You are on page 1of 15

CHAPTER 1 :

RESPIRATION

1.1 HUMAN BREATHING MECHANISM

Structure of The Respiratory System


Nostrils Bronchi
These are branches of the trachea. Each bronchus leads into one lung. Air breathed in through the nostrils passes into the lungs through the trachea

Trachea
It is a strong tube with incomplete rings of cartilage to prevent it from collapsing when it bends.

Bronchioles
Are tiny air tubes which branch from the bronchi. Each bronchiole ands in air sacs called alveoli.

Ribs
Enclose and protect the lungs and the heart

Diaphragm
A large sheet of muscle. Its contraction and relaxation increases and decreases the volume of the thoracic cavity

Lungs

Alveolus(S) Alveoli (P)

Each lung is enclosed by two pleural membranes. The right lung has three lobes while the left lung has two.

Structure of The lung


Characteristics of Alveolus: Has a one cell thick wall. moisture They are surrounded by blood capillaries. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs takes place here.

What is breathing? Breathing is a mechanical process which draws air into and out of the lungs.

Mechanism of breathing

The external intercostals muscles contract. The ribs are raise. The diaphragm muscles contract. The sheet of diaphragm flattens. The volume of the thoracic cavity increases. The air pressure in the thoracic cavity decreases. Air from outside the body moves into the lungs.

The external intercostals muscles relax. The ribs are lowered. The diaphragm muscles relax. The sheet of diaphragm arches upwards. The volume of the thoracic cavity decreases. The air pressure in the thoracic cavity increases. Air is forced out of the lungs.

Models to show the breathing mechanism

Exhalation a) When the rubber sheet is pushed up, the volume of the space in the bell-jar decreases. b) The air pressure in the bell-jar increases. c) Air pressure pressing on the balloons forces air out of the balloons.

Inhalation a) When the rubber sheet is pulled down, the volume of the space in the bell-jar increases. b) The air pressure in the bell-jar decreases. c) Air pressure outside the bell-jar forces air into the balloons, making them expand.

1.2 TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN IN THE HUMAN BODY

Lungs
Oxygen in the lungs diffuses into the blood and combine with haemoglobin in the red blood cells to Oxygen + form haemoglobin oxyhaemoglobin. oxyhaemoglobin

Heart
The oxygenated blood is transport to the heart. Then the heart pumps the oxygenated blood to all parts of the body except the lungs. The deoxygenated blood is returned to the heart by veins. From the heart, the deoxygenated blood pumps along arteries to the lungs.

Body cells
The oxygenated blood carried in the capillaries to the body cells. The oxygen in the oxyhaemoglobin diffuses into the Oxyhaemoglobin cells. oxygen + haemoglobin Carbon dioxide in the cells diffuses into capillaries (because there is more carbon dioxide in the cells than in the blood in the capillaries) The blood rich in carbon dioxide is

Pulmo nary veins

Aorta

The blood is now deoxygenated called releases its blood oxygenated blood. dioxide into carbon alveoli by diffusion. The blood absorbs oxygen from the air in the alveoli by diffusion to form oxyhaemoglobin again.

Pulmo nary artery

Vena cava

1.3 THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

You might also like