1.

Understand why the respiratory physiology is vital for survival of living

beings.

2. Understand different phases of respiration & their importance.

3. Name the parts of respiratory tract & their functions.

General introduction

The primary function of respiratory system is to provide O2 to tissues for

metabolic oxidation & remove CO2 from the tissues.

Termination of oxygen supply for few minutes to the vital organs is

extremely harmful.

Survival becomes impossible in absence of adequate ventilation.

Therefore respiratory system is among the vital system of the body.

Respiration takes place in four stages

Ventilation: Movement of air into and out of lungs

Gas exchange: between air in lungs and blood

Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

Internal respiration: Gas exchange between the blood and tissues.

An overview of key steps in respiration.

Respiratory system
Structure of thorasic cavity

Pleura

Membrane lining of lungs and chest wall.

Pleural sac around each lung.

Produce a lubricating fluid (15ml) that fills the gap between them.

This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and
deflating as we breathe.

Passage of air

The Inspired air enters by nose & mouth & proceeds through glottis(triangular
space between vocal cards) to trachea.

The trachea divides into two major branches, the bronchi; one going to each
lung.

Each bronchus divides & redivides to form many small branches, the bronchioles.

Bronchioles finely give rise to alveolar ducts which lead via alveolar sac
into tiny sac like structures called pulmonary alveoli.

The two lungs contain approx.300 million alveoli

The whole respiratory passage i.e. branching network of trachea

constitutes tracheo-bronchial tree.

Weibels lung model

Between the trachea and alveolar sac the air passage divides into 23
times.

E.R.Weibel a Swiss anatomist numbered each generation of tracheo-

bronchial tree.
 The trachea is designated as zero; the two major divisions of trachea,
constitute the first generation,& so on.

Exchange of gases begins to occur from the 17 th generation ,called

respiratory bronchioles.

The alveolar sac is the 23rd generation.

Physiologicaly respiratory passage divide into two parts

A.Conducting Zone:

Rigid conduits for air to reach site of gas exchange. Conducting Zone

1.Nose 2.Nasal cavity

3.Pharynx 4.Larynx

5.Trachea 6.Bronchi

7.Terminal bronchioles

B.Respiratory Zone :

site of gas exchange

Air passageway

- 150 mL volume = dead space volume

Warms and humidifies inspired air.

Filters and cleans:

Nasal hairs serve as filters

Mucosal lining traps particles and bacteria in the inspired air.

Mucus moved by cilia to be expectorated.

Respiratory membrane

The area where gas exchange between air and blood occurs.

1. It is the fused alveolar and capillary walls (3 layers).

Alveolar epithelium
2. Fused basal lamina
3. Capillary endothelium.

Alveolar wall membranes one cell thick and surrounded by capillaries.

Alveolar lining epithelium

Contain mainly two cell types:

1.Type I: simple squamous epithelial cells.

2.Type II: cuboidal epi. cells produce surfactant prevent alveolar collapse.

In addition alveoli also contain

a. Alveolar macrophages :for phagocytosis

b. Plasma cells

c. lymphocytes

d. APUD cells (amine precursor uptake & decarboxylation) , vasoactive

intestinal peptide .

As the trachea divide & revived progressively following changes occurs:

1. Airway become smaller, narrower & shorter.

2. Number of cilia decreases.
3. Mucus secreting cells decreases.
4. Amount of cartilage in the airway decreases.
5. Quantity of smooth muscle increases.