CHAPTER 1

RESPIRATIO
N

1.1 ANALYSING THE HUMAN BREATHING

MECHANISM

tIdentify The Structure Of The Human Respiratory

System

tThe human respiratory system consists of:

t Breathing organs
t Ribs
t Diaphragm
t Intercostals muscles

tIdentify The Structure Of Lung

tDescribe The Process Of Inhalation And

Exhalation And Relate The Changes Of Air
Pressure In The Thoracic Cavity To Inhalation And
Exhalation
t The breathing mechanism involves two phases
t Inhalation
t Exhalation
t INHALATION taking in of air or breathing in
t EXHALATION letting out of air or breathing
out

t The air flow enter the lung:

Nostril

Nasal
cavity

Trach
ea

Alveol
us

Bronchiol
es

Bronch
us

t The air flow enter the lung:

t The process during Inhalation

t During inhalation, the internal intercostals
muscles relax
t Causes the ribs moves upwards and
outwards
t The external intercostals muscles contract
t The diaphragm muscles contract and flatten
t The volume of thoracic cavity increases
t The air pressure inside the thoracic cavity is
lower than atmospheric pressure
t This causes the air from outside to be
inhaled into the lungs

t The process during Exhalation

t During exhalation, the internal intercostals
muscles contract
t Causes the ribs moves downwards and
inwards
t The external intercostals muscles relax
t The diaphragm muscles relax and curve
upwards
t The volume of thoracic cavity decreases
t The air pressure inside the thoracic cavity is
higher than atmospheric pressure
t This causes the air in the lungs to be pushed
out

tDescribe The Breathing Mechanism.

t Comparison between inhalation and

exhalation mechanism
Inhalation

Part Involved

Exhalation

Contract

External
Intercostals
Muscles

Relax

Relax

Internal
Intercostals
Muscles

Contract

Upwards And
Outwards

Movement Of
Ribcage

Contract And
Flattens Out

Diaphragm

Downwards
And Inwards
Relax And
Curved Upwards

t Comparison between inhalation and

exhalation mechanism
Inhalation
Increases

Air Pressure In
The Thoracic
Cavity
Decreases
Air Flows Into
The Lungs

Part Involved

Exhalation

Volume Of
Decreases
Thoracic Cavity
Air Pressure In
The Thoracic
Cavity
Air Pressure In
Compared With
The Thoracic
Atmospheric
Cavity Increases
Pressure On The
Outside
Air Is Forced
Air Movement
Out Of The Lung

1.2 transport of oxygen in the human body

tThe Process Of Gaseous Exchange

tOxygen diffuses into the blood capillaries to
be carried to all the body cells
tCarbon dioxide diffuses from the blood
capillaries into the alveolus to eliminated
tThe alveolus is efficient in gaseous exchange
because:
t It has a thin wall (one cell thick)
t It is moist (enable gas to dissolve)
t It is surrounded by a large network of blood
capillaries
t it has a large surface area (millions of alveoli)

tDiffusion Of Oxygen Through The Alveolus Wall

Into The Bloodstream

tDue to high concentration of oxygen in the

alveolus and the low concentration of oxygen in
the blood capillaries, the diffusion of gas takes
place
tThe oxygen on the inhaled air in the alveolus
diffuses into the blood capillaries
tIn the blood, oxygen will combine with
haemoglobin in red blood cells to form
oxyhaemoglobin
tOxyhaemoglobin is transported to the heart
and pump to whole body through blood vessel
tThe concentration of carbon dioxide in the
blood capillaries is higher than that in the
alveolus.

tDiffusion Of Oxygen From The Red Blood Cells

Into The Body Cells

tWhen oxyhaemoglobin reaches body tissues, it

decomposes to release oxygen.
tthe oxygen then diffuse onto the cells
tIn body cells, oxygen is used for cell
respiration.
tCell respiration is food oxidation process in
body cells to release energy, carbon dioxide
and water
tEnergy produced is used for daily activities like
walking and maintaining body temperature
tThe carbon dioxide produce is carried by red
blood cells to the lungs to be eliminated

1.3 IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

CHEMICAL
SUBSTANCE

HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

(a) Cigarette smoke

- Nicotine

1. Causes illnesses like bronchitis, throat cancer

and lung cancer
2. Causes addiction

- Tobacco tar

1. Blackens the lungs and causes them to be less

efficient for gaseous exchange
2. Damages alveolus cells and lung cells
3. Causes lung cancer

- Acid

1. Corrodes lung cells and cells that line the

breathing channel
2. Causes illnesses like coughing, asthma and
bronchitis

- Carcinogen

Stimulates the growth of cancer cells, causing lung

cancer and throat cancer

CHEMICAL
SUBSTANCE

HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

(b) Acidic gas from

factories
- Sulphur dioxide and
nitrogen dioxide

1. Damages the breathing channel and

lungs
2. Causes breathing difficulties

(c) Vehicle fumes

- Carbon monoxide

Reduces the ability of blood to transport

oxygen and causes death in severe cases

(d) Burning forest or

garbage
- Haze

1. Damage the lungs

2. Causes breathing difficulties

(e) Burning plastic material

- Poisonous gases like
hydrogen chloride,
Corrodes the breathing channel
ammonia, and hydrogen
cyanide

tThe Illnesses Of The Respiratory System

tLUNG EMPHYSEMA
t Happens as a result of abnormal growth in
the cells that lines the tiny channels in the
lungs causing these channels to become
blocked
t the symptoms are:
t Breathing difficulty
t Tiredness
t Excessive coughing

tBRONCHITIS
t Is inflammation of the epithelium of the
bronchus
t Is caused by fine particles that float in the air
or that are found in cigarette smoke
t The symptoms are:
t High fever
t Breathing difficulty
t Chest pain
t Continuous heavy coughing
t Patients phlegm changes colour from
white to yellow or green

tLUNG CANCER
t Is caused by unusual cell growths in the
lungs
t Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer
t Carcinogens that are found in cigarettes can
cause lung cancer
t The symptoms are:
t Continuous heavy coughing
t Coughing with blood
t Weight loss
t Loss of appetite
t Breathing difficulty
t fever

tASTHMA
t Caused by the inflammation of the breathing
channel
t The breathing channel of the patient
suddenly becomes narrow causing difficulty
in breathing
t Asthma may be caused by dust, smoking or
cigarette smoke
t The symptoms are:
t Coughing especially at night or during cold
weather
t Breathing difficulty
t Wheezing and tightness in the chest

tWays To Improve Air Quality

tInstall tall chimneys in factories that emit
dangerous smoke and gas so that such
dangerous substances are kept at a higher level
in the atmosphere
tInstall electrostatic precipitators in factory
chimneys to remove pollutants before smoke is
released into the atmosphere
tInstall catalyst converters on vehicle exhaust
pipes to reduce the release of dangerous gases
like carbon monoxide

tUse air cleaning system to dissolve toxic gases

like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in
water before it is released into atmosphere
tBurn garbage in special place like the
incinerator
tStop smoking to prevent the release of
cigarette smoke into environment