Premium Essay

Respiratory System

In:

Submitted By jipsa88
Words 379
Pages 2
Anatomy & Physiology of the Respiratory System

respiratory system

The respiratory system is situated in the thorax, and is responsible for gaseous exchange between the circulatory system and the outside world. Air is taken in via the upper airways (the nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx) through the lower airways (trachea, primary bronchi and bronchial tree) and into the small bronchioles and alveoli within the lung tissue.
Move the pointer over the coloured regions of the diagram; the names will appear at the bottom of the screen)

The lungs are divided into lobes; The left lung is composed of the upper lobe, the lower lobe and the lingula (a small remnant next to the apex of the heart), the right lung is composed of the upper, the middle and the lower lobes.
Mechanics of Breathing

To take a breath in, the external intercostal muscles contract, moving the ribcage up and out. The diaphragm moves down at the same time, creating negative pressure within the thorax. The lungs are held to the thoracic wall by the pleural membranes, and so expand outwards as well. This creates negative pressure within the lungs, and so air rushes in through the upper and lower airways.

Expiration is mainly due to the natural elasticity of the lungs, which tend to collapse if they are not held against the thoracic wall. This is the mechanism behind lung collapse if there is air in the pleural space (pneumothorax). Physiology of Gas Exchange

Alveolar structure

Each branch of the bronchial tree eventually sub-divides to form very narrow terminal bronchioles, which terminate in the alveoli. There are many millions of alveloi in each lung, and these are the areas responsible for gaseous exchange, presenting a massive surface area for exchange to occur over.

Each alveolus is very closely associated with a network of capillaries containing deoxygenated blood from the

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Respiratory System

...Breathing, we do it subconsciously every day. The Respiratory system is responsible for this process to take place, the moment we do not breath our body begins to deteriorate, tissue, organs, begin to fail without vital oxygen. Most diseases that affect the respiratory system are deadly and must be taken very seriously. Our ability to breath must not be taken for granted. The Respiratory system is a vital part of the human body. It is responsible for the taking in and distribution of oxygen in the blood stream and the release of waste product carbon dioxide. Every system largely depends on the others. The offset of one system may imbalance the others, often leading to disease. Both the digestive system and the circulatory system give the...

Words: 1473 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Cartilage Respiratory System

...The structure and function of the respiratory system is vital in terms of keeping one’s body healthy. Arguably, the respiratory system is one of the more important systems in the human body, because it allows breathing (the process of inhalation and expiration) to happen, thereby allowing bodily functions to happen. Although one doesn’t think about breathing to often; breathing in some circumstances is normally unconscious effort, it’s a joint accomplishment between the structures of various organs in the respiratory system to maximize efficiency, thereby health in the body. Breathing is a combination of various structures, tissues, organs, around the thorax (a section of area between the neck and the abdomen), working harmoniously, and in conjunction...

Words: 1000 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Respiratory System and Diease

...Respiratory System & Disease Jeff Farmer Anatomy& Physiology II Casey Veatch March 14, 2012 As we live our busy lives, there are many things that we take for granted. Things like having running water, weather that’s live-able, weekends, TV with 100 channels, and NFL football. But one very important thing that we all take for granted is the involuntary process of our respiratory system and breathing. The automatic breathing regulation system allows you to breathe so you don’t even have to consciously think about it even when you’re asleep. Respiration is the process of taking in and using oxygen. There are three different phases of respiration: external respiration, internal respiration, and cellular respiration. External respiration is the intake of oxygen from the environment and the release of carbon dioxide. In internal respiration, oxygen is carried to the cells and carbon dioxide is carried away from the cells. In cellular respiration, oxygen is used in chemical reactions within the cells ( Tortora, 2008). Air enters the body through the nose. From here it is warmed, filtered, and passed through the nasal cavity. Air passes the pharynx, then through the upper part of the trachea containing the larynx and moves into the bronchi that carry air in and out of the lungs (West, 1993). Ventilation is the mechanics of breathing in and out. When you inhale,...

