CBSE Quick Revision Notes (Class-11 Biology)

CHAPTER-17 BREATHING AND EXCHANGE OF GASES

The process of exchange of O2 from the atmosphere with CO2 produced by the cell is called
breathing. It occurs in two stages of inspiration and expiration. During inspiration air enters
the lungs from atmosphere and during expiration air leaves the lungs.
Breathing Respiration
a. It is simply an intake of fresh air and a. It is the oxidation of food to form
removal of foul air. carbon dioxide, water and energy.
b. It is a physical process. b. It is a biochemical process.
c. No energy is released. c. Energy is released in form of ATP.
d. It is an extracellular process. d. It is an intracellular process.

Respiratory Organs – Mechanism of breathing varies in different organism according to

their body structure and habitat.
Respiratory Organs Organisms
Entire Body surface Sponges, coelenterate, flatworms.
Skin Earthworm.
Tracheal system Insects
Gills Pieces, arthropods.
Lungs Amphibians, mammals.

Human Respiratory System

Human respiratory system consists of a pair of nostrils, pharynx, larynx, bronchi and
bronchioles that finally terminates into alveoli.
Nasal chamber open into pharynx that leads to larynx. Larynx contains voice box (sound
box) that help in sound production.
The trachea, primary, secondary and tertiary bronchi and initial bronchioles are supported
by incomplete cartilaginous rings to prevent collapsing in absence of air.
Each bronchiole terminates into a irregular walled, vascularized bag like structure called
alveoli.
The branching network of bronchi, bronchioles
and alveoli collectively forms the lungs.
Two lungs are covered with double layered
pleura having pleural fluid between them to
reduce the friction on lung surface.

Respiratory System

Conducting Parts Exchange Parts

Conducting parts includes nostrils, pharynx, larynx and trachea. Main functions includes-

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 i. Transport atmospheric air to alveoli.
ii. Clear it from foreign particles humidifies and brings it to body temperature.
The exchange parts alveoli. It is the site of actual diffusion of O2 and CO2 between blood and
atmospheric air.
Steps of Respiration
a. Breathing in which Oxygen rich atmospheric air is diffused in and CO2 rich alveolar air is
diffused out.
b. Diffusion of gases across alveolar membrane.
c. Transport of gases by blood.
d. Diffusion of O2 and CO2 between blood and tissues.
e. Utilization of O2 by cells to obtain energy and release of CO2 (cellular respiration).
Mechanism of Breathing
Breathing involves inspiration and expiration. During inspiration atmospheric air is drawn
in and during expiration, alveolar air is released out.
Movement of air in and out takes place due to difference in pressure gradient. Inspiration
occurs when pressure inside the lung is less and expiration when pressure is more in lungs
than outside.
The diaphragm and external and internal intercostal muscles between the ribs help in
developing pressure gradient due to change in volume.
The contraction of intercostal muscles lifts the ribs and
sternum causing an increase in volume of thoracic cavity
that results the decrease in pressure than the atmospheric
pressure to cause inspiration.
Relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles reduce
the thoracic volume and increase the pressure to cause
expiration.
The volume of air involved in breathing movements is
estimated by using spirometer to clinical assessment of
pulmonary functions.
Respiratory Volume and Capacities
Tidal volume (TV) - volume of air inspired or expired during a
normal respiration. It is about 500mL in healthy man.
Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) – additional volume of air a
person can inspire by forceful inspiration. It is about 2500 mL
to 3000mL.
Expiatory Reserve Volume (ERV) – additional volume of air a person can expire by forceful
expiration. It is about 1000 mL to 1100mL.
Residual Volume (RV) - volume of air remains in lungs even after a forcible expiration. It is
about 1100mL to 1200mL.
Inspiratory Capacity (IC) - TV + IRV
Expiratory Capacity (EC) – TV + ERV
Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) - ERV + RV

