Respiratory System

Chapter 23
 Functions
Gas exchange
Between air from atmosphere and
blood
Moving air
Ventilation = air transport
Respiration = gas exchange
Protection
guards respiratory membranes
From dry air
Inhaled pathogens
Communication (sounds)
Olfaction (smell)
 Respiratory
Anatomy
Nose/Nasal Cavity
Pharynx
Shared structure
Larynx/Glottis
Epiglottis blocks
food entry
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveoli (not shown)
 Organization of the Respiratory
Respiratory Tract System
Conducting portion
Site of ventilation
Moving air
Nose to
bronchioles
Respiratory
portion
Site of respiration
Exchanging CO2
and O2
bronchioles and
alveoli
Open system:

Trace the Flow of Air

 Larynx/Glottis/Epiglottis
Glottis
opening
connecting
pharynx to
larynx
Epiglottis
Covers glottis
Prevents food
from entering
air ways
Bronchial Tree/Alveoli
More conducting airways
Trachea divides
R and L bronchi
Bronchi divide and branch to
Bronchioles
Bronchiole = little Bronchi
Bronchioles connect to alveoli
Alveoli
Tiny air sacs
Site of respiration (gas exchange)
Collectively make up respiratory
membrane in (150 million/lung)
 Respiratory Defense
System

Nasal filtration
Nasal cavity lined
with hairs
Filters out large
particles
Nasal conchae
Inhaled air contains debris and Boney ridges
pathogens that stir air
 Respiratory
Defense System
Respiratory filtration
mechanisms

Mucus
Escalator
Respiratory
mucosa lines
conducting
portion
Cells produce
mucus to catch
particles
Cilia (hairs) sweep
 Respiratory
Defense System
Respiratory filtration
mechanisms
Alveolar
Defense
Alveolar
Macrophag
es
Aka Dust
cells
Eat dust
 Diffusion
Alveoli distance is
small!
1 capillary bed
wraps each
alveolus
Gasses move
across
respiratory
membrane (2
cells thick) to
enter blood
O2
alveoli
blood
 Respiratory
Surfactant
surfaces are
thin and moist
Surfactant
prevents
sticking
Detergent
breaks surface
tension of water
Allows alveoli to
inflate
Produced by
Pneumocyte II
How does Air Move?
Air is moved with pressure gradients
Gradients are created by changing
lung volumes
Diaphragm muscle and rib cage
Inverse relation between P and V
P = 1/V
Pressure (P)
Volume (V)
Figure 23-14b Mechanisms of Pulmonary Ventilation

Lung Mechanics; at Rest

Pressure outside
and inside are
Pleural
equal, so no air
cavity
movement occurs
Cardiac
notch

Diaphragm
Poutside Pinside

Pleura- membrane that encases pleural

cavity
Membrane that wraps lungs (visceral pleura)
Membrane that wraps body wall (parietal
pleura)
Figure 23-14c Mechanisms of Pulmonary Ventilation

Lung Mechanics
More V, Less P; Air Flows In

Inhalation. Elevation of the rib

cage and contraction of the
diaphragm increase the size of
the thoracic cavity. Pressure
within the thoracic cavity
decreases, and air flows into
the lungs.
Figure 23-14c Mechanisms of Pulmonary Ventilation

Lung Mechanics
Less V, More P; Air Flows Out

Exhalation. When the rib cage

returns to its original position
and the diaphragm relaxes, the
volume of the thoracic cavity
decreases. Pressure rises, and
air moves out of the lungs.
 Pneumothorax
Collapsed Lung
Hole in parietal
pleura allows pleural
cavity to fill with air
No longer potential
space, but an actual
space
Air flows in
Lung recoils
(collapses)
Alveoli cant open
Pressure in pleural
cavity is too great
 Neural Control of Breathing
Ventilation = Breaths/min * alveolar lung
volume
Voluntary control
Conscious effort to increase breathing rate or chest
volume
Motor neurons activate diaphragm and chest muscles
Involuntary control
Regulated by ANS and respiratory control center in
medulla oblongata
Chemoreceptors in arteries monitor CO 2 , O2 and H+
concentrations
High CO2 and H+ trigger reflex to increase breathing
Why CO2 and H+ ?
CO2 and Blood
CO2 transport in
blood
23% of CO2 is
bound to Hb
7% is dissolved
in blood plasma
70% is converted
to carbonic acid
Carbonic acid
reaction occurs
in RBC
CO2 and Blood
Inside RBC
Carbonic anhydrase enzymes
catalyze the reaction
Carbon dioxide plus water yields carbonic acid

