ANATOMY

RESPIROTORY SYSTEM

Amina Abukar Abdulle

The cells of the body need energy for their chemical
activity that maintains homeostasis. Most of this
energy is derived from chemical reactions which can
only take place in the presence of oxygen (O2). The
main waste product of these reactions is carbon dioxide
(CO2).
The respiratory system provides the route by which the
supply of oxygen present in the atmospheric air gains
entry to the body and it provides the route of excretion
of carbon dioxide.
The condition of the atmospheric air entering
the body varies considerably according to the
external environment, e.g. it may be dry, cold
and contain dust particles or it may be moist
and hot.
As the air breathed in moves through the air
passages to reach the lungs, it is warmed or
cooled to body temperature.
The organs of the respiratory system are:
Nose
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
 Two bronchi
Two lungs and their coverings, the pleura
Muscles of respiration — the intercostal muscles
and the diaphragm
 Primary function
Nose Exchanges air during inhaling/ exhaling;.
Sinuses Produce mucus for the nasal cavities
Pharynx Transports air back and forth between the nose and the
trachea.
Larynx Makes speech possible.
Epiglottis Closes off the trachea during swallowing.
Trachea Transports air back and forth between the pharynx and
the bronchi.
Bronchi Transports air from the trachea into the lungs.
Alveoli Air sacs that exchange gases with the pulmonary
capillary blood.
Lungs Bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide
and some water waste from the body.
STRUCTURES OF THE RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
The respiratory system brings oxygen into the body for transportation
to the cells.
It also removes carbon dioxide
and some water waste from the body.
the respiratory system is divided into:
1) The upper respiratory tract consists of the nose,
mouth, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, and trachea
2) The lower respiratory tract consists of the bronchial
tree and lungs.
These structures are located within, and protected by, the thoracic
cavity which is also known as the rib cage.
 NOSE AND NASAL CAVITY
Position and structure
The nasal cavity is the first of the respiratory
organs and consists of a large irregular cavity
divided into two equal passages by a septum.
The posterior bony part of the septum is
formed by the perpendicular plate of the
ethmoid bone and the vomer. Anteriorly it
consists of hyaline cartilage.
 The Nose

Air enters the body through the nose and passes through the
nasal cavity, which is the interior portion of the nose.
 The nasal septum is a wall of A cartilage that divides the
nose into two equal sections.
 Cilia : the thin hairs located just inside the nostrils, filter
incoming air to remove dusts.
 Mucous membranes : are the specialized tissues that line
the respiratory, digestive, reproductive, and urinary systems.
 Mucus : which is secreted by the mucous membranes,
protects and lubricates these tissues.
The paranasal sinuses are cavities in the bones of the
face and the cranium which contain air.
There are tiny openings between the paranasal
sinuses and the nasal cavity.
They are lined with mucous membrane, continuous
with that of the nasal cavity.
The main sinuses are:
1. maxillary sinuses in the lateral walls
2. frontal and sphenoidal sinuses in the roof
3. ethmoidal sinuses in the upper part of the lateral
walls .
The sinuses function in speech and also serve to
lighten the skull.
The nasolacrimal ducts extend from the lateral walls
of the nose to the conjunctival sacs of the eye.
They drain tears from the eyes.
Openings into the nasal cavity
The anterior nares, or nostrils, are the openings from
the exterior into the nasal cavity.
Hairs are present in this area.
The posterior nares are the openings from the nasal
cavity into the pharynx.
 The functions of these sinuses are
(1) to make the bones of the skull lighter,
(2) to help produce sound by giving resonance to the voice,
and
(3) to produce mucus to provide lubrication for the tissues
of the nasal cavity. The
 four paired sinuses are located on either side of the
nose and are named for the bones in which they are
located.
1) The frontal sinuses are located in the frontal bone just
above the eyebrows. An infection here can cause severe
pain in this area.
2) The sphenoid sinuses, which are located in the sphenoid
bone, are close to the optic nerves and an infection here can
damage vision.
3) The maxillary sinuses, which are the largest of the
paranasal sinuses, are located in the maxillary bones.
An infection in these sinuses can cause pain in the posterior
maxillary teeth.
4) The ethmoid sinuses, which are located in the ethmoid
bones, are irregularly shaped air cells that are separated
from the orbital (eye) cavity by only a thin layer of bone.
 The Pharynx
The pharynx which is commonly known as the throat, receives
the air after it passes through the nose.
The pharynx is made up of three divisions
1) The nasopharynx: which is the first division, is posterior to
the nasal cavity and continues downward to behind the mouth
(nas/o means nose, and -pharynx means throat)..
2) The oropharynx: which is the second division, is the portion
that is visible when looking into the mouth (or/o means
mouth, and -pharynx means throat).
3) The laryngopharynx: which is the third division, is also
shared by both the respiratory and digestive systems
(laryng/o means larynx, and -pharynx means throat).
 The Larynx

