Chapter 7 Respiratory System

Respiratory system is the gas exchange between a living cell and its environment. In humans and other mammals, the respiratory system consists of the airways, the lungs and the respiratory muscles that mediate the movement of air into and out of the body. Within the alveolar system of the lungs, molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide are passively exchange by diffusion, between the gaseous environment and the blood. Functions 1. Supplies the blood with oxygen and disposes of carbon dioxide. 2. Helps to maintain the acid-base balance of the body. 3. Houses olfactory receptors.

In human beings, air is drawn in the external nares or nostril, into the nasal cavities, which function in warming and moistening the air, filtering out dust particles, and smelling. Then moves into throat or pharynx, a common passageway for food and air. After leaving the pharynx through the glottis, the air enters the larynx, which is a chamber surrounded by a complex of cartilage (commonly called Adamss apple) functions as a voice box. During swallowing, the epiglottis closes the glottis. The air the moves into the trachea, as air dust leading from the larynx into the choracic cavity, and which divides at its lower end into the two bronchi, a tube that leads towards two lungs. Each bronchus branches repeatedly forming bronchioles which branch into a smaller duct bronchioles that terminate in the alveoli. Each alveolus is surrounded by a dense bed of blood capillaries, the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. Air is drawn into expelled from the lungs by the mechanical process called breathing. Two systems: a. Inhalation is initiated by a diaphragm. Normal resting respiration air is 10 to 18 breaths per minute. Its time period is 2 seconds. Vigorous inhalation rate exceeds at 35 breaths per minute, or is approaching respiratory failure, accessory muscles of the neck. Diaphragm contacts as the ribcage expands and the content of the abdomen are moved downward. This results in a larger thoracic volume. Air is filtered warmed and humidified as it flows to the lungs. b. Exhalation that the lungs have a natural elasticity, as they recoil from the stretch of inhalation, air blows back out until the pressures in the chest and the atmosphere reach equilibrium. During forces exhalation, expiratory muscle and internal entercostal muscles generate abdominal and thoracic pressure, which forced out of the lungs. Gas Exchange in Plants Plants inhale and then use carbon dioxide in their bodily function, and the exhale waste oxygen gas, as opposed to animals, which inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Plants respiration is limited by the process of diffusion. Plants take in carbon dioxide through holes in the underside of their leaves known as stoma. However, most plants require little air. Most plants have relatively few living cell outside of this surface because air can penetrate only skin deep. However most plants are not involved in highly aerobic activities, and thus, have no need with these living cells.

Some Respiratory Disorders 1. Asthma is a long term, inflammatory lung disease that causes airways to tighten and narrow when a person with the condition comes into contact with irritants such as pollutants. 2. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, the airways that connect the trachea to the lungs. 3. Acute Viral Nasopharyngitis often known as the common cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system (nose and throat). 4. Cough is a sudden, often repetitive, spasmodic contraction of the thoracic cavity, resulting in violent release of air from the lungs and usually accompanied by a distinct sound. It is a symptom of an illness, not an illness itself. 5. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease affecting the lungs. CF causes mucus in the body to be abnormally thick and sticky. The mucus can clog the airways in the lungs and make a person more likely to get bacterial infections. 6. Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by infection with bacteria, viruses and other organisms. Pneumonia causes fever, inflammation of lung tissue, and make breathing difficult because the lungs have to work harder to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream and remove carbon dioxide from the blood.