The Human Breathing System

THE HUMAN BREATHING SYSTEM /
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Respiratory system consists of the organs that help to breathe. Respiration also known
as breathing is the process which delivers oxygen from the external atmosphere to the
body and removes the carbon dioxide from body and expels out. The main parts of the
respiratory system and their functions are as follows
The nostrils
Trachea
Bronchi
Lungs
Alveolus
Diaphragm
Pharynx
Larynx
Main Parts of the Respiratory System and their

Function
The nostrils: Nostrils are involved in air intake, i.e. they bring air into the nose, where air is
warmed and humidified. The tiny hairs called cilia filters out dust and other particles present in
the air and protects the nasal passage and other regions of the respiratory tract.
Trachea: The trachea is also known as windpipe. The trachea filters the air we inhale and
branches into the bronchi.
Bronchi: The bronchi are the two air tubes that branch off of from the trachea and carry
atmospheric air directly into the lungs.
Lungs: The main organ of the respiratory system is lungs. Lungs are the site in body where
oxygen is taken into and carbon dioxide is expelled out. The red blood cells present in the blood
picks up the oxygen in the lungs and carry and distribute the oxygen to all body cells that need it.
The red blood cells donate the oxygen to the cells and picks up the carbon dioxide produced by
the cells.
Alveolus: Alveolus is the tiny sac like structure present in the lungs which the gaseous
exchange takes place.
Diaphragm: Breathing begins with a dome-shaped muscle located at the bottom of the lungs
which is known as diaphragm. When we breathe in the diaphragm contracts and flatten out and
pull downward. Due to this movement the space in the lungs increases and pulls air into the
lungs. When we breathe out, the diaphragm expands and reduces the amount of space for the
lungs and forces air out.
Pharynx: The pharynx, also known as the throat, is a muscular funnel that extends from the
posterior end of the nasal cavity to the superior end of the esophagus and
larynx. The nasopharynx is the superior region of the pharynx found in the posterior of the
nasal cavity. Inhaled air from the nasal cavity passes into the nasopharynx and descends
through the oropharynx, located in the posterior of the oral cavity. Air inhaled through the oral
cavity enters the pharynx at the oropharynx. The inhaled air then descends into
the laryngopharynx, where it is diverted into the opening of the larynx by the epiglottis.
Larynx: The larynx, also known as the voice box, is a short section of the airway that connects
the laryngopharynx and the trachea. The larynx is located in the anterior portion of the neck, just
inferior to the hyoid bone and superior to the trachea. Several cartilage structures make up the
larynx and give it its structure.
Pulmonary Ventilation
Pulmonary ventilation is the process of moving air into and out of the lungs to facilitate
gas exchange. The respiratory system uses both a negative pressure system and the
contraction of muscles to achieve pulmonary ventilation. The negative pressure system
of the respiratory system involves the establishment of a negative pressure gradient
between the alveoli and the external atmosphere. The pleural membrane seals the
lungs and maintains the lungs at a pressure slightly below that of the atmosphere when
the lungs are at rest. This results in air following the pressure gradient and passively
filling the lungs at rest. As the lungs fill with air, the pressure within the lungs rises until
it matches the atmospheric pressure. At this point, more air can be inhaled by the
contraction of the diaphragm and the external intercostal muscles, increasing the
volume of the thorax and reducing the pressure of the lungs below that of the
atmosphere again.
To exhale air, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax while the internal
intercostal muscles contract to reduce the volume of the thorax and increase the
pressure within the thoracic cavity. The pressure gradient is now reversed, resulting in
the exhalation of air until the pressures inside the lungs and outside of the body are
equal. At this point, the elastic nature of the lungs causes them to recoil back to their
resting volume, restoring the negative pressure gradient present during inhalation.
External Respiration
External respiration is the exchange of gases between the air filling the alveoli and the
blood in the capillaries surrounding the walls of the alveoli. Air entering the lungs from
the atmosphere has a higher partial pressure of oxygen and a lower partial pressure of
carbon dioxide than does the blood in the capillaries. The difference in partial pressures
causes the gases to diffuse passively along their pressure gradients from high to low
pressure through the simple squamous epithelium lining of the alveoli. The net result of
external respiration is the movement of oxygen from the air into the blood and the
movement of carbon dioxide from the blood into the air. The oxygen can then be
transported to the bodys tissues while carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere
during exhalation.
Internal Respiration
Internal respiration is the exchange of gases between the blood in capillaries and the
tissues of the body. Capillary blood has a higher partial pressure of oxygen and a lower
partial pressure of carbon dioxide than the tissues through which it passes. The
difference in partial pressures leads to the diffusion of gases along their pressure
gradients from high to low pressure through the endothelium lining of the capillaries.
The net result of internal respiration is the diffusion of oxygen into the tissues and the
diffusion of carbon dioxide into the blood.
Transportation of Gases
The 2 major respiratory gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide, are transported through the
body in the blood. Blood plasma has the ability to transport some dissolved oxygen and
carbon dioxide, but most of the gases transported in the blood are bonded to transport
molecules. Hemoglobin is an important transport molecule found in red blood cells that
carries almost 99% of the oxygen in the blood. Hemoglobin can also carry a small
amount of carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. However, the vast
majority of carbon dioxide is carried in the plasma as bicarbonate ion. When the partial
pressure of carbon dioxide is high in the tissues, the enzyme carbonic anhydrase
catalyzes a reaction between carbon dioxide and water to form carbonic acid. Carbonic
acid then dissociates into hydrogen ion and bicarbonate ion. When the partial pressure
of carbon dioxide is low in the lungs, the reactions reverse and carbon dioxide is
liberated into the lungs to be exhaled.
Homeostatic Control of Respiration

Under normal resting conditions, the body maintains a quiet breathing rate and depth
called eupnea. Eupnea is maintained until the bodys demand for oxygen and production
of carbon dioxide rises due to greater exertion. Autonomic chemoreceptors in the body
monitor the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and send
signals to the respiratory center of the brain stem. The respiratory center then adjusts
the rate and depth of breathing to return the blood to its normal levels of gas partial
pressures.

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What are the main parts of the respiratory system and their functions?

How does pulmonary ventilation work?

THE HUMAN BREATHING SYSTEM /

Main Parts of the Respiratory System and their

Homeostatic Control of Respiration

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