Normoxia-
normal
concentrations of
oxygen available
Hyperoxia- low
concentrations of oxygen
available
Anoxia- total lack of oxygen
hypercapnia- high
concentrations of
oxygen available
Apnea- temporary
inability to breathe
Dyspnea-
subjective
sensation of
uncomfortable
breathing
Functions of the respiratory system
1. Provide a surface area in the lungs for gas
exchange 2. Move air to and from the
exchange surfaces of the lungs along the
respiratory passageways 3. Protect the
respiratory surfaces by filter, warming, and
humidifying inspired air 4. Produce sounds 5.
House receptors for the nasal cavity
Organs of respiration
include nose, pharynx,
larynx, trachea, bronchi,
lungs, alveoli
The respiratory system is divided into two groups: respiratory zone and conducting zone
Conducting zone- the rest of
the respiratory system is just
passageways that let the air get
to the alveoli. The conducting
zone structures clean, humidify,
and warm incoming air so that
when it reaches the alveoli it
has fewer irritants, is warm and
damp, and less likely to cause
damage
Respiratory zone-
alveoli are the main site
for gas exchange and are
thin enough for gases to
pass easily through.
Upper respiratory system- pharynx and up,
Lower respiratory system- larynx and down
Diseases in the nasal cavity:
viral, bacterial, or fungal
infections which can lead to
inflammation in the nasal cavity.
Benign or malignant tumors can
also form within the nasal cavity
Respiratory Defense System
Mucous cells and mucous
glands along much of the
length of the respiratory
tract produce mucous that
bathes exposed surfaces to
trap particles
Cilia in the nasal cavity sweep
mucus and its trapped contents
towards the pharynx where it is
swallowed
Cilia in the lower respiratory
system also move mucus
towards the pharynx (mucus
escalator)
Emphysema- develops
when the walls of the alveoli
and alveolar sacs are
destroyed due to breathed in
toxins
Alveoli include 3 cell types: 1. Simple
Squamous- main site for gas exchange 2. Type
II alveolar- secrete surfactant that keeps the air
moist 3.alveolar macrophage- wandering free
macrophages
Respiration occurs in four steps: 1. Pulmonary
ventilation - breathing. 2. External respiration- blood
gains oxygen and loses carbon dioxide. 3. Internal
respiration- blood loses oxygen and gains carbon
dioxide. 4. Cellular respiration- oxygen is consumed
and carbon dioxide is released during production of
ATP
Boyle's Law- the
pressure of a gas in a
closed container is
inversely proportional
to the volume of the
container
Each lung lies within a
pleural cavity. The
parietal and visceral
pleura are separated by
a thin film of pleural
fluid
Inhalation: the thoracic cavity expands in response to the
contractions of the main muscles of inhalation (diaphragm and
external intercostal muscles), the lungs expand as the thoracic
cavity increases in size, lung volume increases and thus
pressure in the lungs decrease to below atmospheric pressure,
air flows into the lungs to equalize pressure
Exhalation: when the muscles
of inhalation relax, the thoracic
cavity and the lungs recoil to
their usual size, as volume of
the lungs decrease pressure
increases to more than
atmospheric pressure, air flows
out to equalize pressure
Collapsed lung- if the pressure is lost in the lungs
due to a chest wound the adherence of the lungs to
the thoracic walls is lost and the lungs collapsed.
This is called atelectasis or pneumothorax.
A tension pneumothorax occurs when
inspired air is directed into the pleural
cavity via bronchi or chest wound and
cannot escape. As a result, the pressure
builds up in the pleural cavity and squeezes
the heart and the other lung
Dalton's Law- the total pressure exerted by a
gas mixture is equal to the sum of the individual
partial pressures associated with individual gas
components
External Respiration- diffusion of oxygen from air in the alveoli of
the lungs to blood in pulmonary capillaries and the diffusion of
carbon dioxide in the opposite direction. Internal respiration-
diffusion of oxygen from the blood in systemic capillaries into body
cells, and diffusion of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction
High Altitude Sickness- exposure to low partial pressures of oxygen
Air Overexpansion Syndrome- As a
diver ascends and pressure decreases, the
volume of air increases and the lungs
over expand and can tear
Nitrogen Narcosis and Decompression Sickness
Nitrogen Narcosis- excessive amounts of dissolved nitrogen
Decompression Sickness- If the
ascent of a diver is too rapid,
nitrogen comes out of a solution and
forms nitrogen bubbles in tissues.
Bubbles typically develop in joins
first, producting severe pain and
afflicted individuals tend to curl up
(the "bends")
Carbon Dioxide is transported in 3 ways: 1.
About 70% is transported in blood plasma as
bicarbonate ions 2. About 23% binds to
hemoglobin (to the globin portion) 3. Only 7% is
dissolved in blood plasma
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning- carbon monoxide travels into the blood where it
binds to hemoglobin just as oxygen does. However, the binding of carbon
monoxide to hemoglobin is 200X stronger than for oxygen. Small concentrations
of carbon monoxide greatly reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood
The basic rhythm of respiration is
controlled involuntarily by neurons
in the medulla oblongata and pons
that form the respiratory center
Shallow Water Blackout- hyperventilation before swimming
lowers the amount of carbon dioxide in the lungs. The reduced
carbon dioxide will shut off chemoreceptors. The oxygen levels
may drop sufficiently to cause hypoxia and shallow water
blackout
Normal respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute
Much smaller changes in
carbon dioxide will have a
greater increase in respirator
rate compared to oxygen