Know the structure and function of the respiratory

system.
“The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the
blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all
parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through
breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon
dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means
of getting oxygen to the blood.” (www.fi.edu)

The pathway of the respiratory system process;

• Air enters the nostrils

• passes through the nasopharynx,
• the oral pharynx
• through the glottis
• into the trachea
• into the right and left bronchi, which branches and rebranches
into
• bronchioles, each of which terminates in a cluster of
 • alveoli (Only in the alveoli does actual gas exchange takes
place. There are some 300 million alveoli in two adult lungs.)

(www.users.rcn.com)

There are two types of respiration; Internal known as active

respiration and External known as passive, and respiration is
achieved through the Mouth; Nose; Lungs; Trachea and diaphragm.
• Mouth
Air can also be taken in through the mouth. These two openings
of the airway (the nasal cavity and the mouth) meet at the
pharynx, or throat, at the back of the nose and mouth.

• Nose

At the top of the respiratory system, the nostrils (also called

nares) act as the air intake, bringing air into the nose, where it's
warmed and humidified. Tiny hairs called cilia protect the nasal
passageways and other parts of the respiratory tract, filtering out
dust and other particles that enter the nose through the breathed
air. (www.kidshealth.org)

• Lungs
The paired right and left lungs smaller than the right lung)
occupy most of the thoracic cavity and extend down to the
diaphragm. They hang suspended in the right and left pleural
cavities straddling the heart. (BTEC Sport level 3)

• Trachea
The trachea, or windpipe, extends downward from the base of the
larynx. It lies partly in the neck and partly in the chest cavity. The
walls of the trachea are strengthened by stiff rings of cartilage to
keep it open and is very flexible.

• Daphragm
The diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen and is the
most important muscle involved when breathing. It is a sheet of
muscle that extends across the bottom of the rib cage.

“The diaphragm's job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the
lungs and pull the oxygen into the lungs. The diaphragm is a sheet
of muscles that lies across the bottom of the chest cavity. As the
diaphragm contracts and relaxes, breathing takes place. When the
diaphragm contracts, oxygen is pulled into the lungs. When the
diaphragm relaxes, carbon dioxide is pumped out of the lungs.”
(www.fi.edu/learn/heart)

Internal Respiration (The Process);

 The intercostal muscles contract which causes the ribcage to

expand and pushes the sternum out.
 The diaphragm will contract and change shape from concave
or dome shape to a flattened shape.
 The pressure inside the chest cavity will be reduced, allowing
air to be sucked into lungs.
 The air we breathe in is high in oxygen and Nitrogen but low
in Carbon dioxide.

External Respiration (The process);

 The intercostals muscles relax which causes the ribcage to
lower and sternum pushed in.
 The diaphragm relaxes so a decrease in volume of chest and
air is forced out.
 The air we breathe out it high in Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide,
and lower in Oxygen.

Diffusion & Gaseous Exchange

Diffusion occurs when molecules from an area of high concentration

to a region of low concentration. “This occurs during gaseous
exchange as the blood in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli has
a lower oxygen concentration of Oxygen than the air in the alveoli
which has just been inhaled.” (teachpe.com) both alveoli and
capillaries have walls which are only one cell thick and allow gases
to diffuse across them.

Gas Inhale Exhale

Oxygen 21% 17%
Carbon Dioxide 0.04% 3%
Gas exchange occurs in the alveolus when external respiration
occurs, therefore in the muscle cells when internal respiration
occurs. ‘Gaseous exchange relies on a process known as diffusion,
which is the movement of gases from a region of high concentration
to a region of low concentration, and the difference in high and low
pressure is called a diffusion gradient.’ (class notes) During exercise
the more intense you work, the steeper the diffusion gradient.
“Blood enters the lungs low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide.
The carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood to the alveolus, where
carbon dioxide levels are low. Oxygen diffuses from the alveolus,
where oxygen levels are high, into the blood where the level is low,
so blood leaves the lungs high in oxygen and low in carbon dioxide.”
(www.talktalk.co.uk)

The

amount of pressure exerted by a gas in a mixture is known as

partial pressure, and the greater the concentration of gas the
greater the overall partial pressure. In the alveoli where external
respiration occurs, the Oxygen concentration being high and Carbon
Dioxide being low. However, in internal respiration, in the capillary
for example the Carbon dioxide concentration would be high, and
the Oxygen low. During exercise there is a greater diffusion gradient
so faster diffusion will occur, resulting in haemoglobin being able to
pick up Carbon dioxide more easily when Oxygen is
released.“During internal respiration haemoglobin has lots of
Oxygen and little Carbon Dioxide. Haemoglobin then reaches the
muscles and Oxygen diffuses from the muscles into the myoglobin,
which is then used to produce energy, and at the same time
myoglobin gives haemoglobin its Carbon Dioxide.” (Class notes)

Lung volumes

 Tidal volume (TV)

 Amount of air inspired/expired per breath

 Resting value: 500ml/breath
 During exercise: increases up to 3/4litres per breath

 Minute ventilation (VE)

 Amount of air inspired/expired in 1 minute

 Resting value: 6.5-7litres/min
 During exercise: increases 120-180litres/min

 Breathing rate (BR)

 Number of breaths/minute
 Resting value: 12-15 breaths
 During exercise: increases up to 40-60 breaths (due to a
higher demand of oxygen to the muscles.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.fi.edu

www.users.rcn.com

www.kidshealth.org

BTEC Sport level 3: Mark Adams, Ray Barker, Adam Gledhill, Chris
Lydon, Chris Mulligan, Pam Phillippo, Louise Sutton. Essex 2010.

www.fi.edu/learn/heart

teachpe.com

Class notes
www.talktalk.co.uk