Biology 12 Unit 3A The Respiratory System

http://www.cbc.ca/allpointswest/2013/05/03/running-and-womens-health/

Text Ref Pg 343 - 371

Trillions of cells in our body receive a continuous supply of oxygen needed to carry out vital cellular functions from our lungs. Most of us cannot live more than a few minutes if we become deprived of oxygen. As cells use oxygen, they give off carbon dioxide, a waste product the body must get rid of. Therefore, the major functions of the respiratory system are to supply the body with oxygen and to dispose of carbon dioxide. To accomplish this, we use 4 separate processes collectively called respiration. All of these processes require the circulatory and respiratory systems to work together if either one of these systems fail, the bodys cells begin to die from oxygen starvation. The respiratory system lies dormant in the fetus and becomes fully functional upon exposure of our first breath of air. Your lungs contain almost 1500 miles of airways and over 300 million air sacs called alveoli. There are over 1600 km of capillaries in the lungs that play a vital role in gas exchange. We are only conscious of our breathing 20% of the time. The rest of the time we are consciously unaware that we are breathing. Because it moves air, the respiratory system is also involved with the sense of smell and speech.

Anatomy of the Respiratory System Crash Course in Respiratory and Circulatory System (also saved in realplayer) The respiratory tract extends from the nose to the lungs and is divided into the upper and lower respiratory tracts.

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Anatomy of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Nose & Nasal Cavity Functions: 1) Filters Air Hair, cilia and mucus lining the nasal cavity trap dust and other foreign particles and prevent them from entering the lungs. 2) Moistens Air Due to Gas exchange requiring moist membranes, the nasal cavity moistens the air 3) Warms Air Rich supply of capillaries in the nasal cavity warms air to 37 C before it enters the lungs. 4) Traps Water Droplets During Exhalation We can lose up to 1 L of water per day from exhalation. 5) Smell Olfactory cells on cilia detect chemical signatures and transmit signals to the brain that we interpret as odors.
Homeostatic Imbalance Cold viruses, streptococcal bacteria, and various allergens can cause inflammation of the mucus membranes in the nasal cavity. This results in excessive mucus production, nasal congestion, and postnasal drip. Because mucus membranes in the nasal cavity are continuous with the rest of the respiratory tract, it is typical to have a cold progress from the nose throat lungs.

Pharynx Connects nasal & oral cavities to the larynx (ends at the epiglottis) Both food and air pass through the pharynx Larynx Voicebox Contains three large cartilages: thyroid cartilage = Adams Apple , cricoid cartilage and the epiglottis The vocal cords lie within the larynx; they are mucosal folds supported by elastic ligaments When air rushes through the vocal chords they vibrate and produce sound

Biology 12 Unit 3A The pitch of our voice is controlled by changing the tension on the vocal cords. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9-CS2v8wcc Nick Piteria vocal chord range!

Trachea Wind Pipe Connects the larynx to the bronchi Held open by C-shaped cartilaginous rings that prevent the trachea from collapsing and allow the esophagus to expand while swallowing Lined with cilia and goblet cells that secret mucus Cilia keep the lungs clean by sweeping mucus and debris towards the pharynx where it is swallowed Homeostatic Imbalance Smoking inhibits and ultimately destroys the cilia found in the respiratory tract. Once cilia are destroyed, coughing becomes the only means by which a smoker can prevent mucus and debris from accumulating in the lungs. For this reason, smokers with respiratory congestion should avoid medications that inhibit the cough reflex. Bronchi (Bronchus singular) The trachea divides into the right and left primary bronchi which lead to the lungs Bronchi have cartilaginous rings and, like the trachea, they contain cilia and mucus that sweeps debris and pathogens out of the lungs so it can be swallowed The bronchi branch many times and eventually lead to the bronchioles Primary bronchi 1 secondary bronchi 2 tertiary bronchi 3 bronchioles terminal bronchiole alveoli. 3

Biology 12 Unit 3A Bronchioles DO NOT have cartilage, but rather have smooth muscle that can constrict or relax to control their diameter

Homeostatic Imbalance Asthma is a common chronic disorder that affects 1 in 4 children living in urban environments. Asthma is caused by a complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors that researchers do not yet fully understand. Inhaled irritants such as allergens, smoke or chemicals, vigorous exercise, and very cold air are all factors that are known to trigger asthma attacks. In response to exposure to these triggers, bronchi contract and spasm i.e. you have an "asthma attack". Inflammation soon follows and leads to further narrowing of the airways and excessive mucus production, coughing and other breathing difficulties. In essence, asthma is the result of an immune response in the bronchial airways.

Biology 12 Unit 3A Lungs Right lung has 3 lobes; left lung has 2 lobes and is slightly smaller (gives room for the heart) Each lung is enclosed by a double membrane called the pleura. The pleura produces a serous lubricating fluid that allows its two layers to slide against each other as we inhale and exhale i.e. reduces friction. The lungs are made up of millions of tiny, exceptionally thin-walled air sacs called alveoli. Alveoli are found at the ends of terminal bronchioles. Gas exchange occurs between the air in an alveolus and the blood inside capillaries that wrap around them. CO2 diffuses into the alveoli from the pulmonary capillaries so it can be exhaled. O2 diffuses into the blood within pulmonary capillaries from the alveoli so oxygen can be carried to the tissues and cells of the body.

