Gaseous Exchange System

Goal of This Chapter

 Describe the distribution of alveoli and vessels in lung tissue

 Describe Cartilage, ciliated epithelium, goblet cells and smooth muscle in the trachea, bronchi, and
bronchioles.
 Explain the meaning of tidal volume and vital capacity

A. Respiratory Organs
1. LUNGS
 Lungs are located in thoracic and they present a huge surface area ti the air that flows in
and out.
 They are surrounded by an airtight space between the pleura; membranes in which
contains small quantity of fluid to allow friction-free movement as the lungs are
ventilated by the movement of the diaphragm and ribs.

2. TRACHEA, BRONCHI, AND BRONCHIOLES

 Cartilage in the trachea and bronchi keeps the airways open and air resistance low;
prevent them (trachea, bronchi, bronchioles) from collapsing and bursting as the air
pressure changes during breathing.
 Cartilage in trachea= regular C-shaped ring
 Cartilage in bronchi= block-shaped
 Small bronchioles are surrounded by soft muscle which can contract and relax to adjust
the diameter if tiny airways.

During exercise, they relax to allow greater flow of air to the alveoli.

- Warming and Clean Up the Air

 The air flow is warmed to the body temperature and moistened by evaporation from the
lining. This process is occurred in nose and trachea.
Purpose:
a. protecting the delicate surfaces inside the lungs from desiccation (dry out)
b. Protection to against the suspended matter carried in the air (dust, pollen, bacteria,
fungal sponge, sand, viruses)
 Mucus; a slimy solution composed by glycoproteins with many carbohydrate chains that
make them sticky. In the trachea and bronchi, the mucus is produced by:
a. the goblet cells of the ciliated epithelium.
b. Glands beneath epithelium
 Some chemical pollutants can dissolve in mucus to form an acid solution that irritates the
lining of the airways.
 Those acids are carried by ciliated cells upwards toward larynx. When mucus reaches the
top of trachea, it will swallowed, thus the pathogens are destroyed by the acid in stomach.

*Pathogens: anything that can cause disease

3. ALVEOLI
 Alveoli have very thin epithelial lining and are surrounded by many blood capillaries
carrying deoxygenated blood.
 O2 and CO2 can be exchanged efficiently through diffusion.

Diffusion is the net movement of molecules or ions foen a concentration gradient.

Breathing brings supplies of fresh air into the lung, with a relatively high oxygen
concentration and low CO2 concentration.

Blood is brought to the lungs with a lower concentration of oxygen and high
concentration of CO2. Thus, with the distinct level of concentrate, make it easier for
oxygen to diffuse into the blood and CO2 out of the blood.

 Alveolar walls contain elastic fibers which stretch during breathing and recoil during
expiration to help force out the air.

When fully expanded, the surface area of alveoli will increases (this likely to be
happened during exercise) , vice versa.

B. Breathing Rate The rate of supply oxygen to the cells is determined by the rate and depth of
breathing and by the rate at which the heart pumps blood around the body.

1. Breathing Rate and Depth

 At rest scenario, we need to ventilate our lungs with about 6.0 dm3 of air /minute.
 Approximately, 0.35 dm3 of new air enters the alveoli with each breath.
 It is impossible to empty the lungs completely, even when the chest is compressed during
the forced exhalation, about 1.0 dm3 of air still remains in the alveoli and the airways.
This volume is so-called residue volume.
 Tidal volume: representing the normal value of air displaced between normal inhalation
and exhalation when no force is require. A tool to measure; spirometer.

C. Disease
1. Bronchitis
 Infection in the lungs the linings becomes inflamed and this further narrow he airways,
will damage and block the airways.
 Sufferers have a severe cough, producing, large quantities of phlegm (mixture of mucus,
bacteria and some white blood cells.
 Bronchitis that caused by smoking habit
- Tar in cigarette stimulates goblet cells and mucus glands to enlarge and secrete more
mucus. Tar also inhibits the cleaning action of the ciliated epithelium that lines the
airways.
- Thus, it destroys many cilia and weakens the sweeping action of those that remain. As
a result, mucus accumulates on the bronchioles and the smallest of these may become
obstructed.
- As mucus is not moved, dirt, bacteria, and viruses collect and block the bronchioles in
which stimulates ‘smoker’s cough’ as an attempt to move the mucus up the airways.