• Oxygenation: delivery of oxygen (O2)

• Ventilation: removal of carbon dioxide (CO2)

• Maintaining balanced acid/base levels
• Additional roles (speech, etc.)
• The respiratory system is divided into:
 Upper airways
 Lower airways
• The upper airways include: the nasal cavity, oral cavity,
pharynx and throat.

• Main roles:
 Filtration: cleaning incoming air using
small hairs in the nasal cavity
 Moisturizing air using nasal membranes
 Warming air using blood vessels
 Facilitating smell and speech
• The epiglottis seals the trachea while swallowing, which
prevents the passage of food, liquids and foreign objects
into the trachea.
• The lower airways include the trachea, the bronchi and the
bronchial tree.
Cross section of the trachea

Larynx

Trachea

Left main bronchus

Right main bronchus

Carina

Bronchial tree
 Trachea

Left main bronchus

Right main bronchus

Bronchial tree

Left lung lobes

(two)
Right lung lobes
(three)

Alveoli
The right side of the The left side of the
lung has 3 lobes lung has 2 lobes

Superior lobe
Superior lobe

Middle lobe
Inferior lobe
Inferior lobe
• The pleural membranes envelop the lungs; one membrane
adheres to the lung tissue and the other to the inside of the
thorax.
• There is a cavity with a lubricating liquid that assists in
maintaining negative pressure between the pleural
membranes.
• This negative pressure causes the adherence of the
membranes to each other and is crucial to the respiratory
process.
• Chest Boundaries:
 Posterior: the spinal cord
 Anterior: the sternum
 Superior: the clavicle
 Inferior: the diaphragm
 Lateral (right and left): ribs

• Crucial organs in the chest: heart, primary blood vessels,

lungs, esophagus, thoracic and respiratory nerves
• 12 pairs of ribs, most of which are connected directly to the
sternum:
 Ribs 1-7 are designated as true ribs
 Ribs 8-10 are designated false ribs
 Ribs 11-12 are designated as free floating ribs
• Beneath every rib there is a Vein, Artery and Nerve (VAN)
• Between any two ribs there are intercostal muscles
• The lowest ribs protect part of the abdomen
• Ribs
• Clavicular bones
• Intercostal muscles
• Diaphragm
• Pleural membranes
Intercostal muscles

Rib cage

Parietal pleura

Visceral pleura
Ribs Clavicular bones

Diaphragm
Ribs

‫‫‬Sternum
• External respiration: interchange of gases between the
lungs and the bloodstream
• Internal respiration: interchange of gases between the
bloodstream and tissues / cells
• Cellular respiration: the process which creates energy
through the oxidation of glucose
 Air
21% oxygen + 0.03 % carbon dioxide + 78% nitrogen + additional gases

Expulsion of Intake of
CO2 O2
Lungs

Removal of CO2 Addition of O2

from the into the
bloodstream bloodstream
• Divided into
 an active stage: inhaling air
 a passive stage: exhaling air
1. The volume of the lungs is enlarged as a result of
contraction of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles.
2. This is followed by an interchange of gases using the
alveoli.
3. The body relaxes the muscles and reduces the volume of
the lungs thus exhaling CO2 rich air to the environment.
1. Stimulation of the respiratory center in the brain stem by
high levels of CO2 in the blood stream.
2. This increases the volume of the chest by activating the
respiratory muscles.
3. Reduces the pressure within the lungs → causes
inhalation.
 Respiratory muscles contract

The volume of the chest expands

The volume of the pleural cavity is enlarged

Pressure in the pleural cavity is reduced

The volume of the lungs increases

The pressure in the lungs is reduced

Air is sucked into the lungs

1. The respiratory muscles relax and the chest returns to its
normal volume because of gravity and the elasticity of the
pulmonary tissue.
2. The volume of the chest decreases → pressure builds
within the lungs → air is exhaled.
3. This is a passive process that does not require additional
energy.
 The respiratory muscles relax

A passive contraction of the chest occurs

The volume of the pleural cavity is reduced

The pressure in the pleural cavity increases

The volume of the lungs decreases

The pressure within the lungs increases

Air is expelled from the lungs

 Normal Respiration Rate (RR) by Age
Age Respirations per minute
Below one year 30-60

Between 1 to 3 24-40

Between 4 to 5 22-34

Between 6 to 12 18-30

Over 12 12-20
• Hypoxia: A decrease in the level of oxygen in the body's
tissues
• Hypoxemia: A decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood
• Perfusion: The movement of a liquid through tissue. In the
case of pulmonary perfusion, the movement of blood through
pulmonary tissue allows the gathering of oxygen from the
alveoli and releases carbon dioxide. Any interference to the
blood flow hinders the interchange of gases.
• Tachypnea: Respiration rate higher than normal
• Bradypnea: Respiration rate lower than normal
• Dyspnea: Abnormal breathing or difficulty breathing
• Apnea: The absence of respiratory activity
‫‫‬Questions?