Chapter 30: Human Breathing

We get our energy for metabolism by burning food in our cells (respiration)

We get fresh supplies of oxygen by breathing it in through our lungs.

The Respiratory System

  • Your lungs and heart are enclosed between the ribs and diaphragm in the thorax (thoracic cavity).

  • The diaphragm forms a musuclar floor to the thorax.

  • The ribs form a protective caage of twelve pairs of bones.

  • The ribs are surrounded by intercostal muscle and form the wall of the thorax.

  • These intercostal muscles which are attached between the ribs move the rib cage up or down.

Nose

  • Air can be inhaled through the buccal cavity or nose.

  • The openings of the nose are called nostrils. The nostrils are separated by the nasal septum, whcih is made of cartilage at the bottom of the nose and bone at the base.

  • We are meant to breah in through our nose for a number of reasons:

  • Hairs and mucuous in the nose trap and filter dirt and microorganisms.

  • Air entering the nasal passages is moistened.

  • The air is warmed as it passes through the nose.

  • This moistened warmed air diffuses more easily into the lungs.

Pharynx

  • Has both respiratory and digestive functions.

  • Is a 5cm long hollow tube.

  • The epiglottis closes off the trachea when swallowing food.

  • Directly below the epiglottis is the glottis which contains the larynx.

Trachea - Bronchi and Bronchioles

  • The trachea allows air to pass in and out of the lungs.

  • The bottom of the trache divides into two bronchi and then into smaller bronchioles.

  • The trachea, bronchi and bronchioles are made of muscle and elastic fibres.

  • The trache and bronchi are surrounded by rings of cartilage.

  • The bronchioles do not have rings of caartilage which cause them to narrow during asthma attacks.

  • All these air pipes are lined with mucuous secreting cells and microscopic hairs called cilia.

The Lungs

  • The lungs are large spongy structures which allow gas exchange.

  • The lungs are enclosed within a pair of pleural membranes.

  • The outer membrane is attached to the chest wall.

  • The inner membrane is attached to the lungs.

Alveoli

  • Each bronchus divides into about 1 million bronchioles which further divides into over 700 million alveoli and a surface area of 90m2

  • Each alveolus is only 1 cell thick, is moist and surrounded by rich supply of capillaries. This allows for quick gas exchange.

Gas Exchange

  • CO2 and H2O are in high concentration in blood plasma. They diffuse out of the blood capillaries and into the alveolus i.e. from area of high concentration to area of low concentration and vice versa.

Adaptations for Gas Exchange

  • Alveoli and capillaries have the following adaptations for quick gas exchange:

  • There are millions of alveoli

  • Alveoli are only 1 cell thick

  • Huge blood capillary network around each alveolus

  • Alveoli surrounded by thin layer of fluid

  • Capillaries are numerous

  • Capillaries are also only 1 cell thick

Transport of Gases

  • Oxygen combines with the red pigment haemoglobin found in RBCs. This combination results in oxyhaemoglobin. In this way 97% of oxygen is transported by RBCs - the other 3% dissolves into the plasma.

  • Carbon dioxide is carried by the blood, dissolved in the plasma. Water is transported in the plasma as well.

Inhaled and Exhaled Air

Gas

Inhaled Air

Exhaled Air

% Nitrogen

78

78

% Oxygen

21

14

% Carbon Dioxide

0.04

5.6

% Water Vapour

Low

High

Mechanism of Breathing Inhalation

  • Brain controls breathing rate (medulla oblongata)

  • Intercostal muscles contract and move up and out

  • Diaphragm contracts and moves low - this increases volume of lungs (active process)

  • Air pressure in lungs decreases

  • External pressure is now higher which forces air into lungs

Mechanism of Breathing Exhalation

  • Intercostal muscles relax and rib cage moves down and inwards

  • Diaphragm relaxes and moves upwards decreasing volume of lungs (passive process)

  • Air pressure increases

  • Air is forced out of lungs

Exercise increases respiration rate especially in muscle cells. This increased respiration increases carbon dioxide levels in blood. The brain detects this increase of CO2 and so increases rate of breathing.

Exhalation which is usually passive becomes active.

Control of Breathing

  • Medulla oblongata controls breathing rate by monitoring levels of CO2 in the blood.

  • CO2 is slighlty acidic and causes the blood pH to decrease. This drop in pH is detected by the brain and sends signals to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles to contract resulting in intake of air.

  • In the same way this causes increase in breathing rate when exercising i.e. increase exercise leads to increased CO2 levels leading increased breathing rate.

Breathing Disorders

Asthma

  • Asthma results in the narrowing of the bronchioles which prevents air reaching alveoli.

  • Symptoms: Breathlessness and wheezing

  • Causes: Allergen e.g. pollen and house dust, tobacco smoke and air pollutants.

  • Prevention: Identification and avoidance of allergens. Preventative inhalers can also be used to prevent bronchioles from reacting to allergens.

  • Treatment: Inhaling a bronchodilator widens the bronchioles. Steroids reduce inflammation.

Bronchitis

  • When bronchi become inflamed and narrowed.

  • Symptoms: Persistent cough, breathlessness and production of a lot of mucuous.

  • Causes: Smoking and other air pollutants

  • Prevention: Never smoke

  • Treatment: Bronchodilator may be prescribed. In severe cases patients may have to inhale oxygen from an oxygen cylinder.