Respiratory Anatomy and

Physiology

THEA 2051
A human being is only breath and
shadow.
Sophocles
 BREATH

Animals need three things to

survive; food, water and air.
Food and water can be stored
but air cannot.
 Function of Respiration
• Primary function of breath is life
• O2 essential requirement for normal cell
metabolism
• CO2 major waste product
• Transport O2 to cells and transport CO2 to
lungs for excretion
• Air is expelled through MUSCLES
 Inspiration
• Air moves in and out of the lungs in response to
pressure.
• When Alveolar pressure is negative it results in air
flow into the lungs
• Alveolar pressure becomes equal with atmospheric
pressure thorax stops expanding and airflow stops
• Gas flows from area of higher pressure
(concentration) to one of lower pressure
concentration)
 Expiration
• Chest wall relaxes and the thorax and
lungs space decreases
• When Alveoli pressure is positive to
atmospheric pressure the result is air flow
out of the lungs
• Pressure becomes equal and gas movement
ceases
• Muscles of Inspiration contract creating a
negative pressure drawing air in.

• To equalize pressure in the lung’s two

forces, (active which is muscular and
passive which consists of gravity and elastic
recoil) empty them.
 Elastic Recoil
Elastic recoil is an object’s ability, after its shape is changed through
forces to reclaim its original shape once those forces are removed.
Elastic recoil works on any tissue including muscles, bones and
organs. So as the muscles of inspiration relax the body springs back,
helping to empty the lungs.
 Respiratory Volumes
• Vital Capacity is the maximum usable air.
• Includes:
– INSPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME
– TIDAL VOLUME
– EXPIRATORY RESERVE VOLUME
Perkins and Kent, Textbook of Functional Anatomy of Speech, Language and
Hearing (4th Ed), Williams and Wilkins, 1993
 Cont’d
• Residual volume-
volume even after forced expiration a residual
amount of air is present in the alveoli
(2 L)
• Tidal volume-
volume volume of gas inhaled or exhaled during a
normal breath
(500- 600ml)
• Inspiratory reserve volume-
volume amount of gas that can be
forcefully expired after inspiration of normal tidal volume
(2 L)
• Expiratory reserve volume – expiration
(2 L)
TOTAL LUNG CAPACITY is 7 L
 For Speech
• In speech we want to increase Tidal
Volume.
Volume We want to increase the 500ml
amount to use it more effectively and
efficiently.
• Breath for life Thorax expands slightly
• Breath for speech Thorax expands
significantly
 Upper Airway Anatomy
• Trachea- 15-20 “C” shaped cartilages,
anterior to esophagus
• Bronchial tree- primary bronchi divide
into R and L; divide into secondary
bronchi as they enter the lungs; form
bronchioles extend into each lobe
• Alveoli- primarily where gas exchange
takes place, coated with surfactant
which keeps them from collapsing
Breathing
 Movement of Breath

• The THORAX increases in THREE WAYS

• VERICAL – Downward motion-Bicycle Pump

• TRANSVERSE- Bucket handle motion
• ANTEROPOSTERIOR – Water-Pump handle
motion
 VERTICAL MOVEMENT
• Vertical expansion is achieved by lowering
of the Diaphragm.
 VERTICAL MOVEMENT

The pelvic diaphragm

and the thoracic
diaphragm move
down when inspiring.
 TRANSVERSE
• Transverse (Lateral) increase happens at the rib
cage.
• This movement is sometimes referred to as
BUCKET HANDLE.
• The movement comes from the lower portion due to
CARTLIDGE as well as the shape of the ribs.
• Lower ribs are shaped in direction of movement.
• Upper ribs are more horizontal.
• It is the outward movement which assists the
diaphragm as well as providing more space for the
lungs
Transverse
 TRANSVERSE

Latarel Axis

Spine

Anterior-posterior axis A torqued rib

 ANTERPOSTERIOR

• This movement is less efficient (5-10%)

• Increases the size of the cavity from the upper
chest, from sternum.
• It is called PUMP HANDLE MOTION.
• It is less flexible not as much breath can be
taken.
• The expansion will not allow the intake of much
breath.
 Contraction of the
diaphragm, intercostals Diaphragm and rib-
Diaphragm contracts down, increasing
and interchondral cage relax
the vertical dimension of the thorax. Brain (medulla
muscles stop and decreasing the
and higher vertical, lateral and
elastic recoil brings
centers) sends anterior-posterior
them to released
impulse to dimensions of the
position.
Intercostals and inspire. thorax.
interchondral
muscles contract
Abdominal and
expanding lateral
intercostals
and anterior-
muscles contract
posterior dimensions Pressure is
decreasing thoracic
of the thorax. equalized in
volume.
the lungs.

INSPIRATION EXPIRATION

Gas is Positive air

Negative air expelled pressure is
pressure is Air is from the created in the
created in the drawn lungs. lungs.
lungs into the
lungs.
 Types of Breathing
• Habit can create an emotional response – such as shallow
chest breathing and anxiety

• Combination of VERTICAL and LATERAL is most

efficient; there is greater muscular control possible

• VERTICAL move of the diaphragm down can sometimes

be confused with stomach breathing

• NOT EVERYBODYS MIND OR BODY WILL

CONNECT IN THE SAME WAY.
 Lungs
• Smooth muscle in bronchioles, attached to heart
by pulmonary artery and veins
• Bases rest on diaphragm
• Apex extends about 2.5 cm above clavicles
• Left- two lobes
• Right- three lobes
• Separated and covered by pleural cavity
• Pleural Cavity- visceral and parietal, pleural space
 Breath
• This whole process feeds and cleans the
body. Breath is part of the organism and
like any another part its individual parts are
interrelated and any malfunction of one
affects the whole. Inspiration determines
expiration. Posture allows or inhibits
breath. Both posture and respiration
influence phonation and speech.
What is breath? Merriam-Webster’s first definition of breath is
a kind of “emanation”. Travelling down the lexicological path,
emanation is defined as;

1 a: the action of emanating: a flowing forth “experiencing our

consciousness as an emanation of the creative impulse that rules
the world” Albert Schweitzer; the emanation of light from a
candle

b : the origination of the world conceived in Neoplatonism not

as a creation out of nothing but as a series of hierarchically
descending radiations from the Godhead to nous and other
intermediate stages and ultimately to matter

c : the procession (as of Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit)

directly from the Godhead distinguished from creation as
used of mortal beings
 Letting Go.
Breath itself is nominal. It is a concept. It
is about shaping the shapeless, snatching
order from chaos. Creation. Breath is the
intellectual emanation that creates the eye
of the storm. How can an emanation
support the physical action of speaking?
Through allowance, ease and trust.