respiratory system, they

naturally focus on the lungs

and breathing.
• Indeed, breathing is a
The human necessary function of a
breathing healthy body.
• Without the lungs taking in air,
(Ventilation) the cells of the body could not
system operate properly.
• However, the lungs are only
one part of the respiratory
system.
• The respiratory system also
includes the nose, mouth,
pharynx, larynx (voice box),
trachea (windpipe), bronchi,
a)The upper respiratory
tract

The nose, pharynx, and larynx

are considered the upper
respiratory tract.

b) The lower respiratory

tract

The trachea, bronchial tree,

and the lungs make up the
lower respiratory tract.
Alveoli

• Provide large surface area for gas

exchange.
• A thin layer of tissue fluid surrounds
the alveoli keeping it most
• Surrounded by a network of
capillaries for efficient diffusion and
movement of O2 and CO2 in to and
out of blood and lungs
 Lungs are protected by the rib
PROTECTI cage
ON OF
BREATHIN
G SYSTEM Each lung is surrounded by two
membranes called pleural
membranes

The space between the pleural

membranes is airtight and is
filled with a liquid called
pleural fluid  pleural fluid
reduces friction during
breathing
Ciliated columnar
epithelium lining in
the trachea and
bronchi
 The goblet cells secrete mucus
 The mucus and the action of
the cilia (hair like structures)
prevent dust and foreign
particles from getting into and
damaging the lungs
Ventilation of
the lungs
 To maintain a good supply of OXYGEN, ‘fresh’ air rich in
oxygen must constantly be brought into the lungs from
the environment.

Air rich in CARBON DIOXIDE needs to be removed from

the lungs to the environment.

The The replacement with ‘stale’ air with ‘fresh’air is called

ventilation.
importance
of In order to ventilate our lungs, we breath IN and OUT.

ventilation
Breathing in and out occurs due to changes in the volume
of the thoracic cavity. The ribs, intercostal muscles and
diaphragm all play a role in breathing.
Inspiration (Inhalation)

 External intercostals muscles contract.

 Rib cage raises upwards and outwards.

 Muscle of diaphragm contracts and diaphragm

flattens.
 Volume of thoracic cavity increases.
 Air pressure inside the lungs decreases below
pressure of air in the atmosphere.
 Air is pulled into the lungs and the lungs inflate.
Expiration (Exhalation)

 External intercostal muscles relaxes.

 Rib cage moves inwards and downwards due to
gravity.
 The diaphragm relaxes and become dome shaped.

 The volume of the thoracic cavity decreases.

 Air pressure inside the lungs increases above
atmospheric pressure.
 Air is forced out of the lungs into the atmosphere.
HOMEOSTATIC
CONTROL OF
BREATHIG
At rest, an adult breath about 16 – 18 times per minute.
As the body changes its type of activity, the rate at which cells
use oxygen changes.
The rate of breathing (how much air is breathed in or out) and the
rate at which the heart pumps blood around the body determines
how fast oxygen is supplied
• Control of breathing is important so that cells are supplied with the
oxygen that they need and so that they can get rid of carbon dioxide
• The regulation of breathing is a homeostatic control process  keeps
the internal environment of the body stable
• Normally breathing is involuntary  meaning you breath in and out
without thinking about it
• The rate and depth of breathing changes automatically to meet the
needs of oxygen supply to the body
• NOTE: breathing can be consciously controlled for short peroids of
time like when you hold your breath under water
 • Breathing is controlled by the
THE PROCESS OF HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL OF respiratory centre in the medulla
BREATHING oblongata of the brain

• When [CO2] in the blood rises, the

blood pH drops

• For example: during excercise

i. receptors in the aorta and
carotid arteries are stimulated
ii. Nerve impulses are sent to the
respiratory centre in the
medulla oblangata.
iii. Nerve impulses are then sent
from the medulla oblongata to
the intercostal muscles and the
diaphragm to increase their
rate of contraction
iv. This causes an increase in the
rate and depth of breathing.
v. The person starts to breath
faster and harder.
vi. The heart also beats faster
now to move gases through the
circulatory system faster and
speeds up gaseous exchange
THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY ON THE RATE AND
DEPTH OF BREATHING

 Exercise causes and increase in the rate of

breathing and the rate at which the heart beats.
 The depth of breathing also increases.
 This needs to happen because when the body
exercise it needs to produce more energy for
your muscles to work more.  the rate of
respiration will thus increase in the cells thus
the demand for oxygen increases
 When a person breaths deeper and faster
more oxygen is taken into the blood.
 The blood flows faster to get the oxygen to the
cells as quickly as possible  thus your heart
rate also increase and the heart starts pumping
faster.
EFFECT OF ALTITUDE ON
GASEOUS EXCHANGE
 People who climb mountains may feel breathless,
dizzy and tired. Endurance athletes, such as long
distance runners, generally do not perform as well at
high altitudes as they do at sea level.
 WHY IS THIS?
A short-term adjusment of the human body to
high altitudes is to increasing breathing and
heart rate.

In the long term, after spending some time at

high altitudes, the body is able to acclimatise by
increasing the number of red blood cells to carry
extra O2 to their cells. This helps to
compensate for thinner air.
ECHANGE AND
TRANSPORT OF
GASES
Gas exchange
takes place in the
lungs between the
air in the alveoli
and the blood in
the capillaries
surrounding the
alveoli.

Gas exchange also

takes place in the
body tissue
between the blood
and the cells
 HOW IS OXYGEN AND
CARBONDIOXIDE TRANSPORTED IN
OXYGEN
THE BLOOD
CARBON DIOXIDE
 A small amount dissolves in  Some carbon dioxide dissolves in
blood plasma blood plasma

 Most of the oxygen combines  Some bond to haemoglobin in

with haemoglobin (a substance red blood cells 
found in red blood cells)  now deoxyhaemoglobin
known as oxyhaemoglobin
because oxygen has bonded to
haemoglobin  Most are transported as
bicarbonate ions in the plasma