Respiratory System

Health

Mr. Gross

The Respiratory System

The trillions of cells in the body require oxygen to carry out their vital function

The brain can go less than 10 minutes without oxygen

These cells also give off carbon dioxide, a waste product that the body must get rid of.

Responsibility

The cardiovascular and respiratory systems share responsibility for supplying the body with oxygen and disposing of carbon dioxide

The blood is the transporting fluid

Function of the respiratory system Conduct air from the external

environment to the alveoli To purify, humidify and warm incoming

air by the sinuses, mucus and hair

Breathing Process

Rib muscles pull the chest up and out Diaphragm pulls down A low pressure is created Air rushes into the lungs YouTube - The Breathing process

Nose

The only external part of the respiratory system which takes in air

The air is warmed by a rich network of veins

The sticky mucus produced moistens the air and traps incoming bacteria and other foreign debris

Nose cont.

The cilia (hair like structures)create a current that moves contaminated mucus back toward the throat where it is swallowed and digested by the stomach

When the temperature is cold these cilia become sluggish allowing mucus to accumulate in the nasal cavity and to dribble out through the nostrils explaining a runny nose

Sinuses

Sinuses lighten the skull Resonance chambers for speech Produce mucus which drain into the nasal

cavity Tear ducts also drain into the nasal cavity Sinusitis-an inflammation of the sinuses

changes voice Sinusitis causes a vacuum leading to sinus

headache located over the inflamed area

Mouth

Air goes directly to the lungs

Pharynx

Common passageway for food and air Contain the tonsils which help with the

filtration system used to trap and remove bacteria and other forms of pathogens

If the tonsils become inflamed it may cause an obstruction and the person has to breath through their mouth

Larynx

The larynx is the voice box Air passes over the vocal folds causing a vibration

allowing us to speak Routes air and food into the proper channels Houses the epiglottis the lid for the esophagus

which closes off the food passage while we breath When food or water is swallowed the epiglottis

closes off the larynx If anything other than air enters the larynx a cough

reflex is triggered to expel the substance

Trachea

A 10-12 cm tube lined with cilia to propel mucus loaded with dust and other debris away form the lungs to the throat, where it can be swallowed or spat out

Smoking inhibits or destroys the ciliated action

Thus coughing is the only way of expelling debris

Primary Bronchii

Branches of the trachea which serve the lungs

Bronchioles

Branches of the bronchial tubes. The millions of tiny braches serve to supply air to the microscopic air sacs called alveoli

Alveoli

Have very thin walls which contain a network of capillaries through which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the blood

Pleura

Provides a slippery surface in order to reduce the amount of friction between the lungs and any other structures they may touch within the chest cavity.

YouTube - Respiration 3D Medical Animation

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchi Wheezing, shortness of breath and

coughing Common in smokers and high area of

polution Avoid smoke, dust, fumes and air

pollutants

Asthma

Mucous lining swells and secretions build up

Caused by exertion, emotion YouTube - Understanding Asthma

Sinusitis

Inflammation of the sinuses

Emphysema

TB

Pneumonia