Respiratory System

Functions of the Respiratory System

• Breathing process• Exchange of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide• Enable speech production

Cellular Respiration

• All cells require oxygen for metabolism• All cells require means to remove carbon

dioxide

External Respiration

• Ventilation– exchange of air between lungs and atmosphere

• Breathing largely involuntary activity

Structures of Respiratory System

• upper respiratory tract– nose, mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx and

trachea

• lower respiratory tract– bronchial tree and lungs

Nose

• Nasal cavity – other name

• Contains– Mucus (warms air)– Cilia (traps dirt and

dust)– olfactory nerve (nerve

that determine smell)

Larynx

• Sound waves are generated here to produce speech.

• Voice box

Trachea

• Windpipe or airway• Made of smooth muscle• divides into two branches: bronchi• no gaseous exchange

Bronchi

• Bronchus, singular• Made with smooth muscle• Ends with air sacs called alveoli

Alveoli

• air sacs• alveolar wall membranes one cell

thick and surrounded by capillaries• gaseous exchange takes place here

Right-3 lobes Left-2 lobes

Lungs

trachea

Diaphragm

• muscle separating chest and abdomen• diaphragm contracts

– air flows in

• diaphragm relaxes– air flows out

COPD

• Asthma– bronchospasms, parosysmal, productive cough, – mucolytics, bronchodilators

• Chronic Bronchitis– mucosal swelling, productive cough, chest pain– expectorants, bronchodilators, steroids

• Emphysema– barrel-chest, dyspnea, orthopnea

Influenza

• Acute infectious respiratory disease

• Viral• Fever, chills, headache,

myalgia, anorexia• Avoid aspirin in

children

Pleural Effusions

• Excess fluid in pleural cavity• associated with congestive heart failure,

ascites, infectious lung diseases, trauma• diagnosis

– auscultation, percussion

• Empyema, hydrothorax, hemothorax, pnrumothorax, pyopneumothorax

• thoracentesis

Tuberculosis

• Infectious, highly communicable disease

• aerosol transmission• primary tuberculosis,

tubercles• immunocompromised• effects other organ systems• drug resistant strains

Cystic Fibrosis

• Hereditary disorder, affects exocrine glands• systemic involvement

– lungs, pancreas, digestive tract

• Viscous mucus blocks bronchioles• Gas exchange impaired

Respiratory Distress Syndrome

• Surfactant– decreases the surface tension of

the alveoli– needed for alveoli to fill with air

and expand (compliance)• Infant respiratory distress syndrome

(hyaline membrane disease)• Adult respiratory distress syndrome