Hercor College

Roxas City

Reporters:
Ronabelle Dordas Ms. Dativa F.
Funa Jovelyn Esteban
Instructor
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM



Functions of the Human Respiratory System

The main function of the respiratory system is the exchange of gases such as oxygen and
carbon dioxide in the lungs. Breathing, or respiration, allows this important function to take
place. Air carrying oxygen enters the body during inhalation, and air carrying carbon dioxide
is expelled out of the body through exhalation. Oxygen is a vital requirement of all cells in
order to survive and perform their many functions. Carbon dioxide is mostly a waste product
of processes inside the body and is not usually needed by cells.Respiration when a person
breathes air (comprising oxygen), it passes through the nasal passages containing mucus.
The mucus helps in filtering out contaminants like dust, pollen, and smoke. The nasal
epithelium adds moisture and heat to the air. The air then passes through the larynx and
enters the trachea or the windpipe.



The respiratory system is divided into two parts,the upper respiratory tract and the lower
respiratory tract. The following are the organs of the upper and the lower respiratory tract.



The Upper Respiratory Tract

Nose(nostrils) - It is the entrance of the respiratory tract and helps in allowing air to flow in
and out. It humidifies, warms, and filters the air that comes in.
Pharynx(throat) - It is located at the back of the mouth, and connects the mouth to the
esophagus (food pipe). It is a passage for air and food.
Larynx - It is present at the top of trachea and contains vocal cords. It is also known as the
voice box. It helps in controlling breathing and swallowing.
Trachea (windpipe) - It is a tubelike structure that helps in passing air from larynx to bronchi.
It also warms the air and prevents foreign bodies from entering lungs.

The Lower Respiratory Tract

Bronchi - These are the airways of the lungs diverging from the trachea. They carry air in
and out of the lungs.
Bronchioles - These are branches of the bronchi that conduct air into the lungs. They
perform the same function as the bronchi.
Alveoli (air sacs) - These are sacs in the lungs and contain elastic fibers. The exchange of
carbon dioxide and oxygen occurs here.
Lungs - These are the two inverted-cone shaped organs present in the chest of human
beings. The function of lungs is to take in oxygen into the body and expel carbon dioxide.
Parts and function:
Respiratory system consists of the organs that help to breathe. Respiration also known as
breathing is the process which delivers oxygen from the external atmosphere to the body
and removes the carbon dioxide from body and expels out.
The main parts of the respiratory system and their functions are as follows:

Main Parts of the Respiratory System and their Function
Nostrils: Nostrils are involved in air intake,they bring air into the nose, where air is warmed
and humidified. The tiny hairs called cilia filters out dust and other particles present in the air
and protects the
nasal passage and other regions of the respiratory tract.

Trachea: trachea is also known as windpipe. The trachea filters the air we inhale and
branches into the bronchi.


Bronchi: The bronchi are the two air tubes that branch off of from the trachea and carry
atmospheric air directly into the lungs.

Lungs: The main organ of the respiratory system is lungs.Lungs are the site in body where
oxygen is taken into and carbon dioxide is expelled out.The red blood cells present in the
blood picks up the oxygen in the lungs and carry and distribute the oxygen to all body cells
that need it.The red blood cells donate the oxygen to the cells and picks up the carbon
dioxide produced by the cells.

Alveolus: Alveolus is the tiny sac like structure present in the lungs which the gaseous
exchange takes place.

Diaphragm: Breathing begins with a dome-shaped muscle located at the bottom of the
lungs which is known as diaphragm.
When we breathe in the diaphragm contracts and flatten out and pull downward.Due to this
movement the space in the lungs increases and pulls air into the lungs.When we breathe
out, the diaphragm expands and reduces the amount of space for the lungs and forces air
out.
Functions of Organs in Respiratory System

Nose The nose is the primary upper respiratory organ in which air enters into and exits from
the body. Cilia and mucus line the nasal cavity and traps bacteria and foreign particles that
enter in through the nose

Pharynx.The pharynx is a tubular structure, positioned behind the oral and nasal cavities,
that allows air to pass from the mouth to the lungs. The pharynx contains three parts:The
nasopharynx, which connects the upper part of the throat with the nasal cavity; the
oropharynx, positioned between the top of the epiglottis and the soft palate;and the
laryngopharynx,located below the epiglottis.

