4.

2 – The functions of the

Respiratory System
In this assignment, I will describe the structure and
function of the different parts of the Respiratory System
outlined in this unit. I will also outline how each part is
designed to meet its function.

The main Functions I will write about are as follows;

• The two types of respiration – Internal & External.
• Gaseous exchange.
• Partial Pressure.
• Diffusion gradient.
• Lung volumes
• Control centre

Two types of Respiration

Internal respiration is a process in which the exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place between blood
present in the capillaries and the bodies muscle tissue.
Most of the oxygen in the blood in bound to a protein
molecule called Haemoglobin. It has a lot of oxygen and a
small amount of carbon dioxide. Haemoglobin which is full
of oxygen is called Oxyhaemoglobin. When this reaches
the bodies muscle tissues a diffusion gradient is created.
Naturally, Air moves from an area of high concentration to
an area of low concentration. At this point, the blood has a

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high concentration of Oxygen, but the muscle cells have a
small amount. The bigger the diffusion gradient, the
greater the exchange is between blood and muscle
tissues. As oxygen diffuses into the muscle cells, it enters
the myoglobin which is also an oxygen bounding protein
found in the bodies muscles. This protein is used to
produce energy.
During exercise and sport, energy is needed in all of the
working muscles. Internal respiration is happening at a
faster rate than usual during exercise. More Oxygen is
coming in and more Carbon Dioxide needs to get out.
More oxygen is coming in, as the muscles need oxygen to
function properly. Carbon Dioxide needs to be released
because waste products need leave the body to prevent a
build up of lactic acid which can have a negative effect on
the way muscles work.

Gaseous Exchange
This occurs by diffusion between air in the Alveoli and
blood in the Capillaries surrounding their walls. The
concept of Partial Pressure applies to the diffusion of
gases from a gas mixture to a gas in solution and vice
versa.
When gases come into contact with liquids such as blood
and the moisture from the walls of the Alveoli and dissolve
into solution by diffusion until equilibrium is achieved. At
equilibrium when a chemical reaction is occurring at equal

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rate, the partial pressure remains the same in both the
gaseous and liquid states.
The blood that enters the capillaries from the Pulmonary
arteries has lower oxygen content than the air in the
Alveoli. The blood is deoxygenated. Oxygen in the Alveoli
diffuses into the blood via the surface of the Alveoli. The
capillaries have thin walls allowing gases to exchange. The
oxygen latches onto the Haemoglobin which are proteins
which seek oxygen. Haemoglobin is what transfers oxygen
around the body. As the oxygen latches on, carbon dioxide
diffuses in the opposite direction, from blood into the
Alveoli.
During exercise gaseous exchange happens far more
rapidly. This is because we are inhaling more oxygen and
trying to exhale as much carbon dioxide as possible. We
try to get as much oxygen in one breath, so that the
working muscles can receive fuel to create energy. We
want to get rid of all carbon dioxide as it makes the
reactions slow down and makes the muscles lack in
efficiency.

Ben Jenkins 12AM

 www.googleimages.co.uk

Partial Pressures
In a mixture of ideal gases, each gas has a partial
pressure which is the pressure which the gas would have if
it alone occupied the volume. The total pressure of a gas
mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each
individual gas in the mixture.
At the Alveoli, where gaseous exchange occurs, the
partial pressure of the gases has a major impact on the
gaseous exchange. If it is high in the alveoli, it will
exchange to an area of lower concentration (blood) via a
diffusion gradient. When we exercise, more O2 is coming
in and more CO2 is going out. Therefore the diffusion
gradient is far steeper during exercise and the exchange
happens more regularly as we breathe deeper and faster
during intense exercise.

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 Muscle fibres contain a pigment called Myglobin. They
have a very high affinity for oxygen, even more than
Haemoglobin. They increase the uptake of oxygen by the
muscle fibres which will fuel the muscles when exercising.
Haemoglobin can also transport oxygen around the body.
This is a protein in the red blood cells which can have up
to 4 molecules of oxygen per molecule. When oxygen links
to Haemoglobin it is now called oxyhaemoglobin.
‘Partial pressures are used to designate the
concentrations of gases. Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures
states that the total pressure of all gases is equal to the
sum of the partial pressures of each gas. For example, the
total atmospheric pressure of air is 760 mm Hg. In
equation form:
P (total air) = P (O 2) + P (N2) + P (CO2) + P (HOH)
760 = 160 + 594.7 + 0.3 +5.0
The gas diffusion principle is: A gas diffuses from an area
of higher partial pressure to an area of lower partial
pressure.’
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/260acidbaseb
al.html