Words: 1503 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Structure and Function of the Respiratory System

...The Structure and function of the Respiratory system The respiratory system is to enable the body achieve successful gas exchange, the system is specialize in properties allowing this process to function adequately. Firstly the Trachea which is your wind pipe has the structure of a long tube with strong C-rings of cartilage running down it, the reason of this is so that when you are laying down or moving organs such as your lungs don’t put pressure on your trachea as this would block the air flowing through this structure allows the function of the trachea to remain open at all times allowing us to breathe. The trachea along with the bronchi are all lined with ciliated cells, these cells have hair like structure which all rhythmically move in a sweeping motion. This is then supported by Goblet cells which produce Mucus so that dirt, bacteria and dust can stick to it, this then is supported by the ciliated cells which sweeps the mucus up the trachea to the epiglottis to be swallowed into the stomach and the pathogens then killed in the stomach or to be coughed out. This structure allows the function of disposing of bacteria and foreign pathogens as well as dirt so that it can be removed from our body. It’s important in the respiratory system that the structure allows efficient gas exchange. This is done by things such as the alveoli as this only has walls which are one cell thick which allows rapid diffusion rates. The alveoli also has a large service area because it increases...

Words: 347 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory System

...before, but they're just covered with tissue. So in this instance, we're calling them meatuses. And the job of those meatuses is to almost act as though they're speed bumps. So as soon as you sucked the air in through our nostrils, the air will get caught around the meatuses. It slows the air flow down. And when it slowed the air flow down, it will allow time for the nasal cavity to filter and humidify the incoming air. Because the air in our environment is much drier than the inside of our body. So when we breathe air in, if we didn't humidify a little bit, it would potentially dry out our nasal passages. So as soon as we breathe the air in, the nasal cavity will moisten it up, filter it, and then send it down to the deeper parts of the respiratory tract. So again, those meatuses act as sped bumps. They're going to kick up turbulence in the air to sallow us to filter and humidify better. And we know that the air we take in is humidified because if breathed into your hand. And next we have the hard and soft palate, which you should still be familiar with from API. The hard palate if what we call the roof of our mouth. And the palate here is made up of the maxillary bone and the palatine bone. And then hanging off the hard palate, we have the soft palate, which is made up of cartilage. That's why it's called soft because it's much more flexible. Hard palate, maxillary bone and palatine bone. And then soft...

Words: 4610 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Anatomy and Physiology of Respiratory System

...Anatomy and Physiology of Respiratory System Overview Cells in the body require oxygen to survive. Vital functions of the body are carried out as the body is continuously supplied with oxygen. Without the respiratory system exchange of gases in the alveoli will not be made possible and systemic distribution of oxygen will not be made possible. Thetransportation of oxygen in the different parts of the body is accomplished by the blood of the cardiovascular system. However, it is the respiratory system that carries in oxygen to the body and transports oxygen from the tissue cells to the blood. Thus, cardiovascular system and respiratory system works hand in hand with each other. A problem in the cardiovascular system would affect the other and vice versa. Functional Anatomy of the Respiratory System Nose The nose is the only external part of the respiratory system and is the part where the air passes through. During inhalation and exhalation, air enters the nose by passing through the external nares or nostrils. Nasal cavity is found inside the nose and is divided by a nasal septum. The receptors for the sense of smell, olfactory receptors are found in the mucosa of the slit-like superior part of the nasal cavity which is located beneath the ethmoid bone. Respiratory mucosa lines the rest of the nasal cavity and rests on a rich network of thin-walled veins that warms the air passing by. Important information about nose is the presence of the sticky mucus that is produced...

Words: 1627 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Notes on the Respiratory System

...RESPIRATORY SYSTEM RESPIRATION * Pulmonary ventilation * Moving air into + out of the lungs * External respiration- DOES NOT MEAN EXPIRATION OR EXHALATION * Gas exchange between the lungs + the blood (the aveoli and the blood) * Gas Transport * O2 + CO2 between the lungs + tissues * Internal respiration- internally! DOES NOT MEAN INHALATION OR INSPIRATION * Gas exchange between systemic blood vessels + tissues * (Additional functions: Smell, Speech) CONDUCTING VS. RESPIRATORY ZONES * Conducting: Passages for air to flow through (everything except those structures that involve gas exchange, no exchange across the wall, just moves air in and out) * Cleanse, humidify and warm the air as it moves through these passages * Respiratory: Gas exchange function NASAL CAVITY * High blood supply * Warms air * Mucous membran * Moistens air * Immunity (mucus, lysozyme, antibodies) * Pseudostratified ciliated epithelium (it moves things, like dirty mucous and mucous traps things so that you can either swallow it or blow it out of your nose) * Moves contaminated mucus toward throat * Hair * Filter air * Olfactory receptors * Smell * Contributes to speech sounds PHARYNX * Funnel-shaped tube that connects to the: * Nasal cavity and mouth superiorly * Larynx and esophagus inferiorly * Food and/or air passageway * Divided into 3 regions ...