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Vital Capacity (VC) - maximum volume of air a person can breathe in after a forceful expiration.
ERV+ TV+ IRV
Total Lung Capacity (TLC) - total volume of air accommodated in lung at the end of forced
inspiration. RV+ ERV+ TV+ IRV= Vital capacity + Residual Volume.
Exchange of Gases
• Exchange of gases takes place at two sites
a. Alveoli to blood
b. Between blood and tissues.
• Exchanges of gases occur by simple
diffusion due to pressure/ concentration
gradient, solubility of the gases and
thickness of membrane.
• Pressure contributed by individual gas in a
mixture of gas is called partial pressure
represented by pCO2 and pO2.
• Partial pressure of Oxygen a and carbon
dioxide at different part involve in diffusion
varies from one part to another and moves from higher partial pressure to lower partial
pressure.
• Solubility of CO2 is 20-25 times more than solubility of O2, so CO2 diffuse much faster
through membrane.
• Diffusion membrane is three layered thick, that is alveolar squamous epithelium,
endothelium of alveolar capillaries and basement substance between them.
Transport of Gases
o Blood is the medium of transport of CO2 and O2. Most
of oxygen (97%) is transported through RBC and
remaining 3% by blood plasma.
o 20-25% of CO2 is transported by RBC and rest as
70% as bicarbonate and rest of 7% by blood plasma.
Transport of Oxygen
Haemoglobin in RBC combines with O2 to form
Oxyhaemoglobin. Each haemoglobin combine with four oxygen molecules.
Binding of O2 is related with partial pressure of O2 and CO2, hydrogen ion concentration and
temperature.
Percentage saturation of haemoglobin and partial pressure of oxygen forms sigmoid curve
(oxygen dissociation curve).
In the alveoli, pO2 is more and pCO2 is less, less H+ ions concentration and lower
temperature favour the binding of O2 with hemoglobin. Where opposite condition in tissues
favour the dissociation of Oxyhaemoglobin.
Transport of Carbon dioxide

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 Carbon dioxide is transported by haemoglobin as carbamino-haemoglobin. In tissues
pCO2 is high and pO2 is less that favour the binding of carbon dioxide with haemoglobin.
Opposite condition help in dissociation of carbamino- haemoglobin in alveoli.
Enzyme carbonic anhydrase help in formation of carbonate ions to transport carbon dioxide.

Regulation of Respiration
• Human beings have ability to maintain and moderate the rate of respiration to fulfill the
demand of body tissues by neural system.
• Respiratory rhythm centre is located in medulla region of hind brain. Pneumtaxic centre in
pons moderate the function of respiratory rhythm centre.
• Chemo-sensitive area is highly sensitive to CO2 and H+ ions that ultimately control the
respiratory rate. Oxygen do not play major role in controlling rate of respiration.
Functions of Respiration-
I. Energy production
II. Maintenance of acid-base balance.
III. Maintenance of temperature
IV. Return of blood and lymph.
Mountain Sickness is the condition characterised by the ill effect of hypoxia (shortage of
oxygen) in the tissues at high altitude commonly to person going to high altitude for the first
time.
Symptoms-
• Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting occurs due to expansion of gases in digestive system.
• Breathlessness occurs because of pulmonary oedema.
• Headache, depression, disorientation, lack of sleep, weakness and fatigue.

Disorder of Respiratory System

a. Asthma- it is due to allergic reaction to foreign particles that affect the respiratory tract. The
symptoms include coughing, wheezing and difficulty in breathing. This is due to excess of
mucus in wall of respiratory tract.
b. Emphysema- is the inflation or abnormal distension of the bronchioles or alveolar sacs of
lungs. This occurs due to destroying of septa between alveoli because of smoking and
inhalation of other smokes. The exhalation becomes difficult and lung remains inflated.
c. Occupational Respiratory Disorders- occurs due to occupation of individual. This is caused
by inhalation of gas, fumes or dust present in surrounding of work place. This includes
Silicosis, Asbestoses due to exposer of silica and asbestos. The symptom includes
proliferation of fibrous connective tissue of upper part of lung causing inflammation.
d. Pneumonia- it is acute infection or inflammation of the alveoli of the lungs due to bacterium
streptococcus pneumoniae. Alveoli become acutely inflamed and most of air space of the
alveoli is filled with fluid and dead white blood corpuscles limiting gaseous exchange.

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