HUMAN RESPIRATORY

SYSTEM
Chapter 1
 RESPIRATION

 Our body breaks down food containing carbohyrates to a type of sugar called glucose to
release energy. This breakdown is done by mitochondria in our cells.
 Respiration is a series of chemical reactions happening inside every cell.
 There are 2 types of respiration:
1. Aerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration uses oxygen to breakdown nutrient molecules to release energy.
Glucose + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + Water
2. Anaerobic respiration
 Anaerobic respiration breaks down nutrients to release energy without using oxygen.
 It produces less energy than anaerobic respiration.
 Anaerobic respiration usually takes place in muscle cells during exercise.
Glucose Lactic acid
STRUCTURE OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
 GAS EXCHANGE

WHAT IS GAS EXCHANGE?

 Gaseous exchange occurs at the alveoli in the lungs and takes place
by diffusion. The alveoli are surrounded by capillaries so oxygen
and carbon dioxide diffuse between the air in the alveoli and the
blood in the capillaries.
 Diffusion is the movement of gas from an area of high concentration
to an area of low concentration.
 There is a high concentration of oxygen in the alveoli and a low
concentration of oxygen in the blood, so oxygen diffuses from the
alveoli into the blood.
 There is a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and a
low concentration in the alveoli, so carbon dioxide diffuses from
the blood into the alveoli.
FEATURES OF GAS EXCHANGE

 Gas exchange surfaces have the following features:

 1. Large surface area to allow faster diffusion of gases across the surface
 2. Thin walls to ensure diffusion distances remain short
 3. Good ventilation with air so that diffusion gradients can be maintained
 4. Good blood supply to maintain a high concentration gradient so diffusion
occurs faster
 VENTILATION
 The diaphragm is a thin sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the
abdomen; it is ultimately responsible for controlling ventilation in the lungs
 The external and internal intercostal muscles work as antagonistic pairs (meaning
they work in different directions to each other)
INHALATION VS EXHALATION
BLOOD
 The components of blood are:
1. blood plasma
2. red blood cells
3. white blood cells
PLASMA
 It is the liquid part of blood.
 Its function is to transport red and white blood cells and other dissolve substances, such as glucose, around the body.
 It is also responsible in carrying carbon dioxide out of the body
RBC
 Red blood cells do not have nucleus or mitochondria, contain a red pigment called haemoglobin.
 Function of haemoglobin is to help rbc’s to transport oxygen.
WBC
 White blood cells contain a nucleus and some are larger than red blood cells.
 White blood cells protect our body against diseases.
FUNCTION OF HAEMOGLOBIN

 HOW DOES HAEMOGLOBIN TRANSPORT OXYGEN?

1. Oxygen from air diffuses into blood, then into reed blood cells.
2. Inside the cells, it combines with haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin
3. As blood circulates around the body, oxyhaemoglobin gives its oxygen to surrounding respring cells.
4. The now deoxygenated blood, travels back to the lungs to get more oxygen and te cycle continues
At the lungs

haemoglobin + oxygen oxyhaemoglobin

haemoglobin + oxygen oxyhaemoglobin
At the cells

FEATURES
 They have no nucleus - they lose it during their development - so they can pack in more haemoglobin.
 They are small and flexible so that they can fit through narrow blood capillaries.
 They have a biconcave shape - they are the shape of a disc that is curved inwards on both sides - to maximise their
surface area for oxygen absorption.
 They are thin, so there is only a short distance for the oxygen to diffuse to reach the centre of the cell.
HOW WBCs KILL PATHOGENS

PATHOGENS
 Pathogen is a disease causing organism.
 Pathogens can be passed on from one host to another.
 Pathogens, like other cells, have tiny substances sticking out
from their cell membrane, called antigens.
 Each type of cell has antigens with shapes specific to them.

 Some types of white blood cells called phagocytes, can

change their shape to engulf and digest pathogens. This
process is called phagocytosis.
 Other types of white blood cells, called lymphocytes, have
the ability to ‘read’ the antigens on surfaces of cells and
recognize any that are foreign. They make antibodies that
are complimentary shape to that antigen on surface on
pathogen.
QUESTIONS

1. In your own words, describe the pathway the air takes as it travels from
outside you body into the air sacs.
2. State the differences between the functions of phagocytes and
lymphocytes.
3. State 2 parts of the breathing system that play a role in ventilation.
4. What is the function of haemoglobin? Write in details.
5. Explain 3 features of gas exchange surfaces.
6. State the structures of the respiratory system and their functions.