Respiratory System
MC-1 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
OUTLINE:
I. FUNCTIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
• RESPIRATION
• CELLULAR RESPIRATION
II. THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS
• Nose
• Pharynx
• Larynx
• Trachea
• Bronchi
• Lungs and Pleura
III. References
IV. Appendix
Legend: black – ppt, red – audio recordings, blue - book D
FUNCTIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
Gas exchange
• It’s in the respiratory system where
the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide would take place.
• The oxygen is utilized by the cells for
various activities.
• The by product of cellular activity is
the carbon dioxide - considered as a
waste product. Since it is a waste
product, it must be expelled from the
body and that thru the process of
exhalation.
• The one which carries the oxygen are
the red blood cells, particularly the
hemoglobin component of the RBC.
The transport of gases is possible
which is exchange in respiratory
system at the alveolar level, takes
place because of the help of
cardiovascular system through the
pumping action of the heart which
propels the blood, the blood which
carries the oxygen, and the carbon
dioxide to and from the cells.
Regulation of blood pH
• The respiratory system can alter
blood pH by changing blood CO2
levels.
➢ The blood pH could be
maintained at a normal level
(7.35 pH – 7.45 pH).
➢ Below 7.35, it is acidic.
➢ More than 7.45, it is alkaline
or experiencing alkalosis.
➢ An extreme of the two can
result to death.
➢ Carbon dioxide helps
maintaining the pH level
because part of a component
of carbon dioxide is acidic. If
incase a person is alkalotic,
the tendency of the body is to
preserve or conserve the CO2,
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in the sense that more acids to
go back to the normal or
maintain the balance of the
pH.
➢ Respiratory system has the
power either to control the
CO2 exhalation or save CO2 in
order to maintain balance
when a patient is experiencing
alkalosis, it has its way of
slowing down respiration.
Voice production
• Air movement past the vocal cords
makes sounds and speech possible.
P Olfaction
• The sensation of smell occurs when
airborne molecules are drawn into
nasal cavity.
Innate Immunity/Protection
• The respiratory system protects
against some microorganisms and
other pathogens, such as viruses, by
preventing them from entering the
body and by removing them from
respiratory surfaces.
RESPIRATION
Includes the following:
• Pulmonary ventilation
➢ Air moves in and out of lungs
➢ Continuous replacement of
gases in alveoli (air sacs)
• External respiration
➢ Gas exchange between blood
and air at alveoli
➢ O2 (oxygen) in air diffuses into
blood
➢ CO2 (carbon dioxide) in blood
diffuses into air
• Transport of respiratory gases
➢ Between the lungs and the
cells of the body
➢ Performed the cardiovascular
system.
➢ Blood is the transporting fluid.
o Oxyhemoglobin –
contains oxygen.
o Carboxyhemoglobin
– contains carbon
dioxide.
• Internal respiration
➢ Gas exchange in capillaries
between blood and tissue cells
➢ O2 in blood diffuses into
tissues.
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➢ CO2 waste in tissues diffuses o Respiratory bronchioles

into blood. o Alveolar ducts
o Alveolar sacs

CELLULAR RESPIRATION
• Oxygen (O2) is used by the cells.
• O2 needed in conversion of glucose to
cellular energy (ATP).
• All body cells.
➢ All cells of the body need
oxygen
➢ All cells of the body would
undergo cellular respiration.
• Carbon dioxide is produced as a
waste product.
• The body’s cells die if either the
respiratory or cardiovascular system
fails.
➢ Once the respiratory system
and the cardiovascular system
cease to function, then the NOSE
rest of the body will die.
➢ That’s how important their
function is, in the sense that
they carry oxygen and
nutrients needed by the body
and the cells.

THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS

• The respiratory system has two
division: the upper respiratory tract
and the lower respiratory tract.

