Respiratory System Anatomy and Physiology
Objectives
- Identify the anatomical structures of the respiratory system and their functions
- Explain the mechanics of breathing
- Explain internal and external respiration
Deliverables
A one- to two-page (250- to 500-word) paper
Step 1 Explain three difficult concepts.
As you review the activities and the information presented in this lesson and the textbook, identify the three most difficult concepts (or parts of a concept) in respiratory anatomy and respiration for most anatomy and physiology students. Select one difficult concept from each of these topic areas:
- Anatomy of the Respiratory System
- Mechanics of Breathing
- Respiration
Step 2 Write an explanation of each concept.
Write a clear one-paragraph explanation of each of these three concepts. Use images from the Internet or those that you scan into the document, if possible. Limit your response to a one- to two-page (250- to 500-word) paper.
*APA FORM, NO PLAGIARISM
Notes
General review, most people associate breathing and their respiratory system with the lungs, but the respiratory system is more than just these two organs (nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx trachea, bronchi and lungs). Your body needs a constant supply of oxygen, which it takes from the air through breathing. How does oxygen get from the air around you into your bloodstream, and what filters out dust and other stuff that floats around in the air? Your respiratory system must be able to do this work every minute you are alive.
To breathe, you ingest air to obtain oxygen and then expel carbon dioxide. Take a deep breath and monitor how your upper body responds to that action. As your muscles pull on your ribcage, your chest expands and air is drawn in through your nose. You’ve moved air into your lungs, but how do the lungs separate the needed oxygen from the other gases in the air? Your respiratory system has to get oxygen molecules to every cell in your body. Gas exchange is a very important physiological process. Just as your body can’t live without water, your cells cannot live without oxygen.
Respiratory Phisiology.
The main job of the respiratory system is to supply the body with oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. In order to do this, four events, called respiration, must occur.
1.Pulmonary Ventilation.
During pulmonary ventilation, air must move in and out of the lungs so that the gases in the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs are repeatedly changed and refreshed. This is commonly called breathing.
2.External Respiration.
External respiration happens when the gas exchanges are being made between the blood and the body exterior.
3.Respiratory gas transport.
Oxygen and carbon dioxide must be transported to and from the lungs and tissue cells of the body through the bloodstream.
4.Internal respiration.
Internal respiration gas exchanges occur between the blood and cells inside the body.
Breathing
Gas travels from high-pressure to low-pressure areas; pressure outside the body is atmospheric pressure, while pressure inside the body is intrapulmonary pressure. Moving air in and out of the lungs is called pulmonary ventilation, or breathing. When inspiratory muscles contract, intrapulmonary volume increases, its pressure decreases, and air rushes in (inspiration). When inspiratory muscles relax, the lungs recoil and air rushes out (expiration). Expansion of the lungs is helped by cohesion between pleurae and by the presence of surfactant in alveoli.
Gas transport in the respiratory system.
Remember that external respiration is the exchange of gases between the alveoli and the blood. This is referred to as pulmonary gas exchange because it happens between the blood and lungs. Internal respiration is the exchange of gases between the blood and the cells of the body.
An important concept to understand about all gas transport is that it is a passive process, called diffusion. This means that the gases move passively from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. The gases are mainly oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). You breathe in O2 from the external air. It goes into the lungs and eventually the alveoli. The deoxygenated blood has less O2 in it than the alveoli do, so the O2 diffuses into the blood. At the same time, the blood has a high concentration of CO2 in it because it picks up the wastes from the cells. So, the CO2 moves to the lower concentration in the alveoli.
The now oxygenated blood leaves the lungs and moves through the body to the cells where there is little O2. Since there is more O2 in the blood than the cells, the O2diffuses into the cells. The cells have lots of CO2 as waste, so the CO2 diffuses into the blood. The cycle then repeats itself.
Respiration rate.
The rate at which you breathe is influenced by the amount of carbon dioxide present in your blood. The higher the level of CO2, the faster you breathe. The lower the level of CO2, the slower you breathe.
Newborns have the highest respiratory rate, averaging 30-60 respirations per minute. An adult has a respiration of about 12-20 respirations per minute.
Answer Preview
The anatomical structures of the respiratory system comprise of the nose, mouth, larynx, pharynx, lungs, and the muscle of respiration. The nose and the nasal cavity are the respiratory system’s external opening through which the air moves. The nose is used in inhaling air into the body while the nasal cavity functions in warming the air when entering and purifying…
(686 Words)