The Respiratory System

INTRODUCTION
• The respiratory system is the set of organs that allow a
person to breathe and exchange oxygen and carbon
dioxide throughout the body.

• In humans the system is located in the head, neck and

chest.

• It can be divided into three parts: the air passages and

tubes, the pump and the respiratory surface 
FUNCTIONS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Supplies the body with oxygen and disposes of carbon dioxide

• Filters inspired air
• Produces sound
• Contains receptors for smell
• Carries oxygen and carbon dioxide
Different parts of the respiratory system
 Nose

• Air enters the body through the nostrils.

• Nostrils contain hairs which trap dirt and foreign
particles from entering the body.
• Walls of nasal cavity are lined with mucus which also
trap dirt and moistens the air.
• Large number of capillaries near the surface of the
nostrils warm the air as it enters the body.
 The pharynx and larynx

• Air enters the Pharynx (throat) from the nasal cavity.

• The air then passes into the Larynx (voice box)
• - composed of cartilage.
• -vocal cords: pairs of membranes stretched across the
larynx ; their vibration creates sound.
Trachea(Windpipe)
• It is made from rings of cartilage
• Each ring is in the shape of a “C”
• The inner lining of the windpipe has 2 types
of cells
• Mucus-secreting cells
• To trap the dust particles and bacteria in the
form of mucus
• Ciliated epithelial cells
• The cilia move the mucus to the top of the
windpipe where it enters the back of the
mouth and it is swallowed.
 Bronchi and Bronchioles
• Bronchi:
• The windpipe divides into two smaller tubes, known as bronchi
(singular : bronchus).
• Made of hoops of cartilage
• Lined with cilia-just like windpipe
• Entrance way to the lungs

• Bronchioles:
• The bronchi divide up into many smaller tubes, called
bronchioles.
• Divide and become smaller, thinner with less cartilage
• Diameter of about 1mm
 Alveoli
• After travelling into the many bronchioles, it
finally passes into some of the millions of tiny
sacs called alveoli, which have the specialised
surfaces for gas exchange.

• Walls are 1 cell thick and moist from mucus.

• Surrounded by capillaries.

• Through the alveoli walls, the exchange of

oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
• An alveolus has adaptations to
allow it to exchange gases
effectively.
• Large surface area
• Thin and elastic walls
• Surrounded by a network of
blood capillaries
• Moist surface
 INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES

• The chest wall is made by the ribs and intercostal muscles.

• The small space between the lungs and the chest is called pleural
cavity(it contains a film of liquid that acts like a lubricating oil)
• Each rib is attached to the backbone by a joint that allow only a
small amount of movement.
• The internal and external intercostal muscles make the ribs move.
THE DIAPHRAGM
• It is a large sheet of muscle attached to
the edges of the tenth pair of ribs and
the backbone.
• It separates the chest cavity (lungs &
heart) from the lower body cavity.
Inhalation Exhalation
(Process of taking air into lung) (Process of expelling air from lung)
 Inhalation
External intercostal muscles
contract
Rib cage moves upwards and
outwards
The diaphragm contracts and
flattens
The volume of the thoracic
cavity increase
Air enters the lungs
Exhalation
External intercostal muscles
relax
Rib cage moves moves
downwards and inwards
The diaphragm relaxes and
curves upwards
The volume of the thoracic
cavity decrease
Air is forced out of the lungs
 Gas exchanges

• Gaseous exchange takes place in the lungs by diffusion.

• Diffusion: the movement of gas molecules from higher
concentration to lower concentration
• Oxygen diffuse from alveoli to the blood capillary
• Carbon dioxide diffuse from blood capillary to the alveoli
During inhalation, when fresh air is
taken into the alveoli
• There is more oxygen in this fresh air than in
the blood capillaries
• Oxygen from the alveoli diffuses into the
blood capillaries surrounding the alveoli.
• The oxygen combines with the haemoglobin
the red blood cells, producing
oxyhaemoglobin
• At the same time, higher concentration of
carbon dioxide in the blood capillaries causes
carbon dioxide to diffuse from the blood
capillaries into the alveoli.
• This carbon dioxide is expelled from the
alveoli during exhalation
 Cell Respiration
• The process in which food is oxidised in the
cells to get energy
• Cell respiration takes place in all living cells,
i.e. in both plants cells and animal cells.
Glucose + oxygen  energy + carbon dioxide + water
• Cell respiration which uses oxygen is
classified as aerobic respiration
• Some organism such as yeast and some
bacteria do not use oxygen for respiration.
They carry out anaerobic respiration
 Effect of smoke to respiratory system
• Cigarette smoke contains irritants chemical :
• A carcinogen- an agent directly involved in
causing cancer.

• Nicotine • cause addicted

• Carbon monoxide • cause death
• Sulfur oxide • damages lung
tissues
• Tar • blackens the lungs
and causes them to
be less efficient for
gaseous exchange
 Diseases of respiratory system
 Asthma
 Smoker’s cough
 Bronchitis
 Lung cancer
 Emphysema