Diffusion gradient
In order for gaseous exchange to take place a diffusion
gradient needs to be created. This will allow a gas to
travel from an area of high concentration to an area of low

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concentration. The diffusion gradient can increase during
exercise, allowing a greater exchange of gases.
This process will go on until the two concentrations are
equal. The diffusion can occur in both liquid and gas. A
pressure gradient is created so that diffusion can take
place. At the bottom there will be a low concentration, and
at the top it will have a high concentration. The molecules
will moves along the gradient from the top, which has a
high concentration, to the bottom which has a low
concentration. Partial pressures can affect the gradient as
the location which has the highest partial pressure will
move down the gradient to an area where the partial
pressure is low.
The gradient will become steeper during physical activity
as we are taking more oxygen in from the atmosphere and
trying to get as much carbon dioxide out of the body as
possible, as it makes the body work less efficiently. This
will allow CO2 to leave the muscles quicker and allow O2
to get in faster, and more can go in at once as the volume
increases.

Lung volumes
I will talk about the tidal volume, inspiratory reserve
volume, expiratory reserve volume, vital capacity and the
residual volume.
Tidal volume is the amount of air breathed in and out
with each breath. During exercise, tidal volume increases
to allow more air to come in and go out with each breath.

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The volume of air passing through the lungs is known as
the minute volume. This is the product of breathing rate
and the amount of air taken in with each breath.
Inspiratory reserve volume is the amount of air we
can forcibly inspire in addition to the tidal volume. We
may use this during exercise. When we have just done an
intense workout and we are gasping for fresh air, we will
be using our reserves which will give us more oxygen to
allow the body to recover.
Expiratory reserve volume is the amount of air that
we can forcibly expire in addition to the tidal volume. If we
exhale as much as we can, the expiratory reserve will be
used up so we then have a residual volume which keeps
additional air in the lungs. Just like the inspiratory reserve,
this will be dipped into when we exercise, when we are
breathing heavy to keep up with the demands of exercise,
we will exhaling more than we usually would, to get rid of
all CO2 and waste products.
Vital capacity is the amount of air that can be forced
out of the lungs after maximal inspiration. The volume is
typically around 4,800cm3- Adams et al, 2010.
Residual volume is the air that remains in the lungs
after maximal expiration. When we breathe out as hard as
we can, this is referred to as residual volume.
The lungs are never fully emptied otherwise there is a
risk of them collapsing. Therefore the residual volume is
used by the body.

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 This is used after intense exercise when we are using our
inspiratory and expiratory reserves to pay back all of the
oxygen used during the exercise.
Total lung capacity is your total lung capacity after you
have inhaled as deeply and as maximally as you can, after
maximal inspiration. This can be improved through
exercise. The respiratory system will become more
efficient as a result of exercise. Some of the effects of
exercise are as follows;
• The respiratory muscles (Diaphragm/intercostals)
increase in strength.
• This results in larger respiratory volumes, which
allows more Oxygen to be diffused into the blood
flow.
• An increase in the number and diameter of
capillaries surrounding the alveoli leads to an
increase in the efficiency of gaseous exchange.
http://www.teachpe.com/anatomy/longtermeffects.php
This image will show lung volume and capacities of a
healthy human being;

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www.googleimages.co.uk

Control of breathing

In the human body there are various receptors all around

the body which affect the activity in the respiratory
system. There are 3 main receptors. They are;
Proprioreceptors – This type of receptor is in the muscles,
tendons and joints. They inform the control centre that
movement has increased. During exercise they will inform
the control centre that movement has
Increased and therefore the body will need to work harder
to get oxygen in and remove carbon dioxide and other
waste products.
Chemoreceptors detect a decrease in the PH of the blood
due to the build up of lactic acid and CO2. Therefore the

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rate of exchange needs to speed up to get all waste
products out of the system. They have a negative effect
on muscles and can prevent them working for long periods
at an intense rate.
The final receptor is called the Baro-receptor. This will
detect an increase in pressure.

Bibliography
• http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/260acidb
asebal.htm
• http://www.teachpe.com/anatomy/longtermeffects.ph
p
• Google Images – www.google.com
• OCR level 3 – Adams et Al 2010
• Class notes – Mr M Evans 2011

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