• The upper respiratory tract consists of

the external nose, nasal cavity, the
pharynx (throat), and the larynx. The
lower respiratory tract consists of the
trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
• Provides airway.
➢ the oral cavity is part of the ➢ the portion wherein the air
respiratory system in the enters going inside the body.
sense that some people breath • Moistens and warms air.
thru the mouth who have • Filters air.
difficulty breathing with the • Resonating chamber for speech
nose, particularly people with • Olfactory receptors.
respiratory problems. ➢ Receptor that receives
information on what scent you
• Conducting zone are smelling, and it sends
signal to the brain thru the
➢ Respiratory passages that
olfactory cranial nerve so that
carry air to the site of gas
the brain can interpret the
exchange
kind of smell.
➢ Filters, humidifies, and warms
• Nares or nostrils – the external
air.
opening of the nose
o If the air is not
• Choanae or funnels – the opening
humidified as it enters
into the pharynx
the body, it will cause
dryness that can cause
irritation in many parts
of the body.

• Respiratory zone

➢ Site of gas exchange

➢ Composed of:

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NASAL CAVITY • The remainder of nasal cavity: 2

types of mucous membrane:

1. Small patch of olfactory mucosa

near roof (cribriform plate)

2. Respiratory mucosa: lines most

of the cavity

RESPIRATORY MUCOSA
• Pseudostratified ciliated columnar
epithelium
• It is ciliated because it is reach in
cilia.
• Extends from the nares to the • Cilia
choanae. ➢ hair-like structures which helps
in filtering foreign particles
• Air passes through nares (nostrils) which enters the respiratory
trach o
• Nasal septum – divides nasal cavity
It is filtered so
in midline (to right and left halves)
that it won’t
➢ Perpendicular plate of ethmoid cause irritation to
bone, vomer, and septal the respiratory
system
cartilage.
• In patients who are smoking, the
• Connects with pharynx posteriorly number of cilia will diminish. If the
through choanae (posterior nasal cilia is diminished, there is lesser
apertures) action in terms of filtration of
foreign particles which enters the
• Floor is formed by palate (roof of the body.
mouth)
• Scattered goblet cells
➢ Anterior hard palate and
Goblet cells produces mucous
posterior soft palate
o Mucous is sticky in
o Hard palate – forms the
consistency because it helps in
floor of the nasal cavity
trapping foreign particles which
which separates the
enters the respiratory trach
nasal cavity from oral
• Underlying connective tissue lamina
cavity.
propria
• There are three prominent ridges ➢ Mucous cells
called conchae which are present on ▪ Secrete mucous
the lateral walls on each side of the ➢ Serous cells
nasal cavity. It also serves to clean, ▪ Secrete watery fluid
humidify, and warm the air that with digestive
enters the body. enzymes,
▪ e.g.
lysozy
me
LININGS OF NASAL CAVITY • Together all these produce :
➢ Quart/day
• Vestibule (just above nostrils)
• Dead junk is swallowed
➢ Lined with skin containing
sebaceous and sweat glands
and nose hairs.
o Nose hair – helps in
filtering the foreign
materials like dust
particles which enters
the body.
o Sebaceous and sweat
glands – helps in
trapping foreign particles
which enters the body.
➢ Filters large particulars
(insects, etc.)

