Biology 2201 Unit 3

Notes: Human Respiratory System Page 1 of 11

THE HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

FUNCTION: To exchange gases (CO2 and O2) between the atmosphere and a
respiratory surface in order to maintain homeostasis.

HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND HOMEOSTASIS

The human respiratory system is responsible for
o Obtaining oxygen, O2 for the cells.
o Ridding the body of CO2 (waste)

GAS EXCHANGE:
The process of obtaining oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.

RESPIRATORY SURFACE

o The area available for the exchange of gases (O2 and CO2)
o In humans, the respiratory surface is the Lung.

STRUCTURE OF HUMAN LUNG

o Found within chest cavity of a human.

o Humans have 2 lungs Æ Left lung has 2 lobes, Right lung has 3 lobes.
o Left lung has 2 lobes making it slightly smaller than right lung to make room for
the heart.
o Contains thousands of Alveoli (tiny air sacs) that inflate with air.
o Surface area of a typical human lung can cover a Tennis Court.

STRUCTURE OF HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

THE HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM IS COMPOSDED OF TWO MAIN SECTIONS.

1. Upper Respiratory Tract 2. Lower Respiratory Tract

A. Nasal Cavity A. Bronchii

B. Pharynx B. Bronchioles
C. Glottis C. Alveoli/Lungs
D. Epiglottis D. Diaphragm
E. Larynx
F. Trachea
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The Upper Respiratory Tract

A. Nasal Cavity
Consists of:
o Nostrils (openings in the nose)
o Turbinates (Small bones in the nose)
o The turbinates are covered with a membrane that secretes
mucus to moisten air coming into the nose.

Function: To warm and moisten air as it comes into the body.

Note: Respiratory system requires air to be both moist and at about 37oC for optimal
performance.

B. Pharynx

o Part of the alimentary canal that connects the mouth and nasal cavity to the larynx
and esophagus.
o Found at the back of the throat.

Function: Allow air to pass from mouth/nose to the larynx and esophagus.

C. Glottis

o Opening into the trachea.

Function: Allows air to flow from the back of the throat (pharynx) into the trachea.

D. Epiglottis

o Flap of tissue covering the glottis.

Function: Prevents food and other foreign particles from entering the trachea.

The epiglottis normally closes/covers over the glottis during swallowing.

It is open during normal breathing.
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E. Larynx

o Referred to as the “Voice Box”

o Contains flaps of tissue called the “vocal chords”.

Function: Produce sound – your voice.

When air passes over the vocal chords they “vibrate” and this produces
sound that we call our voice.

F. Trachea

o Located in the chest cavity

o Commonly called the “wind pipe”
o Hollow tube composed of semicircular rings of ‘cartilege’. The cartilage protects
the trachea from collapse and injury.
o Connects the pharynx to the bronchii.
o Contains specialized cells that secrete ‘mucus’ to trap foreign particles and
prevent them from entering the lungs.

Function: Allows air to pass from the pharynx to the bronchii.

The Lower Respiratory Tract

A. Bronchii

o These are branches of the trachea.

o There are two branches to the trachea.
o 1 Branch = bronchus, 2 branches = bronchii.
o One bronchus enters each lung.

Function: Bring air into the lung.

B. Bronchioles

o Located in each lung

o Small, hollow, fine branches of each bronchiole
o Each bronchiole ends in a grape –like cluster of tiny air sacs called alveoli.

Function: Bring air deep into the lung (all parts of the lung)
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C. Alveoli/Alveolus

o Small moist air sacs located at the ends of bronchioles.

o Have a large surface area for gas exchange.
o Each alveolus (singular) is surrounded by a mass of capillaries.

Function: These are the sites of gas exchange (O2 and CO2) between the external
environment and the blood stream of a human.

Gas Exchange in an Alveolus

Gas exchange in an alveolus occurs by diffusion.

Steps in Gas exchange

A. Oxygen is brought to the surface of an alveolus by inhaling air.

B. Oxygen diffuses across the alveolar membrane via a concentration gradient and into a
capillary. Water is needed at the surface between the alveolus and the capillary to
facilitate the diffusion of gases (O2 and CO2).
C. At the same time, carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood diffuses across the membrane and
into an alveolus. This happens in the opposite direction to Oxygen.
D. The CO2 is then sent back up the airway to be expelled to the outside.
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THE BREATHING PROCESS

Breathing

ƒ The mechanism by which mammals ventilate their lungs (bring air in and out).

Purpose of Breathing

ƒ Breathing bring oxygen to the respiratory surface (lung) and rids the body of
waste (CO2) by expelling it to the outside.

The Mechanics of Breathing

Breathing occurs in two stages.

A. Inhalation
B. Exhalation

A. Inhalation
ƒ The process of bringing air INTO the lungs.

During inhalation, the following events occur:

1) The ribs move up and out

2) The diaphragm moves down.
3) The intercostal muscles contract

ƒ When the above happens it increases the volume of the chest cavity. This creates
a low pressure inside the chest. The pressure inside the chest is less than the
pressure outside the body.
ƒ Air “rushes” into the lungs from the outside.
ƒ The lungs “inflate”
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B. Exhalation

ƒ The process of removing air FROM the lung.

During Exhalation, the following events occur:

1) The ribs move down and in.

2) The diaphragm moves up
3) The intercostal muscles relax.

