HSCI 100 HSCI 100

Human Biology Human Biology Human Biology Human Biology

In with the good air, out with bad air In with the good air, out with bad air
Organ systems of the Organ systems of the
human body human body Part 2 Part 2
2
2
Overview of the respiratory system Overview of the respiratory system
Whats in this space?
A. Thymus
B. Thyroid
C. Stomach
D. Liver
E. Heart
What is the pathway that air follows? What is the pathway that air follows?
Traffic crossing: Traffic crossing:
the air and food pipes overlap the air and food pipes overlap
When you swallow,
the larynx (voicebox)
moves up against
the epiglottis to
close off the opening
to the trachea. Just
feel your Adams
apple move when
you swallow.
The trachea The trachea
A tube, often called the
windpipe, that connects
the larynx with the 1
bronchi
Made of connective
tissue, smooth muscle
and c-shaped
cartilaginous rings
Lined with cilia and
mucus that help to keep
the lungs clean. The
mucus is eventually
swallowed.
Smoking destroys cilia
among other things
The lungs The lungs
The bronchi, bronchioles
and alveoli beyond the 1
bronchi make up the
lungs.
The right lung has 3 lobes The right lung has 3 lobes
while the left lung has 2
lobes. These divide
further into lobules.
Each lung is enclosed by
membranes called pleura.
The pleura help keep
lungs expanded.
The alveoli The alveoli
~300 million in the lungs that
greatly increase surface area
total area is ~75 m
2
Alveoli are surrounded by
capillaries
The alveoli and capillaries are
one layer of epithelium to allow
efficient exchange of gases
Alveoli are lined with surfactant
that act as a film to keep
alveoli open and prevent them
from collapsing and sticking
together it helps break the
surface tension of water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrawNbjq91g
Two phases of breathing/ventilation Two phases of breathing/ventilation
1. Inspiration/inhalation an active process
involving muscle contraction that brings air
into the lungs
2. Expiration/exhalation usually a passive
process where muscles relax and expel air
from the lungs
Inspiration Inspiration
The diaphragm and intercostal
muscles contract
The diaphragm flattens and the
rib cage moves upward and
outward
Volume of the thoracic cavity Volume of the thoracic cavity
and lungs increase
The air pressure within the
lungs decrease (i.e. partial
vacuum created)
Air flows into the lungs
With muscle relaxation,
expiration results
How do we control breathing? How do we control breathing?
Nervous control:
Voluntary and involuntary
Input signals from blood
chemistry
Respiratory control centers
in the brain (pons and
medulla oblongata) sends medulla oblongata) sends
out nerve impulses to
contract muscle for
inspiration. Involuntary or
autonomic control
12-20 breaths/minute at
baseline or average rate
Sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS) is
thought to occur when this
center stops sending out
signals
Breathing can also be consciously Breathing can also be consciously
or voluntarily controlled or voluntarily controlled
Chemical control:
2 sets of chemoreceptors sense the drop in pH: one set is in the
brain and the other in the circulatory system.
Both are sensitive to carbon dioxide (CO
2
) levels that change blood
pH due to metabolism.
Hyperventilating pushes the reaction to the right alkalosis results
(pH goes up).
Hypoventilating pushes the reaction to the left acidosis results (pH
goes down). Chemoreceptors sense this drop in pH and send
signals increase rate and depth of breathing. This is why you
cannot hold your breath forever: involuntary control overrides
voluntary control of breathing.
H
+
+ HCO
3
-
H
2
CO
3
H
2
O + CO
2
proton
Carbonic
anhydrase
bicarbonate carbonic acid water carbon dioxide
Exchange of gases, O Exchange of gases, O
22
and CO and CO
22
, in the body , in the body
The exchange of gases is dependent on diffusion
Partial pressure is the amount of pressure each
gas exerts (P
CO
or P
O
) gas exerts (P
CO
2
or P
O
2
)
O
2
and CO
2
will diffuse from the area of higher to
the area of lower partial pressure
External respiration External respiration
Exchange of gases between the lung alveoli and
the capillaries
P
CO
2
lung capillaries > P
CO
2
air
thus CO
2
diffuses out of the plasma into the lungs
2
P
O
2
lung capillaries < P
O
2
air
thus O
2
diffuses into the red blood cells in the lung
capillaries
The reverse situation exists between tissue capillaries and cells
throughout the body = internal respiration
n.b. Cellular respiration is another term for aerobic metabolism
performed by mitochondria
The movement of The movement of OO
22
and CO and CO
22
in the body in the body
At lungs:
CO
2
capillary > CO
2
air
At lungs:
O
2
air > O
2
capillary
At tissue:
CO
2
cells > CO
2
capillary
At tissue:
O
2
capillary > O
2
cells
Upper respiratory tract Upper respiratory tract
infections infections
Sinusitis blockage of sinuses. Pressure builds up and
it can be quite painful.
Otitis media infection of the middle ear (earache). The
eustacian tube links the ear to the nasopharynx
Otitis media infection of the middle ear (earache). The
eustacian tube links the ear to the nasopharynx
Tonsillitis inflammation of the tonsils, particularly
frequent when fighting infections
Laryngitis infection of the larynx that leads to loss of
voice
Lower respiratory tract disorders Lower respiratory tract disorders
Pneumonia infection of the lungs with thick, fluid build up = drowning.
Tuberculosis (TB, aka consumption) bacterial infection that leads to
tubercles (encapsulated Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that resist
destruction in lysosomes). New M. tuberculosis strains now emerging with
antibiotic resistance in recent upswing of TB cases = XDR-TB.
Pulmonary fibrosis lungs lose elasticity because fibrous connective tissue
builds up in the lungs usually because of inhaled particles. e.g. coal dust, builds up in the lungs usually because of inhaled particles. e.g. coal dust,
asbestos, silica.
Emphysema chronic, incurable disorder in which alveoli are damaged and
thus the surface area for gas exchange is reduced.
Asthma bronchial tree becomes irritated causing breathlessness, wheezing
and coughing. Can be triggered by immune response.
Bronchitis bronchi become inflamed and can be due to infection. Together,
emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis are called Chronic Pulmonary
Obstructive Disease (COPD) because they are frequently recurring disorders.
Lung cancer uncontrolled cell division in the lungs that is often associated
with smoking and can lead to death perhaps the most deadly of all cancers.
questions? questions?