The Respiratory System

The main function of the Respiratory System

is to supply the body with oxygen and dispose
of the carbon dioxide.
To accomplish this function at least four
processes, collectively called respiration,
must happen:
 Pulmonary Ventilation.
External Respiration.
Transport of the Respiratory Gases.
Internal Respiration.
The Respiratory System
 Respiration

Pulmonary Ventilation is the movement of air into

and out of the lungs so that the gases there are
continuously changed and refreshed (commonly
called breathing).
External Respiration is the movement of oxygen
from the lungs to the blood and of carbon dioxide
from the blood to the lungs.
Transport of Respiratory Gases is the transport
of oxygen from the lungs to the tissue cells of the
body, and of carbon dioxide from the tissue cells
to the lungs. This is accomplished by the
cardiovascular system using blood as the
transporting fluid
 Respiration.

Internal Respiration is the movement of

oxygen from blood to the tissue cells and of
carbon dioxide from tissue cells to blood.
Functional Anatomy of the Respiratory System

The Respiratory System includes the nose

and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea,
bronchi and their smaller branches, the lungs
which contains the terminal air sacs.
 The Nose

The Nose is the jutting external portion supported

by bones and cartilage; internal nasal cavity
divided by the nasal midline septum and lined
with mucosa. It is the only external visible part of
the respiratory system.
The function of the Nose;
1. Provides an airway for respiration.
2. Moistens and warms entering air.
3. Filters and cleans inspired air.
4. Serves as a resonating chamber for speech.
5. Houses the olfactory (smell) receptors.
 The Nose

When the air comes into the nose it gets

filtered by tiny hairs and it is moistened by
the mucus.
The Paranasal Sinuses also help out in the
Respiratory System. They help to moisten
and heat the air that is breath in .
Air can also get into your body through your
mouth/oral cavity but air is not filtered as
much when it enters in through your mouth.
The Nose
 The Pharynx

The funnel shaped pharynx connects the nasal cavity and mouth

superiorly to larynx and esophagus inferiorly. From superior to inferior,

the pharynx is divided into three regions :the nasopharynx, oropharynx,

and laryngopharynx . The muscular pharynx wall is composed of

skeletal muscle throughout its length , but the cellular composition of

its mucosa varies from one pharyngeal region to another.

 The function of the pharynx;

1. It is a passageway for air and food.

2. It houses the tonsils and it facilitates the exposure of the immune

system to inhaled antigens.

3. It also exchanges air with Eustachian tube to equalize pressure

The Pharynx
 The Larynx

The larynx , or voice box, extends for about 5 cm from

the level of the third to the sixth cervical vertebra.
Superiorly it attaches to the hyoid bone and opens into
the laryngopharynx. Inferiorly it is continuous with the
trachea .
The functions of the Larynx;
1. To provide and open airway.
2. To act as a switching mechanism to route air and food
into the proper channels. The epiglottis is a flap of
tissue that prevents food from going into the trachea to
the lungs.
3. Because it houses the vocal cords, the third function of
the larynx is voice production.
The Larynx
The Larynx
 The Trachea

 The trachea or windpipe, descends from the larynx through

the neck and into the mediastinum. It ends by dividing into
the two main bronchi at midthorax . In humans, it is 10–12
cm long and 2 cm in diameter, and very flexible and mobile.

 The tracheal wall consists of several layers that are common

to many tubular body organs—the mucosa, submucosa, and
adventitia . The mucosa has the same goblet cell–containing
pseudostratified epithelium that occurs throughout most of
the respiratory tract. Its cilia continually propel debris-laden
mucus toward the pharynx. This epithelium rests on a fairly
thick lamina propria that has a rich supply of elastic fibers.
 The Trachea

The function of the Trachea.

1. It functions as an air passageway ( it is held
open by incomplete rings of cartilage) and
it cleans, warms and moistens incoming air.
The Trachea
The Trachea
 Bronchi and Bronchial Tree

It consist of right and left main bronchi, which

subdivides within the lungs to form secondary and
tertiary bronchi and bronchioles. The bronchiolar
walls consist of a complete layer of smooth muscle.
Smooth muscle and mucus secreting cells (Goblet
cells) are also present. The bronchus is lined by
ciliated psuedostratified columnar epithelium.

