9

SCIENCE
Quarter 1 – Module 1:

Mechanism on How the

Respiratory and Circulatory
Systems Work
Together

Writer: Regie E. Bait-it

Learning Objective/s
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
understand on how the Respiratory and Circulatory Systems work together. The
scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations.
The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons
are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which
you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

After going through this module, you are expected to demonstrate understanding
on the following:
 Vital organs and functions of respiratory and circulatory systems
 Mechanism on how the Respiratory and Circulatory systems work
together

Lesson Proper
Part I: The Human Breathing System
Breathe in and out. Notice your chest and belly moving and feel the soft air
passing from the nose. Listen to the quiet sounds of breathing in and out. Imagine
the air moving from the nose into the throat , through the air tubes, and into the
airsacs.
The parts of the respiratory system that are in charge of supplying oxygen are
the nose, nasal passageways, windpipe, lungs, and diaphragm. In the nose and
nasal passages, the entering air is made warm, damp, and clean of unknown
particles. Next, the air moves down through the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and
alveoli. Trachea is the empty tube that serves as passageway of air into the lungs.
Bronchi are the two branching tubes that connect the trachea to the lungs.
Bronchioles are the hairlike tubes that connect to the alveoli. Alveoli are the
airsacs that allow gas exchange in the lungs.

Nose

Trachea Nasal passages

bronchi
Alveoli
Bronchioles

Figure 1. The human respiratory system

Respiratory system is made up of the organs in the body that help us to breath.
 Just remember that the word respiration is linked to breathing.

The air we breathe goes through the nose, nasal passages, and then
through the trachea or windpipe, which separates into two branches, called
bronchial tubes or bronchi, one entering each lung. The bronchi subdivide
many times inside the lungs, analogous to the branching pattern of grapes,
finally becoming hair like tubes called bronchioles. In the last part of the
terminal bronchioles are tiny bubble-like bunch of structures called alveoli
or air sacs.

Previously, you have already learned about the essential parts of the
breathing system and their functions. Now, you will understand the mechanism
and activities of the lungs and the diaphragm.

When you breathe in, or inhale, the diaphragm muscle contracts.

Inhaling moves the diaphragm down, inflate the lungs and expands the
chest cavity. Simultaneously, the ribs move up and increase the size of the
chest cavity. There is now more space and less air pressure inside the lungs.
Air pushes in from the outside where there is a higher air pressure. It
pushes into the lungs where there is a lower air pressure.
When you breathe out, or exhale, the diaphragm muscle relaxes.
The diaphragm and ribs return to their original place. The chest cavity
returns to its original size. There is now less space and greater air pressure
inside the lungs. It pushes the air outside where there is lower air pressure.

Part 2: Circulatory System

 The circulatory system is the life support structure that nourishes your
cells with food and oxygen. It also carries away the waste products. The
circulatory system can be compared to a complex arrangement of highways,
avenues and lanes connecting all the cells together into a neighborhood.
Sequentially, the community of cells sustains the body to stay alive. Another
name for the circulatory is the cardiovascular system.
 The circulatory system functions with other body systems to deliver different
materials in the body. It circulates vital elements such as oxygen and
nutrients. At the same time, it also transports wastes away from the body.
 The following are the three major parts of the circulatory system, with their
roles:

1. Heart

Right Pulmonary Artery Aorta

Pulmonary Artery

Left Atrium
Right Atrium

Left ventricle

Right Ventricle

Figure 2. The major divisions of the heart

The heart is a hollow muscle, which is just as big as the fist. It has four
chambers with specific tasks to do: two ventricles and two atria. The
atria are the receiving chambers of the heart, accepting blood from the
body (right atrium) and from the lungs (left atrium). The ventricles are the
pumping chambers, moving blood to the lungs (right ventricle) and into
the body (left ventricle

The heart has two pumps. Each pump has two chambers, the upper and
lower chambers. The upper chamber is the atrium that receives blood
coming in from the veins. The lower chamber is the ventricle that forces
the blood out into the arteries. There is a valve between each atrium and
ventricle to prevent the blood from flowing backwards. The valves are like
one-way doors that keep the blood moving in only one direction. Valves
control movement of blood into the heart chambers and out to the aorta and
the pulmonary artery.

2. Blood vessel – carries the blood throughout the body

• Arteries - carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the cells, tissues
and organs of the body

• Veins - carry deoxygenated blood to the heart

• Capillaries - the smallest blood vessels in the body, connecting the smallest
to the smallest veins - the actual site where gases and nutrients are
exchanged
 Comparing Arteries and Veins

Artery Veins
Carry blood away from heart Carry blood to heart
Has thick elastic walls expand for Thinner walls and lower blood
surge of blood pressure
Can withstand high blood pressure Has a valve to prevent backflow of
blood

Capillaries

Allows material and gas exchange between the body cells and the blood

3. Blood – carries the materials throughout the body.

Type of Blood Circulation Description

Movement of blood from the heart to the lungs and
1. Pulmonary Circulation back to the heart

