Respiratory System Functions and Components

Functions of the Respiratory System

• Brings oxygen into the body
• Removes carbon dioxide from the body
• Regulates pH levels by removing excess hydrogen ions
• Helps to regulate blood pressure
• Facilitates speech and smell

Components of the Respiratory System

• Upper Respiratory Tract
  • Nose and mouth (entry points for air)
  • Pharynx (throat)
  • Larynx (voice box)
• Lower Respiratory Tract
  • Trachea (windpipe)
  • Bronchi (airways)
  • Bronchioles (smaller airways)
  • Lungs (alveoli, where gas exchange occurs)

Mechanism of Breathing

1. Inhalation
   • Diaphragm contracts and flattens
   • Intercostal muscles contract, causing rib cage to expand
   • Air enters lungs through nose or mouth
   • Air passes through trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles
   • Air reaches alveoli, where oxygen diffuses into bloodstream
2. Exhalation
   • Diaphragm relaxes and rises
   • Intercostal muscles relax, causing rib cage to decrease in size
   • Air leaves lungs through nose or mouth

Gas Exchange

• Oxygen
  • Diffuses from alveoli into bloodstream
  • Binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells
  • Transported to body tissues
• Carbon Dioxide
  • Diffuses from bloodstream into alveoli
  • Exhaled out of the body

Regulation of Breathing

• Control Centers
  • Medulla oblongata (brainstem)
  • Pons (brainstem)
• Sensors
  • Chemoreceptors (detect changes in CO2 and O2 levels)
  • Stretch receptors (detect changes in lung volume)
• Regulation Mechanisms
  • Negative feedback loops to maintain homeostasis
  • Adjustments to breathing rate and depth based on CO2 and O2 levels

Functions of the Respiratory System

• Brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide
• Regulates pH levels by removing excess hydrogen ions
• Helps to regulate blood pressure
• Facilitates speech and smell

Components of the Respiratory System

Upper Respiratory Tract

• Nose and mouth are the entry points for air
• Pharynx, also known as the throat, is a part of the upper respiratory tract
• Larynx, also known as the voice box, is responsible for speech production

Lower Respiratory Tract

• Trachea, also known as the windpipe, is a tube that connects the throat to the lungs
• Bronchi are the airways that branch off from the trachea
• Bronchioles are smaller airways that branch off from the bronchi
• Lungs are responsible for gas exchange, where oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is removed

Mechanism of Breathing

Inhalation

• Diaphragm contracts and flattens, increasing the volume of the chest cavity
• Intercostal muscles contract, causing the rib cage to expand
• Air enters the lungs through the nose or mouth
• Air passes through the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, reaching the alveoli

Exhalation

• Diaphragm relaxes and rises, decreasing the volume of the chest cavity
• Intercostal muscles relax, causing the rib cage to decrease in size
• Air leaves the lungs through the nose or mouth

Gas Exchange

Oxygen

• Diffuses from the alveoli into the bloodstream
• Binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells
• Transported to body tissues, where it is used for cellular respiration

Carbon Dioxide

• Diffuses from the bloodstream into the alveoli
• Exhaled out of the body through the lungs

Regulation of Breathing

Control Centers

• Medulla oblongata, located in the brainstem, is responsible for controlling breathing
• Pons, located in the brainstem, is also involved in controlling breathing

Sensors

• Chemoreceptors detect changes in CO2 and O2 levels in the bloodstream
• Stretch receptors detect changes in lung volume

Regulation Mechanisms

• Negative feedback loops maintain homeostasis by adjusting breathing rate and depth
• Adjustments to breathing rate and depth based on CO2 and O2 levels in the bloodstream