ƒ When this happens, it decreases the volume of the chest cavity. This creates a
high pressure inside the chest. The pressure inside the chest is greater than the
pressure outside the body.
ƒ Air is forced out of the lung.
ƒ The lungs deflate.

Some Terms

a. Diaphragm Æ A muscle that helps separate the upper part of the body (chest
cavity) from the lower part of the body (abdominal cavity.

Function: The diaphragm works along with the intercostal muscles and ribs
to help create low and high pressure within the chest cavity to aid
with breathing.

b. Intercostal musclesÆ A set of muscles attached to the ribs within the chest cavity that
control the movement of the rib cage.

Function: Work with the diaphragm to create high and low pressure within
the chest cavity to aid with breathing.
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Lung Capacity
Lung Capaciy: A term associated with the amount of air a mammalian lung is able to
move and/or store/use.

TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH LUNG CAPACITY

1) Tidal Volume (TV)

ƒ The volume of air inhaled and exhaled during a normal breath.

o About 500 mL

2) Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)

ƒ The additional volume of air that can be inhaled beyond a normal inhalation.
ƒ This is normally the “extra” air inhaled during a “deep breath”.
o About 2000 mL

3) Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)

ƒ The additional volume of air that can be exhaled beyond your normal exhalation.
ƒ This is the “extra” air you force out during a hard blow of air outward.
o about 1500 mL

4) Vital Capacity (VC)

ƒ The TOTAL volume of gas that can be moved in or out of the lungs.
ƒ Calculated using the following formula:
VC =TV + IRV + ERV

For an average human:

VC =TV + IRV + ERV
VC = 500mL + 2000mL + 1500mL
VC = 4000mL or 4L
5) Residual Volume

ƒ The volume of gas that remains in the lungs after a full exhalation.
o About 1500 mL
ƒ This amount of air “never” leaves the lungs because if it did, the lungs and
respiratory passageways would collapse.
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Human Lung Capacity Graph

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Respiratory System Disorders

These are disorders/problems associated with either the lungs or air passages.

We will examine 5 main disorders.

1. LUNG CANCER

ƒ The uncontrolled and invasive growth of abnormal cells within the lungs.
ƒ The leading killer of men and women in North America
ƒ The abnormal cells become a malignant tumour (group of cells) known as a
carcinoma.
ƒ The carcinoma eventually takes over healthy cells, killing them.

Causes of Lung Cancer

ƒ Carcinogens (cancer causing agents) found in tobacco smoke (87%)

o Carcinogens irritate the cells of the lung causing them to become
anaplastic (less specialized) allowing them to form tumours.
ƒ Exposure to Radon gas
o Radon gas is found normally in “Radiation therapy” for other cancers and
in some rocks etc. (12%)

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

ƒ Chronic cough
ƒ Coughing up blood
ƒ Weight loss and loss of appetite
ƒ Shortness of breath
ƒ Chest pain
ƒ Fever without a cause

Effects of Lung Cancer

ƒ Death, but not by difficulty breathing. Death is normally caused by the cancer
moving out of the lungs and into other parts of the body such as the brain (brain
tumour) etc.

Treatment for Lung Cancer

ƒ Radiation and Chemotherapy (drugs) if not too advanced.

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2. PNEUMONIA

ƒ A disease of the lungs causing the alveoli to inflame (swell) and fill with liquids.
ƒ This interferes with the alveoli’s normal ability to take in oxygen causing the
body’s cells to starve for oxygen.
ƒ There are TWO (2) main types of Pneumonia
I. Lobar Pneumonia
ƒ This is pneumonia that affects a lobe of a lung.
II. Bronchial Pneumonia
ƒ This is pneumonia that affects patches throughout both lungs.

Causes of Pneumonia

ƒ Infections by bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas, fungi.

ƒ Bacterial Pneumonia (occurs only lobar pneumonia) is caused by the bacterium

Streptococcus pneumoniae.

ƒ Viral pneumonia is caused by viruses, but are less severe than bacterial
pneumoias.

ƒ Mycoplasma Pneumonia is caused by mycoplasmas (organisms having both

characteristics of bacteria and viruses) and takes a long time to cure.

3. ASTHMA

ƒ A disease where the airways and lungs of a person can become obstructed
because they narrow and cut off air flow.
ƒ Bronchioles can constrict (narrow) because of muscle spasms.
ƒ Can occur at any age.
ƒ Persons normally suffer from “Asthma Attacks”

Causes of Asthma

ƒ Not fully known. Something triggers the lungs/airways to react causing them to
narrow and secrete mucus which cuts down/off air flow.

Treatment for Asthma

ƒ Drugs called bronchodilators (inhalers). These devices help dilate (open up) the
bronchioles making it easier to breathe.
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4. BRONCHITIS

ƒ A condition where the bronchioles become inflamed and filled with mucus
resulting in a reduction of air flow into the lungs.

Causes of Bronchitis

ƒ Infection from coughs and colds.

ƒ Smoking

Treatment for Bronchitis

ƒ Antibiotics
ƒ Stop smoking

5. EMPHYSEMA

ƒ The swelling and scarring of alveoli in the lung resulting in loss of elasticity
(cannot inflate and deflate) of the alveoli. This causes some of them to burst
resulting in a decrease of surface area for gas exchange.
ƒ Difficulty breathing is a result.

Causes of Emphysema

ƒ Smoking
ƒ Other agents

Treatment for Emphysema

ƒ Stop smoking
ƒ Exercise
ƒ Drugs, to make alveoli wok.
ƒ Extra oxygen.