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 Respiratory System
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NASAL CONCHAE
• Inferior to each is a meatus
• increases turbulence of air
• 3 scroll-like structures
Reclaims moisture on the way out
Since there is a shared pathway or
an opening from the nasal cavity to
the ear, it is the reason why if the
sinuses is inflamed (sinusitis) there
is a dampening of sound. It also
explains why people, most
especially children who would
experience referent upper
respiratory trach infection, they
eventually develop otitis media.
PARANASAL SINUSES
• Frontal, sphenoid,
ethmoid and maxillary
bones
➢ (this is in order; 4 types of
sinuses)
• Open into nasal cavity
• Lined by same mucosa as
nasal cavity and perform
same functions- to produce
mucous that would trap
foreign particles entering the
body
• Sinus will help or influence
the quality of voice produced
by acting as a resonating
chamber
• Also lighten the skull (special
function of sinus; makes
weight of the skull lighter)
• Paranasal sinuses are air-
filled spaces within the skull
o
• It helps in reducing the
weight of the skull
• Can get infected:
➢ Sinusitis- sinusitis
▪ is inflammation
of the mucous
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membrane of a
sinus, especially
one or more of
the
paranasal
sinuses.
NASOLACRIMAL DUCTS
• Carries tears from the eyes,
also open into the nasal
cavity
• Sensory receptors for the
sense of smell are in the
superior part of the nasal
cavity
➢ When ointment is applied to
the eye or when you clean
the eye of the patient, it
should always start from the
least contaminated to the
most contaminated. In this
case, we consider the inner
portion of the eye as the
least contaminated because
the opening of the
nasolacrimal ducts is there. If
you wipe the eye from outer
going inward, the tendency is
that microorganisms will be
dragged and will be
introduced to the
nasolacrimal ducts opening
which is dangerous because it
might cause infection.
SNEEZE REFLEX
• the sensory receptors detect
the presence of foreign
substances; what happens is
action potentials are conducted
along the trigeminal nerves the
medulla oblongata where the
reflex is triggered, the uveal
and soft palate would be
depressed would be depressed,
there is rapid flow of air from
the lungs which is directed into
the nasal passageway
• sneeze and cough reflexes have
a use- to expel microorganisms
and particles
THE PHARYNX (THROAT)
• The pharynx or throat is the common
opening of both the digestive and
respiratory system .
• Consists of 3 parts: naso- ,oro- , and
laryngopharynx
1. Naso- (chonae to the uvula)
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• the most superior epiglottis to the

part of the esophagus
pharynx • Lined with stratified
• Found posterior to squamous epithelium and
the choncae and ciliated columnar epithelium
superior or above • Houses tonsils (they respond to
to the soft palate inhaled antigens)
• It is lined with • Uvula closes off nasopharynx
pseudostratified during swallowing, so food
ciliated columnar doesn’t go into nose
epithelium
• Epiglottis posterior to the
▪ Uvula tongue keeps food out of
• the posterior airway
extension of the
• Oropharynx and
soft palate. It
laryngopharynx serve as
separates the
common passageway for food
nasopharynx from
and air
the oropharynx.
▪ Lined with stratified
▪ Pharyngeal tonsil
squamous epithelium
• helps to defend
for protection
the body against
infection.
• The soft palate is
LARYNX (VOICEBOX)
elevated during
swallowing: this • Extends from the:
movement closes the
• level of the 4th to the 6th
nasopharynx and cervical vertebrae
prevents food from
• Attaches to hyoid bone superiorly
passing from the oral
Pharynx- hyoid bone-
cavity into the
larynx
nasopharynx
• Inferiorly is continuous with
• If the food you
trachea (windpipe)
swallowed enters the
• Order: larynx, pharynx, trachea
respiratory trach, that is
(LT- larynx, trachea)
called aspiration .
2. Oro- (uvula to epiglottis)
• is at the level from • THREE FUNCTIONS:
the uvula down to the 1. Produces vocalizations
epiglottis (speech) o
• the shared pathway 2. Provides an open airway
for air and food (breathing) o
• it is lined with 3. Switching mechanism to
stratified squamous route air and food into proper
epithelium which channels
protects it from • Closed during
abrasion swallowing
▪ Palatine tonsils • Open during
• are in the breathing
lateral walls near
the border of the
oral cavity and
oropharynx
▪ Lingual tonsil
• located in the
surface of the
posterior part of
the tongue

3. Laryngopharynx (epiglottis to
esophagus
• Passes posterior
to the larynx that
extends from the
tip of the

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LARYNX (VOICEBOX)
• 9 cartilages connected by membranes
by ligaments
• There are 9 cartilages, 3 of it
are paired (6 in total) and 3
unpaired cartilages

