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Part 1 Structure and Function

of the Respiratory System

When you can not breath, nothing

else matters

Slogan of the American Lung

Association
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Respiration is the process by which

the body takes in and utilizes
oxygen (O2) and gets rid of carbon
dioxide (CO2).

An Overview of Key Steps in Respiration

Respiration can be divided into

four major functional events
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
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Respiratory System Functions

Gas exchange: Oxygen enters blood and carbon dioxide leaves
Regulation of blood pH: Altered by changing blood carbon
dioxide levels
Voice production: Movement of air past vocal folds makes
sound and speech
Olfaction: Smell occurs when airborne molecules drawn into
nasal cavity
Protection: Against microorganisms by preventing entry and
removing them
Metabolism: Synthesize and metabolize different compounds
(Nonrespiratory Function of the Lung)
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Section I ANATOMY OF THE

RESPIRATORY TRACT

Respiratory System Divisions

Upper Airway
Nose, pharynx,
larynx and
associated
structures

Lower Airway
trachea, bronchi,
lungs
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Conducting Zone
All the structures air
passes through before
reaching the
respiratory zone.
Cartilage holds tube
system open and
smooth muscle
controls tube
diameter
Warms and
humidifies inspired
air.
Filters and cleans:

Insert fig. 16.5

Respiratory Zone
Region of
gas exchange
between air
and blood.
Includes
respiratory
bronchioles
and alveolar
sacs.

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Airway branching

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Section II BLOOD SUPPLY

TO THE LUNG
Two separate blood supplies: pulmonary circulation
and bronchial circulation
Pulmonary circulation
Bronchial circulation

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Pulmonary circulation
Brings deoxygenated blood from the right
ventricle to the gas-exchange units
At the gas-exchanging units, oxygen is
picked up and carbon dioxide is removed
from the blood
The oxygenated blood returned to the left
atrium for distribution to the rest of the
body
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Bronchial circulation
Arise from the aorta
Provides nourishments to the lung
parenchyma

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Section III MUSCLES OF RESPIRATION

Inspiratory muscle:
Diaphragm and Abdominal breathing

external intercostal muscle and thoracic breathing

accessory muscle of inspiration

Expiratory muscle
relax during normal breathing
Internal intercostal muscle
Muscles of the abdominal wall

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Thoracic Walls and Muscles of Respiration

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Breathing Rate
At rest: 10-20 breaths / minute
During exercise: 40 - 45 at maximum
exercise in adults

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Thoracic Volume

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Mechanisms of Breathing:
How do we change the volume of the rib cage ?
To Inhale is an ACTIVE process
External Intercostal Muscles
Diaphragm
Rib Cage

Spine

Intercostals
Rib Contract
to Lift

Contract

Diaphragm

Volume

Ribs

Volume

Both actions occur simultaneously otherwise not effective

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Pleura

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Pleural fluid produced by pleural

membranes
Acts as lubricant
Helps hold parietal and visceral pleural
membranes together

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Ventilation
Movement of air into and out of lungs
Air moves from area of higher pressure to
area of lower pressure
Pressure is inversely related to volume

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Alveolar Pressure
Changes During
Respiration

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Principles of Breathing
Functional Unit: Chest Wall and Lung
Follows Boyles Law:
Pressure (P) x Volume (V) = Constant

Conducting
Airways

Lungs
Pleural Cavity
Gas Exchange
Very small space
Maintained at negative pressure
Transmits pressure changes
Allows lung and ribs to slide
Chest Wall
(muscle, ribs)

Pleural Cavity

Diaphragm
(muscle)

Imaginary Space between

Lungs and chest wall

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Principle of Breathing

Follows Boyles Law: PV= C

At Rest with mouth open Pb = Pi = 0

Pb
A

Airway Open

Pi
CW

PS
D

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Principle of Breathing

Follows Boyles Law: PV= C

At Rest with mouth open Pb = Pi = 0

Inhalation:
- Increase Volume of Rib cage
- Decrease the pleural cavity pressure
- Decrease in Pressure inside (Pi)
lungs

CW

Pb
A

Airway Open

Pi
PS
D

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Principle of Breathing

Follows Boyles Law: PV= C

At Rest with mouth open Pb = Pi = 0

Inhalation:

Pb
A

Airway Open

- Pb outside is now greater than Pi

- Air flows down pressure gradient

- Until Pi = Pb
CW

Pi
PS
D

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Principle of Breathing

Follows Boyles Law: PV= C

At Rest with mouth open Pb = Pi = 0

Pb
A

Exhalation: Opposite Process

- Decrease Rib Cage Volume CW

Airway Open

Pi
PS
D

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Principle of Breathing

Follows Boyles Law: PV= C

At Rest with mouth open Pb = Pi = 0

Pb
A

Exhalation: Opposite Process

- Decrease Rib Cage Volume CW
- Increase in pleural
cavity pressure
- Increase Pi
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Airway Open

Pi
PS
D

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Principle of Breathing

Follows Boyles Law: PV= C

At Rest with mouth open Pb = Pi = 0

Pb
A

Exhalation: Opposite Process

- Decrease Rib Cage Volume CW
- Increase Pi
- Pi is greater than Pb
- Air flows down pressure gradient
- Until Pi = Pb again
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Airway Open

Pi
PS
D

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Section IV SURFACTANT AND

SURFACE TENSION
Surface tension ( : a measure of
the attraction force of the surface molecules
per unit length of the material to which they
are attached

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Surface Tension
Force exerted by fluid in alveoli to resist
distension
Lungs secrete and absorb fluid, leaving a
very thin film of fluid.
H20 molecules at the surface are attracted
to other H20 molecules by attractive forces.
Force is directed inward, raising pressure in
alveoli.

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What is Surface
Tension ?

Within Fluid
All forces balance

At surface
Unbalanced forces
Generate Tension
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Surface Tension
Law of Laplace:
Pressure in alveoli
directly proportional
to surface tension
inversely
proportional to radius
of alveoli
if surface tension were
the same in all
alveolus....

Insert fig. 16.11

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Effect of Surface Tension on Alveoli size

Air Flow
Expand
Collapse

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Surfactant (
Phospholipid produced
by alveolar type II cells.
Lowers surface tension.
Reduces attractive
forces of hydrogen
bonding
by becoming
interspersed between
H20 molecules.
Surface tension in

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Area dependence of Surfactant action

Low S/unit Area

Saline
Slider - Change Surface Area
Increase
Area

Saline

Decrease
Area
High S/unit Area

Area

Surfactant

Tension

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Surfactant prevents alveolar collapse

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Volume L
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Saline Filled

Normal (with surfactant)

Without surfactant

RV
0

Pleural Pressure
- 15

- 30 cm H2O

Volume-pressure curves of lungs filled with

saline and with air (with or without surfactant)40

Physiology Importance of Surfactant

Reduce the work of breathing
Stabilize alveoli
Prevent collapse and sticking of alveoli

Maintain the dryness of the alveoli

Prevent the edema of the alveoli

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