasing the
volume of the thoracic cavity.
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Exhalation is the process of expelling
air out of the lungs. For this to occur,
the air pressure inside the lungs must
be higher than that of the external
atmosphere as air flows from areas of
higher pressure to ones of lower
pressure. This is achieved by the
relaxation of the external intercostal
muscles which bring the rib cage
inwards and the diaphragm bulges
upwards (recoiling to its original shape)
respectively. The internal intercostal
muscles contract so as to pull the rib
cage further inwards, hence, decreasing
the volume of the thoracic cavity and
that of the lungs which, in turn, creates
high pressure in the lungs; hence air is
pushed out of lungs. In passive
breathing, the movements of the
diaphragm are responsible - the ribs
aren't needed.
Gas Exchange
 Gas exchange is the delivery of oxygen from the bloodstream and the
elimination of carbon dioxide from the bloodstream to the lungs. It occurs
in the lungs between the alveoli.
 Gas exchange provides a needed fuel (O2) for metabolism to occur and a
means to expel the gaseous byproduct (CO2) of metabolism from the body.
Without gas exchange the body would not function. The hindrance of gas
exchange by disease, disorder, or chemicals can slow body functions and
even cause death.
 During inspiration, the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the lung (105
mm Hg) is higher than that in the arteries of the alveoli (40 mmHg). This
pressure difference allows O2 to transfer into the blood stream. The partial
pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in the lung (40 mmHg) is less than the
arterial partial pressure of the alveoli (46 mmHg). This pressure difference
allows carbon dioxide to diffuse into the lung and eventually into the
atmosphere. The ventilation of the lungs allows for the continual renewal of
imbalance and need for breathing and metabolism to continue.
Gas Exchange
The function of the respiratory system
is to exchange two gases: oxygen and
carbon dioxide. The exchange takes
place in the millions of alveoli in the
lungs and the capillaries that envelop
them. As shown below, inhaled oxygen
moves from the alveoli to the blood in
the capillaries, and carbon dioxide
moves from the blood in the capillaries
to the air in the alveoli.
Working with other Systems
The Digestive System and
Respiratory System
 The well-known digestive system
has a basic but important function.
First, food goes down to the throat,
and leads to the digestive system.
What makes this path is the
epiglottis, which opens when air
comes through, and closes when
food comes down. The digestive
system breaks down food into
simpler substances that the body
can use including proteins. This
helps the respiratory system
because the lungs need nutrients.
The respiratory system helps the
digestive system by giving oxygen
to the digestive system.
The Skeletal System and Respiratory
System
 The skeletal system is very important.
This system is responsible for
protecting the inner body. The skeletal
system is like a metal shield covering
the body. This system helps the
respiratory system by protecting the
lungs.
The Circulatory System and
Respiratory System
 The circulatory system is very useful.
This system transports the food
nutrients, and oxygen to the body cells.
It also delivers of carbon dioxide and
waste products. This helps the
respiratory system by transporting
nutrients to keep the lungs clean, and
healthy. In return the respiratory
system allows air to keep the
circulatory system going.
(Cont.)
The Muscular System and
Respiratory System
 In the human body there are
three types of muscle tissue:
Skeletal muscle, smooth
muscle, and cardiac muscle.
The muscular system helps
push air come into and leave
the respiratory system
through the contraction and
relaxation of the diaphragm,
which is a muscle. The
respiratory system has the
lungs that deliver air to the
muscles.
The Nervous System and
Respiratory System
 It controls your bodies’
activities. Plus, it helps the
respiratory system by
allowing you to feel and know
when you are breathing and
have somewhat control of it.
The nervous system also
triggers you to whine or
scream when you get
physically hurt.