Biology 12 Unit 3A Alveoli Structure and Function Summary Gas Exchange Structural Component Alveoli are arranged in grape-like clusters Thin walls - one cell thick Densely covered with blood capillaries Inner walls are lined with pulmonary surfactant Walls of alveoli are moist Alveoli contain stretch receptors Functional Benefit Greatly increases surface area for gas exchange Increases rate of diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and blood Large contact area between alveoli and blood supply. Lowers the surface tension within the alveoli and prevents them from collapsing Aids rate of diffusion of gases Prevents alveoli from over-filling with air and causing damage to the thin walls

Gas exchange is a critical process that supports homeostasis by supplying oxygen to cells and removing poisonous carbon dioxide from our body. Gas exchange in humans can be divided into 4 key steps and requires involvement of the circulatory system 1) Breathing i.e. Pulmonary Ventilation 2) External Respiration 3) Internal Respiration 4) Cellular Respiration Homeostatic Imbalance Alveoli are lined with surfactant, a film of lipoprotein that lowers surface tension and keeps their walls from sticking to each other. Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome occurs in premature babies because they cannot produce surfactant. As a result, their alveoli collapse and the walls stick to each other, inhibiting gas exchange. Artificial surfactants are used to treat the condition until the baby can produce its own.

1) Breathing i.e. Pulmonary Ventilation Breathing consists of 2 phases: 1) Inhalation aka Inspiration when air flows into the lungs 2) Exhalation aka Expiration when gases exit the lungs

Biology 12 Unit 3A Inhalation / Inspiration Breathing is controlled by the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata a part of the brain sensitive to the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen ions (H+) in blood plasma

When blood concentrations of CO2 or H+ get to a critical level, the respiratory center sends nerve impulses to the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles that causes them to contract Inhalation is an active process because it requires ATP for these muscle contractions The diaphragm moves DOWN and the intercostal muscles pull the ribs UP, expanding the rib cage As volume within the thoracic cavity increases, Air pressure within the thoracic cavity becomes lower than atmospheric pressure the vacuum effect causes air to passively enter the lungs Because pressure is lower in the thoracic cavity than the atmosphere inhalation is also called negative pressure breathing ** Air passively flows into the lungs because of the low pressure in the lungs in comparison to the atmospheric pressure

Biology 12 Unit 3A Exhalation / Expiration Usually exhalation is the passive phase of breathing Once alveoli are filled with air, stretch receptors in the alveolar walls initiate inhibitory nerve impulses that travel from the lungs to the respiratory center The intercostals relax and the rib cage moves DOWN and IN The diaphragm also relaxes and moves UP (becomes more dome shaped) This decreases the volume within the thoracic cavity, pressure within the lungs increases (becomes greater than atmospheric pressure) and we exhale When we are under stress or are exercising our breathing is deeper and more rapid; under these circumstances expiration CAN be an active process

Homeostatic Imbalance Pneumothorax Collapsed Lung - If the chest wall is punctured and the pleura is torn, air rushes into the chest cavity. As a consequence, the lung collapses because there is more pressure on the surface of the lung than there is inside the lung.

Biology 12 Unit 3A External and Internal Respiration: Terms to Know: Hb = Deoxyhemoglobin HbO2 = Oxyhemoglobin HbCO2 = Carbaminohemoglobin H2CO3 = Carbonic acid H
+

HCO3- = Bicarbonate ion HHb = reduced Hemoglobin CO2 = Carbon Dioxide O2 = Oxygen H2O = water

= hydrogen ion

Internal Respiration:
Gas exchange between the blood and tissue cells As blood is transported away from the pulmonary capillaries, and into the systemic circuit, its temperature increases to 38C and blood pH decreases slightly to pH 7.35 This change influences hemoglobins affinity for O2 and as a result, hemoglobin will unload the oxygen molecules it is carrying into the plasma to be diffused into the tissue cells Systemic Capillaries i.e. Tissues

HbO2

Hb + O2

The temperature and pH allows Hb to bind with some CO2 (waste product from cellular respiration) forming Carbaminohemoglobin (HbCO2) Systemic Capillaries i.e. Tissues

Hb + CO2

HbCO2

Most of the CO2 is reacted with water into carbonic acid by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (present in RBCs) Because carbonic acid is unstable, it dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions Carbonic Anhydrase
Anhydrase

Blood Cells Within Systemic Capillaries 9

Biology 12 Unit 3A

CO2 + H2O

H2CO3

H+ + HCO3-

To buffer the pH of the blood, excess H+ ions bind to hemoglobin to form reduced hemoglobin (HHb)

Hb + H+

HHb

A small amount of CO2 can dissolve in the blood plasma and be carried back to the lungs in this form

External Respiration:
i.e. Pulmonary Gas Exchange External respiration refers to the exchange of CO2 and O2 between air in the alveoli and blood in the pulmonary capillaries. Blood temperature within pulmonary capillaries is 37C and blood pH is 7.4, perfect conditions for loading oxygen onto hemoglobin. Because of these environmental conditions hemoglobin loses its affinity (ability to hold on) for CO2 and releases it into blood plasma. CO2 diffuses out of blood plasma and into the alveoli so it can be exhaled (down its pressure gradient) O2 diffuses from alveoli into plasma and then into red blood cells within pulmonary capillaries (down its pressure gradient) so it can be delivered to tissues and cells throughout the body.

**Reactions during External Respiration are reversed in from Internal Respiration. 10

Biology 12 Unit 3A

Homeostatic Imbalance If the lungs become waterlogged and fill with fluid, the membrane where gas exchange occurs in the alveoli thickens dramatically. Under such conditions, even the total time (0.75 sec) that RBCs are in transit through the pulmonary capillaries may not be enough for adequate gas exchange, and body tissues begin to suffer from oxygen deprivation.

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