Thyroid cartilage with laryngeal prominence

(Adam’s apple) anteriorly
• The first unpaired cartilage is called the
thyroid cartilage or the Adam’s apple. It is
attached superiorly to the hyoid bone.
• below the hyoid cartilage is
the cricoid cartilage

Cricoid cartilage inferior to thyroid cartilage:

the •only complete ring of cartilage: signet shaped
and wide posteriorly

Epiglottis (9th cartilage)

• is an elastic cartilage
• its function is, as the larynx elevates
during swallowing, the epiglottis is tipped
posteriorly to cover the opening of the
larynx, preventing food in getting into the
airways

• behind thyroid cartilage and above cricoid:

3 pairs of small cartilages
1. Arytenoid: anchor the vocal cords
2. Corniculate
3. Cuneiform

There are two sets of ligaments that extends

from the posterior surface of the thyroid cartilage
to the paired cartilages
a. Vestibular folds or false vocal cords
• They prevent air from leaving the
lungs, as when a person holds his
breath
b. Vocal folds or true vocals cords
• It is called true vocal cords
because the vocal folds are the
primary source of voice
production

LI Epiglottis(the 9th cartilage)

Elastic cartilage covered by mucosa. On a
stalk attached to thyroid cartilage.

Attaches to back of tongue. During

swallowing, larynx is pulled superiorly.
Epiglottis tips inferiorly to cover and seal • Cough reflex: keeps all but air
laryngeal inlet. out of airways
• Low position of larynx is
• Keep food out of the lower respiratory tract. required for speech
(although makes choking
easier)
• Paired vocal ligaments: elastics
fibers, the core of the true vocal
cords.
• Pair of mucosal vocal folds (true
vocal cords) over the
ligaments: white because
avascular

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• Glottis is the space between the
vocal cords
• Laryngeal muscles control
length and size of opening by
moving arytenoid cartilages
• Sounds is produced by the
vibration of vocal cords as
air is exhaled.
• Posterior to the trachea are the
ligamentous membrane and
smooth muscle
• Also, it is line by pseudostratified
columnar epithelium which
contains numerous cilia or the
hair-like structures and the
goblet cells

• Posterior open parts of tracheal

cartilage but
Innervation of Larynx esophagus abut esophagus
• Trachealis muscle can decrease
(makes surgery at neck risk) diameter of
• In larynx, the intervention of trachea
nerves there is kind of ➢ Esophagus can expand when
intricate and delicate food
• Recurrent laryngeal nerves
swallowed
of Vagus
➢ Food can be forcibly expelled
• These branch off the Vagus
• Wall of trachea has layers
and make a big download
common to many
loop under vessels, then up
tubular organs-filters. Warms and
to larynx in neck.
moistens
• Left loops under aortic arch
incoming air
• Right loops under right
➢ Mucous membrane
subclavian artery
(pseudostratified
• Damage to one: hoarseness
epithelium with cilia and lamina
• Damage to both: can only propria
whisper
with sheet of elastin)
➢ Submucosa (with seromucous
glands)
➢ Adventitia - connective tissue
which
contains the tracheal cartilages.

TRACHEA (WINDPIPE)

• Descends: larynx through neck

into mediastinum
• Divides the thorax into two main
(primary) bronchi
• 16-20 C-shaped rings of hyaline
cartilage joined by
fibroelastic connective tissue
o The trachea is about 1.4 -
1.6cm in diameter and about
10-11cm in length
• Flexible for bending but stays
open despite pressure changes
during breathing (insert pic)

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subdivided further into lobar

bronchi which supplies each
lobe of the lung.
- The left lung has 2 lobes, which
means there is 2 lobar bronchi.
On the right lung there is 3
lobes (superior lobe, middle
lobe, and inferior lobe), which
means it has 3 lobar bronchi.
- The lobar bronchi in turn divide
into segmental bronchi or
tertiary bronchi- composed of
pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium.
Carina - The segmental bronchi will
• Ridges on internal aspect of last continue to subdivide into
tracheal cartilage smaller ones which is called
• Point where trachea branches terminal bronchioles–
(when alive and composed of ciliated simple
standing is T7) cuboidal epithelium.
• Mucosa highly sensitive to - The terminal bronchioles will
irritants: cough reflex subdivide into smaller
bronchioles which are called as
BRONCHI respiratory bronchioles.
- Each respiratory bronchiole
subdivides to form alveolar
ducts.
- As we go deeper, the simpler
is the organization of cells
forming into tissue. The reason
for this is to make the diffusion
of gases easier which happens
at the alveolar level.

