The Respiratory System

INTRODUCTION

The Respiratory System is what controls breathing. It brings in the oxygen your body needs and gets rid of the carbon dioxide that is left over. If you didn’t breathe you would pass out or die.

Functions

1. supplies the body with oxygen and disposes of carbon dioxide

2. filters inspired air3. produces sound4. contains receptors for smell5. rids the body of some excess water and

heat6. helps regulate blood pH

Respiratory System

Upper Respiratory Tract Lower Respiratory Tract

Conducting Airways

Respiratory Portion

Overall View of the Respiratory System

NOSE

NOSTRIL

MOUTH

NASAL CAVITY

PHARYNX

LARYNX

Upper Respiratory Tract

The part where the air is inhaled specifically through the nostrils

Rich supply of capillaries warm the inspired air

Filters and cleans inspired air

Nose

Conditions the air to be received by other areas of the respiratory tract

Nasal Cavity

Warm, moisten and filter incoming air

Add resonance to voice

Communicate with the nasal cavity by ducts

Paranasal sinuses

Commonly called the throatCommon pathway for both air and food

Pharynx

Also known as the windpipe

Where vocal cords can be foundLarynx

Paranasal Sinuses

Lower Respiratory Tract

A. Conducting Airways

• Main passageway to the lungs• Has cilia lining and mucus that trap dust

particles in airTrachea

• Two tubes (right and left) branching from trachea

• Project laterally toward each lungBronchi

• Most distal segment of the conducting zone

• Branch off the lesser bronchioles

Terminal Bronchioles

B. Respiratory Portion

Alveoli• Resembles cluster of grapes on a

stem• Inflate during inhalation and deflate

during exhalation

Lower Respiratory Tract

Other Parts

• Pleura – a thin membrane that surrounds the lungs

- lessens friction to lubricate the lungs when breathing

• Lobes – lungs are divided into these sections

- right lung has three lobes while left lung has only two

• Diaphragm – a powerful muscle nestled in the bottom of the rib cage; aids in respiration

Now let us have a look at the mechanism of breathing!