Words: 2543 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

How Does Tuberculosis Affect The Respiratory System?

...The respiratory system is an organ system which provides oxygen for the body and allows carbon dioxide leave the body; also known as breathing. There are four processes involved with respiration: ventilation of the lungs, gas exchange between air and blood in the lungs, gas transport in the blood, as well as gas exchange between the blood and target tissues. The respiratory consists of the nasal cavity which warms, cleans, and humidifies inhaled air, and the pharynx which is where the respiratory and digestive systems meet and split again. The larynx contains the vocal cords, and the trachea is a tube that passes behind the heart. The bronchi and bronchioles are air tubes that begin at the fork of the trachea and divide into smaller tubes into each lung, and the alveoli are millions of miniscule sacs of air in the lungs. The respiratory system is imperative for every breathing being’s survival. However, there are many impairments that can occur in this organ system, in both infectious and uncommunicable...

Words: 985 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Describe the Importance of the Interaction Between the Respiratory and Cardiovascular System in Maintaining the Body's Internal Balance

...Portfolio Task: Module 2 Briefly describe the importance of the interaction between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems in maintaining the body’s internal balance The respiratory and cardiovascular systems work together to supply oxygen to the body’s cells, remove carbon dioxide and regulate the Ph of the body’s fluids. This system of regulation is called homeostasis. (www.wiki.answers.com, 2013) To understand how both systems interact requires fundamental knowledge of how each system functions independently. The cardiovascular system is made up of blood, the heart and blood vessels which are divided into arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins. (www.livestrong.com, 2013) Blood is a thick, red, slightly alkaline fluid and has 3 general functions; transportation, regulation and protection. There are 3 types of blood cell- red cells, white cells and platelets. Red blood cells transports oxygen in a pigment called haemoglobin, from the lungs which have, by pulmonary gas exchange, diffused into the cells and carbon dioxide from the body tissue back to the lungs for exhalation, this system of exchange is called, external respiration. Blood helps regulate Ph, the body’s temperature and the water content of the cells, it also provides protection by its ability to clot and carries antibodies which help protect against disease. (Tortora & Derrickson, 2011) The heart is the pump which circulates the blood around the body, called pulmonary circulation...

Words: 586 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Respiratory System

...anatomical components. With the integration of numerous methods of technological delivery I plan to give solid memory cues and associations to the anatomical structures we are working to remember. Creating these memory tags will aid in both short and long term memory retention. Observing a cadavre every time we learn an anatomical component is impractical and unrealistic, therefore, observing these elements in the digital world becomes the next best thing.The use of these technology applications will maximize the student’s efficiency, engagement, and retention of the respiratory process. Body Day one will begin with...

Words: 1466 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Respiratory System

...Respiratory System Essay Athletes prefer to train in high-altitude locations as a competitive strategy to improve their training potential. Exposure to high-altitude could advance and improve an athlete’s quality of training. Oxygen availability is lower at high-altitude but being exposed to the high-altitude causes the body to acclimate to this type of atmosphere. As the body acclimates to the high-altitude, it improves the delivery of oxygen to the muscles and this leads to the theory that consuming more oxygen will lead to a better performance. Strenuous exercise for any amount of time causes the body to use up oxygen in order to produce energy. This kind of exercise is referred to as aerobic exercise which means that the lungs have an increase in gas exchange because more oxygen is taken in and more carbon dioxide is loss. The body automatically produces erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the red blood cell production which carries oxygen to the muscles. The more blood cells built up, the more oxygen can be delivered to the muscles. Other benefits while the body acclimates to the high-altitude includes an increased amount of small blood vessels, an increased buffering capacity that enables the body to manage built up of waste acid, and finally it changes the muscles structure and function. Nonetheless acclimating to high-altitude is not easy. There are other effects that could cancel out the above benefits. For instance, the built up of red blood cells production...

Words: 534 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Briefly Describe the Importance of the Interaction Between the Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems in Maintaining the Body’s Internal Balance.