2. Coronary Circulation Movement of blood through the tissues of the heart

3. Systemic Circulation Movement of blood from the heart to the rest of the
body, excluding the lungs

All of the muscle tissues of the heart contract different times. When the top portion
contracts, the bottom part relaxes. When the bottom contracts, the top relaxes.
When a chamber contracts, it becomes smaller and the blood inside gets squeezed
or pumped out.
 Part 3: Mechanism on how the Respiratory and Circulatory Work
Together

Air first enters your lungs and then into the left part of your heart. It is
then driven by your heart into the bloodstream, all the way through your body. The
heart pumps blood, which transports essential nutrients, oxygen, and other
chemicals to every cell in your body. Once it reaches the cells, oxygen processes the
nutrients to release energy. Carbon dioxide is given off during this process. The
blood delivers carbon dioxide into the right portion of your heart, from which it is
pumped to the lungs. Carbon dioxide leaves your body through the lungs when you
exhale. The heart pumps blood, which transports essential nutrients, oxygen, and
other chemicals to every cell in your body. Once it reaches the cells, oxygen
processes the nutrients to release energy. Carbon dioxide is given off during this
process. The blood delivers carbon dioxide into the right portion of your heart, from
which it is pumped to the lungs. Carbon dioxide leaves your body through the
lungs when you exhale.

Anterior vena cava

Capillaries of head and forelimbs
Pulmonary artery
Aorta
Pulmonary vein Pulmonary artery

Right lung
Capillaries of left lung
Capillaries of right lungs

Left lung
Right atrium
Pulmonary vein

Right ventricle

Posterior vena cava

Capillaries of abdominal
organs and hind limbs
 Figure 3. The flow of blood in the body

“The heart pumps the blood that transports the inhaled oxygen to every cell of
the body. Carbon dioxide is given off in the process and is carried by the
blood to the lungs and is released through exhalation.”

Analysis

ACTIVITY 1 A: What a Bunch of Grapes!

Identify the key parts of breathing system.

C.

A.

D.

B.

Q1. What does each part of the “Bunch of Grapes” model represent, in
relation to the breathing system?
A-_______________ C-________________
B- ______________ D-________________

Q2. How will you describe the pathway of oxygen in the breathing
system?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Q3. What will happen if one part of the system fails to carry out its
function proper?
 ACTIVITY 1 B:
Refer to the diagram, and check your understanding of the breathing system
by labeling each part and giving its functions in the box corresponding to the part.

4.
1.

5.
2.

6.
3.

Additional Activities

ACTIVITY 1C: Complete the sentences below.

When you breathe in the diaphragm goes (1)_________(down,
up) and the muscle (2)__________(contracts, relaxes) while the chest cavity
gets (3)_____________(bigger, smaller).
When you breathe out your diaphragm goes
(4)______________(down, up) and return to its original place and the
diaphragm muscle (5) _________(expands, relaxes). The chest cavity gets
(6)_______________(smaller, bigger, original size)

Activity 2: Let’s Organize!!”

 Using the given graphic organizer, fill in the missing parts, description, and
functions to complete the entire concepts.

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

Parts

1. 2.
Blood Vessel

Pumps the blood throughout Carries the materials

the body throughout the body
 3.

Types
4. 5. 6.

Types CIRCULATION
7. 8.
Systemic Circulation

9. 10.
Movement of blood through
the tissues of the heart

Generalization

A. Identify the answer from the box that fits the description.
right side of the heart lungs oxygen vein left atrium

left side of the heart carbon dioxide artery right atrium

left ventricle right ventricle capillary blood

________________1. The side of the heart that pumps deoxygenated blood to the
lungs.
________________2. The side of the heart that pumps oxygenated blood to all parts of
the body.
________________3. The body organ responsible in cleaning the deoxygenated blood.
________________4. It carries oxygen that process food nutrients into energy.
________________5. A gas which will be released when you exhale.
________________6. A blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.
________________7. A blood vessel that carries blood away to the heart.
________________8. The blood from the left atrium will flow to the ______.
________________9. A blood vessel responsible for gas exchange.
_______________ 10. The blood from the right ventricle travels to the pulmonary
______.
Application
Answer the following.

1. The nutrrients obtained from the food during digestion are supplied by
circulatory system to the body. What does the circulatory system
distribute to the body as it works with the respiratory system?

2. If solid and liquid wastes are removed from the body through defecation
and urination, what is released by the body as waste during respiration?

3. What happens to the diaphragm when a person breathes in or inhales?

4. Why is the human heart called a double pump?

5. What will happen if oxygen is not transported by the blood to other parts
of the body?

Evaluation
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. The entrance and exit of air in the human body is accomplished by a mechanical
process called ______________.
A. breathing B. circulation C. elimination D. ventilation

2. Gas exchange happens in the _____________ of the lungs.

A. alveoli B. bronchioles C. capillaries D. trachea

3. In which blood vessel does the exchange of nutrients and waste happen?
A. arteries B. capillaries C. veins D. arterioles

4. The chambers of the heart that carry deoxygenated blood are the ___________’
A. right and left atria C. right and left ventricles
B. left atrium and left ventricle D. right atrium and right ventricle

5. Oxygen-poor blood or deoxygenated blood returns to the heart and enters

the________.
A. left atrium B. left ventricle C. right atrium D. right ventricle