Respiratory Zone

• Main=primary bronchi divided

into
secondary=lobar bronchi, each
supply one lobe
➢ 3 on the right
➢ 2 on the left
• Lobar bronchi branch into tertiary
= segmental bronchi
• Continues dividing about 23 times
• Tubes smaller than 1 mm called
bronchioles
• Tissue changes as becomes
smaller
• End-point of respiratory tree
➢ Cartilage plates, not
• Structures that contain air-
rings, then disappears
exchange chambers are
➢ Pseudostratified
called alveoli
columnar to simple
• Respiratory bronchioles lead into
cuboidal without mucus
alveolar ducts: walls consist of
or cilia
alveoli
➢ Smooth muscle
important: sympathetic • Ducts lead into terminal clusters
relaxation called alveolar sacs – are
microscopic chambers
(“bronchodilation”)
parasympathetic • There are 3 million alveoli in the
Constriction lungs
-Alveoli is an area where
(“bronchoconstriction”)
gas exchange takes place.
-Primary bronchi divide into
right bronchus and left
bronchus, and it will be

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Gas Exchange
• Air filled alveoli account for most
of the lung volume
-Alveoli is filled with air.
• Very great area of gas exchange
(1500 sq ft)
-but it is still microscopic.
• Alveolar wall
o Single layer of squamous
epithelial cells (type 1 cells)
surrounded by basal lamina.
o 0.5um (15x thinner than
tissue paper)
-meaning the wall of
your alveoli is very thin.
It has to be very thin so
that air can pass in and
out.
-movement of air in and
out of alveoli that
exchange through the
work of DIFFUSION.
o External wall covered by
cobweb of
-cobweb capillaries is the
one that carries the
blood.
• Respiratory membrane: fusion of
the basal laminas of
o Alveolar wall
o Capillary wall
• The “air-blood barrier” (the
respiratory membrane) is where
gas exchange occurs
o Oxygen diffuses from air in the
alveolus (singular of alveoli) to
blood in capillary
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o Carbon dioxide diffuse from
the blood in the capillary into
the air in the alveolus
-remember that alveoli is
air filled it is like a balloon that
will inflate because of air. It
must not collapse, because if it
collapses it could skin to each
other and that is what you call
LUNG COLLAPSE otherwise
known as ATELECTASIS.
Surfactant
• Type II cuboidal epithelial cells
are scattered in alveolar walls
• Surfactant is a detergent-like
substance which is secreted in
fluid coating alveolar surfaces –
it decreases tension
• Without it the walls would stick
together during exhalation
- Surfactant is a lipoprotein
which is produced that act to
gate and coat the alveoli
preventing it from sticking to
each other and preventing the
alveoli from collapsing.
• Premature babies – problem
breathing is largely because lack
surfactant
-They lack surfactant because their
lung is not yet that matured
-If the lung of the baby has no
surfactant, it means that the child
is more prone to Respiratory
Distress Syndrome (SDR). Which
explains why children who are born
premature needs additional oxygen
support, and some should be placed
inside the incubator to properly
support the child.
-while the baby is inside the womb
of the mother the lungs don’t
function for gas exchange.
Microscopic Detail of Alveoli
• Alveoli surrounded by fine elastic
fibers
• Alveoli interconnect via
alveolar pores
• Alveolar macrophages –
free floating “dust cells”
• Note type I and II cells and joint
membrane
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the diaphragm would move

downward. When the person is
exhaling the diaphragm moves
up and the lungs contracts.
When there is movement in
breathing the two pleurae would
just rub with each other.