Larynx From the pharynx,air enters into the larynx,commonly called the voice box.The
larynx is part of the upper respiratory tract that has two main functions:a passageway for air
to enter into the lungs,and a source of vocalization.The larynx is made up of the hyoid bone
and cartilage,
which helps regulate the flow of air.The epiglottis is a flap-like cartilage structure contained in
the larynx that protects the trachea against food aspiration.

Bronchi The bronchi allow the passage of air to the lungs.The trachea is made of c-shaped
ringed cartilage that divides into the right and left bronchus.The right main bronchus is
shorter and wider than the left main bronchus.The right bronchus is subdivided into three
lobar bronchi, while the left one is divided into two lobar bronchi.

Lungs The lungs are spongy, air-filled organs located on both sides of the chest cavity.The
left lung is divided into a superior and inferior lobe, and the right lung is subdivided into a
superior,middle,and inferior lobe.Respiration is the primary function of the lungs, which
includes the transfer of oxygen found in the atmosphere into the blood stream and the
release of carbon dioxide into the air.

Alveoli The average adult has about 600 million alveoli,which are tiny grape-like sacs at the
end of the respiratory tree.The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases occurs at the
alveolar level. Although effort is required to inflate the alveoli (similar to blowing up a
balloon),minimal effort is needed to deflate the alveoli (similar to the deflating of a balloon).

Diaphragm The diaphragm is a muscular structure located between the thoracic and
abdominal cavity.Contraction of the diaphragm causes the chest or thorax cavity to
expand,which occurs during inhalation.During exhalation,the release of the diaphragm
causes the chest or thorax cavity to contract.


Diseases Of The Respiratory System

Diseases of the respiratory system occur primarily in the bronchioles and the alveoli. Much
rarer, unless you count choking and drowning, are conditions that affect the larger
passageways of the lungs such as the trachea and the bronchi. That means that the focus of
today's newsletter is on diseases that affect the bronchioles and alveoli. We're talking about
COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, allergies, flu, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary
fibrosis, and pulmonary embolisms.

COPD - emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis COPD (chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease) is a progressive disease generally caused by long term
irritation to the lungs that makes it hard to breathe. It is characterized by airflow limitation
that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually both progressive and associated
with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases. Cigarette
smoking is the most common cause. Symptoms can include wheezing, shortness of
breath,chest tightness,coughing, and the accumulation of large amounts of mucus in the
lungs.

Bronchitis Non-chronic bronchitis has the same symptoms as chronic bronchitis. The
differences are primarily ones of timing and cause. Whereas chronic bronchitis lasts for three
months or longer, non-chronic bronchitis is short term -- although in its acute form can last
up to six weeks. In most cases the infection is viral in origin, but sometimes can be caused
by bacteria. If the condition is not acute and you are otherwise in good health, the mucous
membrane will return to normal after you've recovered from the initial lung infection, which
usually lasts for several days. Acute bronchitis is responsible for the hacking cough and
phlegm production that sometimes accompany an upper respiratory infection.

Asthma In some ways, asthma is similar to bronchitis. In fact, people with asthma also
experience an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, a condition actually called
asthmatic bronchitis. But there are differences. Yes, asthma is a chronic disease that affects
your breathing. But when you have asthma, your bronchioles (the smallest airways -- just
before the alveoli) tend to be constantly red and swollen and are easily irritated in response
to triggers/allergens, such as pollen and cigarette smoke. Exposure to these allergens, then,
causes the walls of the bronchioles to become even more swollen and for the muscles to
tighten. This narrows the passages even more so that even less air reaches your alveolar
sacs. And as if that weren't enough, when you have asthma, mucus is also produced in
larger than normal amounts, which clogs your airways yet even more, making it even harder
to breathe, and resulting in even more severe asthma symptoms.

