Physiology of the Respiratory

System
 Physiology of the Respiratory System

• Structure of the Respiratory System

• Mechanical Properties in Respiration

• Pulmonary Circulation, Ventilation/Perfusion Ratio

• Diffusion and Transport of Respiratory Gases

• Control of Respiration

• Nonrespiratory Functions of the Respiratory System

 Nonrespiratory Functions

- Air conditioning

- Immune functions

- Metabolic functions

- Other functions
 Air Conditioning

• Warming

• Humidifying

• Clearing
Warming and Humidifying

By the lobar bronchi: 37ºC

and fully moist

Nasal cavity!

250 ml/day loss

Clearing - Mucociliar Cleareance
- 5-10 μm gel, not
continuous:
“islands of mucus”

- 5-6 μm periciliary
fluid

- cilia

- goblet cells, glands,

Clara-cells
 Cystic Fibrosis

- cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), impaired function

of this cyclic AMP regulated Cl-ion channel

- Autosomal recessive, 1:3000 (caucasian)

 Cilia

250 cilia/cell

2-5 μm length

Only the tip reaches

the gel

1000 strokes/min
The Airway Cleaning Function of Cilia

Trachea, main bronchi: 5-20 μm/min

Bronchioli: 0,5-1 μm/min

 Clearing as a Function of
Particle Size
> 10μm nasal cavity, nasal hair

2 - 10μm lower airways, trachea, bronchi,

turbulent flow!

0,2 - 2μm bronchioli

< 0,2μm reaches the alveoli  macrophages

 Immune Functions

• Special immune system is

necessary

• Mucosa Associated Lympoid Tissue

(MALT)

• Bronchus Associated Lympoid Tissue

(BALT)

• B-lymphocytes  IgA

• NK cells, macrophages
 Asthma
IgE, mast cells
 Metabolic Functions

- Renin angiotensin system:

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is located mainly on the surface of

endothelial cells in the lung A I.  A II.

- Metabolism of biologically active substances:

serotonin, noradrenalin, prostaglandin

- Production of factors influencing blood coagulation:

source of plasminogen activator, thromboplastin production,

heparin production
 Other Functions

- Filter function

- Elimination of volatile substances

- Smelling

- Vocalization

- Body posture stability

- Sighing, yawning
Filter Function

Lung functions as a “filter” for

substances from the venous side
of circulation:

- Embolus

- Tumour-metastasis
 Elimination of Volatile Substances

Certain volatile substances diffuse into the alveoli from the blood and
can be detected and smelt in the expired air:

- acetone  diabetes

- methyl-mercaptan  liver disease

- ethyl-alcohol  high blood level

 Smelling and Vocalization

Behavioral control!!
 Body Posture Stability,
Sighing, Yawning

Stability: Valsalva-maneuver

Sighing: increasing superficial surfactant

concentration (?)

Yawning: ?
Cardiorespiratory Adaptation during
Exercise, Primary Prevention
Processes Involved in O2 Consumption

CO2 production CO2 transport Expiration

Muscle systemic Heart pulmonary Lung

O2 production O2 transport Inpiration

Change respirat
Heart Capillary
vaso- ory rate
rate
during dilati
recruitment

Stroke
exercise on
volume Tidal
volume

Performance during long term exercise is a

cardiorespiratory question!
Reserves in the Cardiorespiratory System

tissue cells

capillary
Respiratory Changes during Exercise

- Ventilation/perfusion ratios become more equal

- Reserves are used more and more
Respiratory
Changes
during
Exercise

Anaerobic
threshold
Determination of Anaerobic Threshold
 Circulatory Changes
during Exercise

„Postexercise hypotension”
Blood Flow in
Coronary Arteries

HR x SBP
„double product”
 Redistribution

Sympathetic outflow
Epinephrin, norepinephrin

α1: IP3/DAG
vasoconstriction

β2: cAMP
vasodilation
Distribution of Cardiac Output (ml/min) in Resting
State and during Various Levels of Exercise

Exercise Intensity
Organ
Resting Mild Intermediate Maximal

Splanchnic

Kidney

Brain

Heart

Muscles

Skin

Other

Total
Oxygen Consumption

Lance Armstrong:
85 ml/min/kg !!
Changes in Cardiorespiratory
Parameters during Exercise
 Primary Prevention
Preventing the occurence of diseases.

- Hand washing, immunization H1N1

Nature’s editorial:
“A tsunami is coming. No one knows how big it will
be. Prepare to go for higher ground.“

- Health promotion
 Effects of Smoking
- Decreased alveolar surface

- Increased FRC, decreased IRV

- Decreased mucociliar clearance

- Increased airway resistance

- Decreased O2-transport due to CO-Hb

- Tumours due to carcinogens

- Decreased physical capabilities

- Increased atherosclerosis  AMI

Acute Myocardial Infarct

The Smoking Epidemic
Percentage of Female Smokers in the EU
Percentage of Male Smokers in the EU
Percentage of Smokers in the EU
 Acute Myocardial Infarct
Related Deaths

AMI
deaths/
100 000
 Theory and Advice
“Fight-or-flight response” W. Cannon

Originally: Stress  Muscle work, exercise

Current ”fight” answers: angry, argumentative beaviour

Current “flight” answers: social withdrawal, substance
abuse  smoking

Regular physical exercises!

Friedman, H. S., & Silver, R. C. (2007). Foundations of Health
Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Thank You