Respiration

Prepared by: Jameel Kobeissi

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 Respiration
• Respiration is the process in which organisms exchange gases between their body cells and
the environment.
 Types of Respiration:
1. External Respiration (Ventilation): the process of breathing (inhalation and exhalation).
2. Internal respiration: which is the diffusion of gases between body fluids (blood and
interstitial fluid) and tissues.
3. Cellular Respiration: Metabolic processes of converting the energy stored in biological
molecules (food) to usable energy in the form of ATP. This process involve the
consumption of oxygen and production of carbon dioxide.
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 External Respiration
• Carried out by the respiratory system.
• The Respiratory System is divided into:
A. Respiratory Tube: organs where the inhaled and exhaled air pass.
Nose  Pharynx  Larynx Trachea Bronchus  Bronchiole  Alveolus (Air Sacs)
B. Accessory Organs that help in Respiration :
- Diaphragm Muscle : located just under the lungs
- Intercoastal Muscles : located between the ribs and divided into external and internal.
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Respiratory System

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 Ventilation
• Breathing: is the set of muscular movements that gives the respiratory surfaces a
constant supply of fresh air
• Breathing occurs with the help of:
- Two groups of muscles:
A. Intercoastal Muscles: muscles between the ribs
B. Diaphragm: muscle located at the base of the lungs
- Pleural Membrane : the membrane that surrounds the lungs. The membrane sticks
the outside of the lungs to the inside of the chest cavity.
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 Lungs Properties
• The lungs themselves do not have any muscles. However, they will follow
the movement of the chest wall due to the pleural membrane.
• When the volume of the chest cavity increases (due to the entrance of air)
the volume of the lung will increase
 the pressure inside the lungs will decrease.

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 Diffusion
• Do you prefer to stay in room 1 (crowded, Room-1 Room-2
high pressure), or to leave to room 2
(comfortable relax, low pressure)?
• It is the same for all gases, they hate a high
pressure medium, and they like to diffuse
to a quite low pressure medium if they
have the chance to do that. There you are! HaHaHa

• Complete the adjacent figure by

placing an arrow to the direction of
diffusion:
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 Movement of Air
• Diffusion: is the passage of gases from a medium of high pressure
(amount/concentration/volume) to a medium of low pressure.
• Air moves down the pressure gradient.
• Air passes from a medium of High Pressure to a medium of Low Pressure

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 Video – Respiratory Movements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPovpAXcmIU

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 Respiratory Movements (1)
A. Inhalation : Breathing In
The air pressure in the lungs is less than the pressure of the atmosphere; so
air will move into the lungs down the pressure gradient.

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 Respiratory Movements (2)
B. Exhalation : Breathing Out
Air pressure in the lungs is greater than the air pressure of the atmosphere;
so air will move out of the lungs along a pressure gradient.

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 Gas Exchange – Alveoli
Level
• The air breathed-in usually contains high amount
of oxygen.
• The air breathed-out usually contains more carbon
dioxide than oxygen.
This is due to the gas exchange that occurs at
the level of the alveoli.

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 Guess The Direction of Diffusion
• The table below shows the pressure of respiratory gases in the alveolar air
and in the blood entering the alveoli (lungs).
• Predict the direction of diffusion of each gas by filling the blanks.
Pressure of Gas (mm Hg)
Medium
Oxygen Gas Carbon Dioxide
Alveolar Air 100 40
Blood Entering Lungs 37 46

• Oxygen diffuses from ___________

Alveolar Air to _______________
Blood

• Carbon dioxide diffuses from ____________

Blood to _____________
Alveolar Air 13
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