Understanding the Respiratory System: Functions, Organs, and Disorders

1. Respiratory System Chapter 15

2. Why do we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide? • All cells undergo cellular respiration • C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O

4. Functions of the Respiratory System • Large surface area for gas exchange • Moving air into/out of the lungs • Keeping the lungs moist, warm and free of debris/pathogens • Speech • Sense of Smell

5. Respiratory System Organs • Nares • Nasal/Oral Cavity • Pharynx • Larynx • Trachea • Bronchi • Bronchioles • Alveoli

9. Is it better to breathe through your nose or mouth?

11. Why does your nose run? • Condensation • Defense against dust, pathogens • Allergies

13. Pharynx • Common passageway for food and air • Often gets inflamed • Contains tonsils

15. Larynx • Contains voice box, epiglottis, thyroid • Protected by cartilage • Creates protrusion known as Adam’s apple

18. Trachea • Protected and held open by C shaped cartilage rings • Flexible to allow large masses of food to go through the esophagus

20. Heimlich Maneuver • Can remove lodged items from the throat

22. Intubation • Inserting a tube to maintain an airway

23. Tracheostomy • Inserting a tube through the neck to create an airway below a blockage

24. Bronchi • Branches into left and right primary bronchi • Ciliated with C shaped cartilage rings • Bronchi are further divided into secondary and tertiary bronchi (~1mm in diameter) • Most blockages show up in the right lung because the right primary bronchi has a steeper angle

26. Bronchitis • Inflammation or infection of the bronchi

27. Bronchiole • Size regulates air pressure • Capable of stimulating ANS and causing bronchoconstriction or bronchodilation

28. Asthma • Bronchioles constrict so much that airflow is almost completely blocked • Can be caused by allergies, cold air, exertion or stress. Most often it is due to an illness such as the cold • Symptoms = wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightening • Tx = bronchodilators

30. Alveoli • About 150 million alveoli per lung • Give lung their spongy appearance • Only place that gas exchange can take place • Capillary network wraps around them

32. Gas Exchange • Takes place through simple diffusion • Diffusion = movement of materials from an area of high concentration to an area of low concetration

33. Simple Squamous • Alveolar macrophages – WBC that gobble up dust and debris • Surfactant – holds alveoli open and reduces surface tension

34. Pneumonia • Inflammation of the alveolar clusters • Usually caused by normal flora bacteria from mouth and throat • Bronchioles constrict • Fluids leak into alveoli

36. Lungs • Right side = 3 lobes (superior, middle, inferior) • Left side = 2 lobes (superior, inferior) • Each lung is in its own pleural cavity filled with fluid for lubrication

38. Pneumothorax • When air gets into the pleural cavity due to injury • Collapses lung • Air needs to be removed and the injury needs to be sealed off

40. Hemothorax • Blood fills pleural cavity • Collapses lung • Blood needs to be drained and the wound needs to be sealed

42. Smoking • 3 most dangerous substances are: Tar, Nicotine, and CO • Tar damages lung tissue • Nicotine and CO damages the heart and BV

44. A Few Puffs of Smoke= • Paralyzed macrophages • Paralyzed cilia • Extra Mucus/tar clogs alveoli

45. Regular Smoking • Smokers Cough • Kills Cilia • Kills Alveoli • Kills Macrophages = Infections

46. Lifetime Smokers • Emphysema- so many alveoli are dead it is hard to support life • Cancers