...environment or balance an optimal concentration of gases, nutrients, ions, and water should be maintained, along with an optimal temperature and pressure for the health of cells (Tortora, p.22). The respiratory and cardiovascular systems are able to maintain the first one. Some of the other organs in the body involved with homeostasis are pancreas, kidneys and skin. The respiratory and cardiovascular systems work in conjunction to maintain the body’s internal balance. The cardiovascular system relates to the circulatory system, which consists of the blood, the heart and blood vessels. (Tortora, p.546). The blood carries oxygen and nutrients from the lungs to the cells and tissues of the body and removes carbon dioxide and other waste from the cells to the lungs (www.medicinenet.com). The respiratory system includes the organs involved in breathing, the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs (www.medicinenet.com). This is where the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs. The maintenance of the body’s internal balance starts when air is breathed into the body through the upper respiratory tract into the lower respiratory tract – the lungs (Terfera and Jegtvig). Here the oxygen from the air is absorbed into the blood stream through the lungs. This exchange of respiratory gases takes place across the alveolar and capillary walls in the lungs (Tortora p.701). The oxygen rich or oxygenated blood is then returned to the left side of the heart through the pulmonary veins...

Words: 529 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Asthma and the Respiratory System

...Organ Systems and Diseases Asthma and The Respiratory System Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways of your lungs. These airways are also known as bronchial tubes; In the case of asthma, chronic means that it never goes away. Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children, but adults have asthma, too. Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma occurs when the airways in your lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and constricted. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and your airways produce extra mucus that blocks your airways. Signs and symptoms of asthma range from minor wheezing to life-threatening asthma attacks. Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Management includes avoiding asthma triggers and tracking your symptoms. There are many symptoms: Asthma signs and symptoms range from minor to severe, and vary from person to person. You may have mild symptoms such as infrequent wheezing, with occasional asthma attacks. Between episodes you may feel normal and have no trouble breathing. Or, you may have signs and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing all the time or have symptoms primarily at night or only during exercises. Asthma signs and symptoms include: Shortness of breath Chest tightness or pain Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing An audible whistling or wheezing...

Words: 770 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

“Briefly Describe the Importance of the Interaction Between the Respiratory and Cardiovascular

...The respiratory system consists of the nose ,pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and can be classified according to structure or function The cardiovascular system comnsists of blood, the heart and blood vessels which are divided into arteries, arterioles capillaries, venules and veins (Ingram, 2011). Structurally consists of two parts, the upper respiratory system and the lower respiratory system. The upper respiratory system consists of the nose, the nasal cavity, pharynx and associated structure and the lower respiratory system consists of the larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs. (Tortora and Derrickson, 2012). Functionally the respiratory system consist of two zones, the conducting zone and the respiratory zone. The conducting zone consists of a series of connecting cavities and tubes and their main function is to filter warm and moisten air and filter it to the lungs and the respiratory zone consist of tubes and tissues within the lungs where gas exchange occurs. In brief the main functions of the respiratory system is to provide for gas exchange, intake oxygen for delivery to the body cells and remove carbon dioxide produced by the body cells. It also helps regulate blood pH and contains receptors for sense of smell, filters inspired air, produce vocal sounds and excretes small amounts of water and heat. (Tortora and Derrickson, 2012). The heart is the primary organ in the cardiovascular system. It’s a pumps up to 14,000 litres of blood around the body each day.(Tortora...

Words: 483 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Pathogens

...types of pathogens include bacteria, protozoa, fungi and Viruses. The modes of action when the pathogens get into the host organism are similar. They first multiply then start destroying different tissues and cells in the host organism. They may release toxins that make the host environment conducive for their survival. The toxins harm the cells of the host organism, thus leading to different illnesses. The illnesses caused are normally very infectious, and they may lead to epidemics. This paper will compare and contrast the pathogens causing whooping cough and zygomycosis. Causal pathogens Whooping cough and Zygomycosis are some of the infectious diseases caused by different pathogens. In whooping cough, the pathogen infects the respiratory system, causing severe coughing in the victims. It is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Zygomycosis is a broad range of fungal infectious diseases that affect the face; particularly the nasal cavity, and the eyes as well as the skin. It is caused by fungi in the Mucorales and Entomophthorales (Vazquez Para 1). The pathogens causing whooping cough and Zygomycosis have several similarities and differences. Classification Bordetella Pertussis belongs to the Kingdom Bacteria, and it is in the phylum Proteobacteria. The bacteria are in the class Beta Proteobacteria and order Burkholderiales. It belongs to the Alcaligenaceae family under the...

Words: 1553 - Pages: 7