Respiratory System

Need

• to acquire oxygen

• control blood pH

• to remove carbon dioxide

Achieved through efficient gas exchange between the blood and the atmosphere

• Sensors(controllers) of O2, pH, and CO2

• Lung (gas exchanger)

• Chest wall (pump)

Divided into upper and lower regions

• Upper

  • Pharynx

  • Vocal Cords

  • Esophagus

  • Nasal cavity

  • Tongue

  • Larynx

  • Trachea

• Lower

  • Right lung (3 lobes)

    • Superior lobe

    • Middle lobe

    • Inferior lobe

  • Left lung (2 lobes)

    • Superior lobe

    • Inferior lobe

    • Cardiac notch

  • Diaphragm

  • Left bronchus

Respirator Tract Anatomy (2 major components)

• Conduits (Airways)

  • Bronchi

    • Larynx is above the trachea

    • Trachea branches into two primary bronchi

      • Primary bronchus divides 22 more times terminating in a clusters of alveoli

      • Trachea volume flow increases from 1L/s to 7L/s and linear velocity increases from 667cm/s to 28000cm/s

    • Cartilaginous ring anterior

    • Muscular wall posterior (trachealis mus.)

    • first few branches are semi-rigid to prevent collapse during coughing

  • Bronchioles

    • Bronchi branches into about 80 million bronchioles

  • Alveolar ducts

• Blood-gas interface (Alveoli)

  • Each cluster of alveoli is surrounded by elastic fibers and a network of capillaries (cauliflower)