CO2 + H2O H2CO3

Carbonic acid is unstable and quickly breaks down to :
H2CO3 HCO3- + H+
Bicarbonate can diffuse into blood and H + binds Hb

Note: Reaction is fully reversible

CO2 + H2O H2CO3 HCO3- +

H+
Equation precedes to
equilibrium
CO2 and Blood
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 HCO3-
+ H+
If CO2 increases in
blood what happens to
pH?
If H+ concentration
increases what
happens to CO2 ?
Figure 27-9 The Basic Relationship between P CO2 and Plasma pH

PCO2 pH
7.357.45
4045
HOMEOSTASIS
mm Hg

If PCO2 rises If PCO2 falls

H2O CO2 H2CO3 H HCO3 H HCO3 H2CO3 H2O CO2

When carbon dioxide levels rise, more carbonic acid forms, When the PCO2 falls, the reaction runs in reverse, and
additional hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions are released,
and the pH goes down. carbonic acid dissociates into carbon dioxide and water.
This removes H ions from solution and increases the pH.

PC
O2
pH

pH
P CO 2

Hypercapnia
Acidosis
Hypocapnia
Alkalosis
 Neural Control of Breathing
Central chemoreceptors in brain detect
changes in H+ (pH)
Respond to changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Cerebrospinal fluid
Fluid around brain
No red blood cells (RBC)
CO2 must be converted to H + in RBC
H+ can diffuse from blood to CSF and activate
chemoreceptors
Peripheral chemoreceptors in aorta and
carotid artery also respond to CO2 and H+
(pH)
 Neural Control of Breathing
CSF
Respiratory Centers and Reflex Controls
CHEMORECEPTORS

Medulla
oblongata
Chemoreceptors and
of carotid
and aortic sinuses

Spinal
Diaphragm cord

Motor neurons
controlling
diaphragm

Motor neurons
controlling other
respiratory muscles
KEY
Stimulation
Phrenic nerve
Inhibition
Figure 23-27 The Chemoreceptor Response to Changes in P CO2
Stimulation Stimulation of
of arterial respiratory muscles
chemoreceptors

Increased Stimulation of CSF

Increased PCO2 ,
arterial PCO2 chemoreceptors at
decreased pH
medulla oblongata
in CSF

A rise in arterial
HOMEOSTASIS Increased respiratory
PCO2 stimulates DISTURBED rate with increased
chemoreceptors that elimination of CO2 at
Increased
accelerate breathing arterial PCO2 alveoli
cycles at the inspiratory
(hypocapnia)
(hypercapni
center. This change
increases the respiratory a)
rate, encourages CO2 loss
at the lungs, and lowers HOMEOSTASIS
arterial PCO2 . HOMEOSTASIS
RESTORED
Start
Normal
Normal
arterial PCO2 2 arterial PCO2

A drop in arterial
PCO2 inhibits these
HOMEOSTASIS
chemoreceptors. In the DISTURBED Decreased respiratory
absence of stimulation rate with decreased
the rate of respiration Decreased
elimination of CO2 at
decreases, slowing the arterial PCO2
alveoli
rate of CO2 loss at the (hypocapnia)

lungs, and elevating

arterial PCO2 .
Decreased Decreased PCO2 ,
arterial PCO2 Reduced stimulation
increased pH of CSF chemoreceptors
in CSF

Inhibition of arterial Inhibition of

chemoreceptors respiratory muscles
Figure 23-19 An Overview of Respiratory Processes and Partial Pressures in Respiration
External Respiration

PO2 = 40 Alveolus
PCO 2 = 45
Respiratory
membrane

Systemic Pulmonary PO 2 = 100

circuit circuit O2
PCO 2 = 40

CO 2

Pulmonary
capillary PO 2 = 100
PCO 2 = 40

Internal Respiration
Interstitial fluid
Systemic
circuit
PO2 = 95
PCO2 = 40

PO2 = 40 O
2
PCO2 = 45
CO
2

Systemic
PO2 = 40 capillary
PCO2 = 45