Respiratory System
Respiratory System
How it works
The lungs are the most important part of the
process. They take in oxygen as we inhale and
expel carbon dioxide as we exhale.
Air travels in through the Nasal cavity.
The trachea filters the air before dispersing into the
bronchi.
Alveoli switch the oxygen to CO2.
Diaphragm moves out during inhale to allow the
lungs to expand
Function
The respiratory system is a group of tissues and organs in
your body that enable your body to breathe. It also provides
your blood with oxygen.
The primary organs of the respiratory system are lungs. The
lungs take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide as we
breathe. The human body needs oxygen to sustain itself.
The respiratory system is split into two main components. The upper respiratory tract
and the lower respiratory tract.
The 3 major parts of the respiratory system are the airway, the lungs, and the muscles
of respiration.
Organization
The Respiratory system has many parts that make it function making it the highest
level of organization in the human body
The organization goes: Cells -> Tissues -> Organs -> Organ System
Cells
Tissues
Organs
Organ System
-Epithelial cells
-Nerve cells
-Muscle cells
-Epithelial tissues
-Nerve tissues
-Muscle tissues
-Connective tissues
-Nose
-Larynx
-Trachea
-Bronchi
-Lungs
-Pharynx
-Epiglottis
-Aloeli
-Diaphram
-Respiratory system
Organization
The organs in the body are arranged in a certain way in order for the human body to work
The organs are put in this order because they work the most effectively in humans and most
mammals
Tissue Types
Nose: This is where air is conditioned by warming and moistening. Bones separate the nasal cavity into chambers, where air swirls about in
currents. Hairs trap dust particles and purify the air.
Pharynx: After passing through the pharynx, air passes into the windpipe. The trachea has a framework of smooth muscle with about 16 to 20
open rings of cartilage shaped like a C. These rings ensure that it remains open.The nasal chambers open into a cavity at the rear of the mouth
(throat). From there, two tubes called extend to the middle ear to equalize air pressure there. The pharynx also contains tonsils, which are
pockets of tissue used to trap and filter microorganisms.
Trachea: The opening to the trachea is called the glottis. A thin flap of tissue folds over the opening during swallowing and prevents food from
entering the trachea. At the upper end of the trachea, there are several folds of cartilage form the larynx, or voice box. In the larynx, flaplike pairs
of tissues called vocal cords vibrate when a person exhales and produce sound. At its lower end, the trachea branches into two large bronchi.
These tubes also have smooth muscle and cartilage rings. The bronchi branch into smaller bronchioles, forming a bronchial tree. The
bronchioles terminate in the alveoli.
Lungs: Lungs are composed of approximately 300 million alveoli. Red blood cells pass through the capillaries in single file, and oxygen from
each alveolus enters the red blood cells and binds to the hemoglobin. In addition, carbon dioxide contained in the plasma and red blood cells
leaves the capillaries and enters the alveoli when a breath is taken. Most carbon dioxide reaches the alveoli as bicarbonate ions, and about 25
percent of it is bound loosely to hemoglobin.When a person inhales, the rib muscles and diaphragm contract, thereby increasing the volume of
the chest cavity. This increase leads to reduced air pressure in the chest cavity, and air rushes into the alveoli, forcing them to expand and fill.
The lungs passively obtain air from the environment by this process. During exhalation, the rib muscles and diaphragm relax, the chest cavity
volume diminishes, and the internal air pressure increases. The compressed air forces the alveoli to close, and air flows out.The nerve activity
that controls breathing arises from impulses transported by nerve fibers passing into the chest cavity and terminating at the rib muscles and
diaphragm. These impulses are regulated by the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood: A high carbon dioxide concentration leads to an
increased number of nerve impulses and a more rapid breathing rate.
Cell Types
Basal cell: short, rounded cells with densely staining nuclei which lie in a row close to the basement
membrane. These cells are reserve cells that can differentiate into other cell types. Also, it is the
most abundant cell.
Goblet cell: interspersed among the ciliated cells and also extend the full length of the epithelium.
Ciliated cell: secrete mucous to form a mucosal layer apical to the epithelial layer.The rowing-like
action of epithelial cilia work in tandem with goblet cells to propel mucus away from the lungs,
preventing particulate matter from causing infection.
Clara cell: a group of cells, sometimes called "nonciliated bronchiolar secretory cells", found in the
bronchiolar epithelium, and in the upper airways.
NE cell: present in the airway, occur singly as well as in clusters.
Diseases
Lung diseases affect your airways, making it
harder for you to breathe.
Asthma is an example of a common lung
disease. Asthma occurs when the airways
are inflamed and may occasionally spasm,
causing wheezing and shortness of breath.
(Allergies, infections, or pollution can trigger
asthma symptoms.)
Lung cancer is also very common. People
who have never smoked can also get lung
cancer. It is an overgrowth of abnormal cells.
Reference
http://www.innerbody.com/anatomy/respiratory
http://www.livescience.com/22616-respiratory-system.html
http://learn.visiblebody.com/respiratory/5-functions-of-respiratory-system
http://www.bio.davidson.
edu/people/kabernd/berndCV/Lab/EpithelialInfoWeb/Ciliated%20Columnar%
20Epithelium.html
http://www.newhealthguide.org/What-Is-The-Function-Of-The-Respiratory-System.
html
http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/How-Does-the-Respiratory-System-Work-With-