LUNGS AND PLEURA

• Lungs are coned shape, the apex is
found about 2.5cm above the clavicles
• It is separated into
bronchopulmonary segments

• Pleura also divides thoracic

• The left lung has 9 segments, while cavity in three:
the right lung has 10 segments.
o 2 pleural
• Around each lung is a flattened sac of
serous membrane called pleura o 1 mediastinal
-pleura are ones that • Pathology
envelope the lungs o Pleuritis – inflammation of
o Parietal pleura – outer layer the pleural membrane
o Visceral pleura –inner layer/
o Pleural effusion – excess
directly on lung
o Pleural cavity – slit-like
pleural fluid
potential space filled with -if there is air which
pleural fluid/ in between accumulates the
The pleural fluid acts as a intrapleural cavity –
binder for the visceral PNEUMOTHORAX.
and parietal pleura so
that they will not be
-If it is water/fluid -
separated from each HYDROTHORAX.
other. It also acts as a -if it is blood-
lubrication so that when HEMOTHORAX
the person is breathing
(inhaling and exhaling),
when the lungs expands
and contracts, the 2
pleurae will just rub or
slide against with each
other without causing
friction
• Lungs can slide but separation from
pleura is resisted (like film between 2
plates of glass)
• Lungs cling to thoracic wall and are
forced to expand and recoil as volume
of thoracic cavity changes during
breathing.
-when the person is breathing/
inhaling the lungs would inflate,

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o Upper lobe
o Middle lobe
o Lower lobe
• Left lung: 2 lobes
o Upper lobe
o Lower lobe

Each lobe is made up of

bronchopulmonary segments
separated by dense connective tissue
• Each segment receives air from an
individual segmental (tertiary)
bronchus
Relationship of organs in thoracic • Approximately 10
cavity bronchopulmonary segments in
• Paired lungs occupy all thoracic each lung
activity lateral to the • Limit spread of infection
mediastinum • Can be removed more easily
• Mediastinum contains (mainly): because only small vessels span
heart, great blood vessels, segments
trachea, main bronchi,
esophagus Smallest subdivision seen with the
naked eye is the lobule
LUNGS o Hexagonal on surface, size of
pencil eraser
o Served by large bronchiole
and its branches
o Black carbon is visible on
connective tissue separating
individual lobules in smokers
and city dwellers

• Each is cone-shaped with

anterior, lateral, and posterior
surfaces containing ribs
• Superior tip apex, just deep to
clavicle
• Concave inferior surface resting
on diaphragm is the base

• Hilus or hilum Pulmonary arteries bring oxygen-

o Indention on mediastinal poor blood to the lungs for
medial) surface oxygenation
o Place where blood o They branch along with the
vessels, bronchi, lymph bronchial tree
vessel, and nerves enter o The smallest feed into the
and exit the lung pulmonary capillary network
• “Root” of the lung around the alveoli
o Above structures Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated
attaching lung to blood from the alveoli of the
mediastinum lungs to the heart 46
o Main ones: pulmonary Stroma – framework of connective
artery and veins and tissue holding the air tubes and
main bronchus spaces
• Right lung: 3 lobes o Many elastic fibers
o Lungs light, spongy and
elastic
o Elasticity reduces the effort
of breathing
Blood supply
o Lungs get their own blood
supply from bronchial
arteries and veins