The function of the Bronchi ;

1. They are air passageways connecting the trachea
with alveoli; cleans, warms and moistens
incoming air.
The Bronchi
The Bronchi
 The Alveoli

Alveoli are microscopic chambers at termini of

bronchial tree; walls of simple squamous
epithelium underlain by thin basement
membrane, the external surface intimately
associated with the pulmonary capillaries. They
are cover with surfactant that keep them from
collapsing.
The function of the Alveoli;
1. It is the main site for gas exchange (i.e.
Internal Respiration.
2. The surfactant reduces surface tension and
prevent the lungs from collapsing.
The Alveoli
The Alveoli
The Alveoli
 The Lung and Pleura

 The paired lungs occupy all of the thoracic cavity except the
mediastinum. Each cone-shaped lung is suspended in its own
pleural cavity and connected to the mediastinum by vascular
and bronchial attachments, collectively called the lung root.
The anterior, lateral, and posterior lung surfaces lie in close
contact with the ribs and form the continuously curving costal
surface. Just deep to the clavicle is the apex, the narrow
superior tip of the lung. The concave, inferior surface that
rests on the diaphragm is the base. On the mediastinal surface
of each lung is an indentation, the hilum, through which
pulmonary and systemic blood vessels enter and leave the
lungs. Each main bronchus also plunges into the hilum on its
own side and begins to branch almost immediately. All
conducting and respiratory passageways distal to the main
bronchi are found in the lungs. The stroma of the lungs is
elastic connective tissue allowing lungs to recoil passively
during expiration.
 The Lungs

The Function of the Lungs;

1. It houses the all conducting and respiratory
passageways distal to the main bronchi.
The Lungs
 The Pleura
 The pleurae form a thin, double-layered serosa . The layer
called the parietal pleura covers the thoracic wall and
superior face of the diaphragm. It continues around the
heart and between the lungs, forming the lateral walls of the
mediastinal enclosure and snugly enclosing the lung root.
From here, the pleura extends as the layer called the
visceral pleura to cover the external lung surface, dipping
into and lining its fissures.
 The pleurae produce pleural fluid, which fills the slitlike
pleural cavity between them. This lubricating secretion
allows the lungs to glide easily over the thorax wall during
our breathing movements. Although the pleurae slide easily
across each other, their separation is strongly resisted by
the surface tension of the pleural fluid. Consequently, the
lungs cling tightly to the thorax wall and are forced to
expand and recoil passively as the volume of the thoracic
cavity alternately increases and decreases during breathing.
The Pleura
Respiratory Cycle
 Regulation of Breathing

The most important factor affecting the

control of breathing in the body is the Co2
levels in the blood.
An increase in the arterial Co2 causes an
increase in acidity of the Cerebrospinal Fluid
(CSF).
An increase in the CSF acidity is detected by
the pH sensors in the medulla in the brain.
The medulla then increases the rate and
depth of breathing.
Medulla stimulates inspiratory muscles
(diaphragm & external intercostal muscles).
Regulation of Breathing
 Respiratory System Disorders

Bronchial Asthma – Bronchial Asthma is

the widespread narrowing of Bronchial
Airways .This may be as a result of exposure
to one or more stimuli, including allergens,
drugs, exertion, emotion, infection and air
pollution.
Respiratory System Disorders
 Respiratory System Disorders

Bronchitis- Bronchitis is inflammation of the

mucous membranes of the bronchi, the airways
that carry airflow from the trachea into the lungs.
Bronchitis can be classified into two categories,
acute and chronic.
Acute Bronchitis is caused by viruses and
bacteria.
Chronic Bronchitis is causedby recurring injury or
irritation to the respiratory epithelium of the
bronchi, resulting in chronic inflammation, edema
(swelling), and increased production of mucus by
goblet cells
Respiratory System Disorder
 Respiratory System Disorder

Emphysema- Emphysema is caused by over

expansions of alveolar sacs which leads to
lost in elasticity, surface area and lung
capacity and therefore insufficient take up of
oxygen.
 Respiratory System Disorder

Pleurisy- Pleurisy is the inflammation of the

pleura and is often cause by pneumonia in
the underlying lung.
Rhinitis- Rhinitis is the inflammation of the
mucous membrane of the nose. It is caused
by a virus infection or allergic reaction.
Pneumonia- Pneumonia is the inflammation of
the lung caused by bacteria, in which the air
sacs (alveoli) become filled with inflammatory
cells andf the lung becomes solid.
Respiratory System Disorder
 Respiratory System Disorder

Tuberculosis- Tuberculosis is an infectious

disease caused by the bacillus
mycobacterium tuberculosis and
characterized by the formation of nodular
lesions (tubercles) in the tissue.
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