Allergies actually dedicated a newsletter some three years ago to a discussion of allergies.
If allergies are a particular problem for you, you can check it out. And to learn more about
how exactly antigens and antibodies produce allergic responses in your body, check
out Blood of My Ancestors. So rather than repeat it all again in this newsletter, let me just
focus on the highlights.

Flu The flu is a highly contagious viral infection similar to the common cold but with more
severe symptoms accounting for upwards of 36,000 deaths each year in the United States,
and some 500,000 deaths worldwide particularly among the very young, the very old, and
those with compromised immune systems such as those with HIV.


Pneumonia like the flu, is also a highly contagious viral infection that causes many deaths
each year. And in fact, pneumonia is often a secondary infection caused by an initial flu
virus. Specifically, pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs of the lung that causes the sacs
to become clogged, which can ultimately lead to respiratory and heart failure.

Cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic mutation that disrupts the cystic fibrosis
transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein, resulting in poorly hydrated, thickened mucous
secretions in the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs. Or to put that in
English. Mucus is normally watery. It keeps the linings of the organs listed above moist and
prevents them from drying out or getting infected. But in CF, an abnormal gene causes
mucus to become thick and sticky.This thick, sticky mucus builds up in your lungs and blocks
the airways. This makes it easy for bacteria to grow and leads to repeated serious lung
infections. Over time, these infections can cause serious damage to your lungs.

Pulmonary fibrosis Pulmonary fibrosis literally refers to scarring (fibrosis) throughout the
lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by many conditions including chronic inflammatory
processes, chronic conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, infections,
environmental agents such as asbestos and silica, and as a side effect of radiation therapy
used to treat tumors of the chest, and even certain medications.Medical treatment options
for pulmonary fibrosis are very limited. A lung transplantation is really the only therapeutic
option available since there is no evidence that any medications can help reverse the
scarring once it has developed.
Pulmonary embolism and DVT
Veins do not have a substantial amount of muscle tissue to contract and squeeze blood
along. That means that without physical activity to cause the skeletal muscles to squeeze
the veins:
Blood has a tendency to pool and stop flowing in veins -- particularly in the legs where
gravity works against you.
Blood that isn't flowing tends to clot.
Clots tend to propagate more clotting around the original clot.
Cumulatively, this can form very large clots.
Large clots that stay in place and block the flow of blood cause phlebitis. If the clot breaks
free and starts traveling through the circulatory system, it's called a thrombus. At whatever
point it lodges in a blood vessel and blocks it, it's called an embolism. The first place a clot is
likely to lodge is when the right ventricle of the heart pumps it out into the pulmonary
circulatory system on the way to the lungs. If the clot is fairly small, it will lodge in the lung
itself and block the flow of blood to a section of the lung, killing it. This is called a pulmonary
embolism. Larger clots can actually lodge in the pulmonary artery feeding an entire Or the
clot can lodge at the juncture where the pulmonary artery divides between the two lungs,
which will kill both lungs simultaneously in an instant. (For more information, check
out Arteries and Veins.)


Prevention of Resperatory Diseases
Good hygiene habits prevent and reduce the transmission of influenza and other resperatory
viruses by:
Covering your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when sneezing or coughing.
Disposing of tissues priperly.
Washing hands frequently, and
Using alcohol based hand sanitizers if hands are not visibly soiled.

When sick with a feber and cough:
Stay home from work, school,church, or other daily activities outside of the home,
other daily.
Avoid other croded areas or events like shopping malls or sports arenas,
Do not visit nursing homes,hospitals, or other long term care facilities,
Do not visit people at increased risk for severe flu related complications.