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Innervation: pulmonary plexus

on lung root contains
sympathetic, parasympathetic
and visceral sensory fibers to
each lung
o From there, they lie on
bronchial tubes and blood
vessels within the lungs
Bronchopulmonary – means both
bronchial tubes and lung alveoli
together
o Bronchopulmonary segment –
chunk receiving air from a
segmental (tertiary) bronchus*:
tertiary means it’s the third
order in size; also, the trachea
has divided three times now
“Anatomical dead space” Inspiration continued
o The conducting zone which • Intercostals keep the thorax stiff so
doesn’t participate in gas sides don’t collapse in with change
exchange of diaphragm
• During deep or forced inspiration,
Ventilation additional muscles are recruited:
o Scalenes
Breathing = “pulmonary ventilation”
o Sternocleidomastoid
o Pulmonary means related to the
o Pectoralis minor
lungs
o Quadratus lumborum on 12th
Two phases
rib
o Inspiration (inhalation) – air in
o Erector spinae
o Expiration (exhalation) – air out
(some of these “accessory muscles” of
Mechanical forces cause the movement
ventilation are visible to an observer;
of air
it usually tells you that there is
o Gases always flow from higher respiratory distress – working hard to
pressure to lower breathe)
o For air to enter the thorax, the
pressure of the air in it has to be
lower than atmospheric Expiration
pressure • Quiet expiration in healthy people is
- Making the volume of the chiefly passive
thorax larger means the air o Inspiratory muscles relax
inside it is under less o Rib cage drops under force of
gravity
pressure (the air has more
o Relaxing diaphragm moves
space for as many gas
superiorly (up)
particles, therefore it is
o Elastic fibers in lung recoil
under less pressure)
o Volumes of thorax and lungs
- The diaphragm and
decrease simultaneously,
intercostal muscles
increasing the pressure
accomplish this
o Air is forced out
The diaphragm is considered
as the most efficient muscle
in breathing, the intercostal Expiration continued
muscles (muscles in • Forced expiration is active
between the ribs) aids in the • Contraction of abdominal wall
movement of rib cage up and muscles
down, which facilitates o Oblique and transversus
breathing. predominantly
• Increases intra-abdominal
pressure forcing the diaphragm
Muscles of Inspiration superiorly
• Depressing the rib cage,
• During inspiration, the dome shaped
decreases thoracic volume
diaphragm flattens as it contracts
o Some help from internal
o This increases the height of the
intercostals and latissimus
thoracic cavity
dorsi
• The external intercostal muscles
contract to raise the ribs
o This increases the circumference
of the thoracic cavity

SANTIAGO, SETOSTA, SOYOSA, STA. ELENA, SUBIAGA, SUDARIO 12

 Respiratory System WEEK #4
MC-1 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY (01/13/2023) | Sir de Veyra

Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)

Pneumothorax would lead to lung
collapse because in the pleural cavity,
what occupies the space there is the air
so lungs could not expand fully
• Think about the processes involved
and then try and imagine the
various scenarios
1. Trauma causing the thoracic
wall to be pierced so air gets into
the pleura
2. Broken rib can do (1); always do
a CXR if there’s a broken rib
3. Visceral pleura breaks, letting
alveolar air into pleural space

▪ There are many diseases of the

respiratory system, including
asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD
(chronic obstructive pulmonary
Neural Control of Ventilation disease – with chronic
• Reticular formation in medulla bronchitis and/or emphysema)
▪ Responsible for basic rate and and epiglottitis
rhythm
▪ Can be modified by higher
centers
▪ Limbic system and
hypothalamus, e.g. gasp with
certain emotions
▪ Cerebral cortex – conscious
control
• Chemoreceptors
▪ Central – in the medulla
▪ Peripheral: see next slide
▪ Aortic bodies on the aortic
arch
▪ Carotid bodies at the fork of
the carotid artery: monitor O2
and CO2 tension in the blood
and help regulate respiratory
rate and depth
▪
Peripheral chemoreceptors
regulating respiration
• Aortic bodies*
▪ On aorta
▪ Send sensory info to
medulla through X (vagus
n)
• Carotid bodies+ END OF TRANSCRIPTION
▪ At fork of common carotid
artery REFERENCES
▪ Send info mainly through
IX (glossopharyngeal n)
• Sir Andre’s PPT
• Seeley’s Anatomy and
Physiology 11th edition
• Audio recording

SANTIAGO, SETOSTA, SOYOSA, STA. ELENA, SUBIAGA, SUDARIO 13