The larynx or 'voice box' extends from the root of the

tongue and the hyoid bone to the trachea.
The larynx is protected and supported by a series of
nine separate cartilages.
The thyroid cartilage is the largest, and when
enlarged, it is commonly known as the Adam’s apple.
The larynx contains the vocal cords. During
breathing, the cords are separated to let air pass.
 The Trachea
The trachea commonly known as the windpipe, is the
tube located directly in front of the esophagus that
extends from the neck to the chest. Its role is to
transport air to, and from, the lungs.
The trachea is held open by a series of C-shaped
cartilage rings.
The wall between these rings is flexible, and this
feature makes it possible for the trachea to adjust to
different body positions.
The lower respiratory

1) The Bronchi
• The bronchi are formed where the trachea divides
into two branches known as the primary bronchi
(singular, bronchus).
• Because of the similarity of these branching structures
to an inverted tree, this is referred to as the bronchial
tree with one branch going into each lung.
• Within the lung, each primary bronchus divides and
subdivides into increasingly smaller bronchioles
which are the smallest branches of the bronchi.
 The Alveoli
Alveoli also known as air sacs, are the very small grape-like clusters
found at the end of each bronchiole (singular, alveolus).
The Mediastinum
The mediastinum: is the cavity located between the
lungs.
This cavity contains connective tissue and organs,
including the heart and its veins and arteries, the
esophagus, trachea, bronchi, the thymus gland, and
lymph nodes.
2) The Lungs
The lungs, which are the organs of respiration, are
divided into lobes.
A lobe is a subdivision or part of an organ.
The right lung has three lobes: the superior, middle,
and inferior.
The left lung has only two lobes: the superior and
inferior.
It is slightly smaller than the right lung because of the
space taken up by the heart.
 Pleura and pleural cavity
The pleura is a thin, moist, and slippery membrane that
covers the outer surface of the lungs and lines the inner
surface of the rib
The parietal pleura: is the outer layer of the pleura
that lines the walls of the thoracic cavity, covers the
diaphragm, and forms the sac containing each lung.
Parietal means relating to the walls of a cavity.
The visceral pleura is the inner layer of pleura that
surrounds each lung. Visceral means relating to the
internal organs.
The pleural cavity, also known as the pleural space, is
the airtight area between the layers of the pleural
membranes.
The lungs are composed of the bronchi,smaller
air passages, alveoli, connective tissue, blood
vessels, lymph vessels and nerves.
• Each lobe is made up of a large number of
lobules.
Muscles of respiration
The expansion of the chest during inspiration
occurs as a result of muscular activity, partly
voluntary and partly involuntary.
The main muscles of respiration in normal
quiet breathing are the intercostal muscles and
the diaphragm.
During difficult or deep breathing they are
assisted by the muscles of the neck, shoulders
and abdomen.
Intercostal muscles
There are 11 pairs of intercostal muscles that
occupy the spaces between the 12 pairs of ribs.
They are arranged in two layers,
 The external and
Internal intercostal muscles.
The external intercostal muscle fibres.
These extend in a downwards and forwards direction
from the lower border of the rib above to the upper
border of the rib below.
The internal intercostal muscle fibres.
These extend in a downwards and backwards
direction from the lower border of the rib above to the
upper border of the rib below, crossing the external
intercostal muscle fibres at right angles.
The first rib is fixed, Therefore, when the intercostal
muscles contract they pull all the other ribs towards
the first rib. Because of the shape of the ribs they
move outwards when pulled upwards. In this way the
thoracic cavity is enlarged anteroposteriorly and
laterally. The intercostal muscles are stimulated to
contract by the intercostal nerves.
RESPIRATION
Respiration is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
that is essential to life. A single respiration consists of one
inhalation and one exhalation.
• Inhalation and Exhalation
Inhalation is the act of taking in air as the diaphragm
contracts and pulls downward.
This action causes the thoracic cavity to expand. This
produces a vacuum within the thoracic cavity that draws air
into the lungs.
Exhalation is the act of breathing out.
As the diaphragm relaxes, it moves upward, causing the
thoracic cavity to become narrower
 Cycle of respiration
This occurs 12 to 15 times per minute and consists of
three phases:
1. inspiration
2. expiration
3. pause.
 Inspiration
When the capacity of the thoracic cavity is increased
by simultaneous contraction of the intercostal muscles
and the diaphragm, the parietal pleura moves with the
walls of the thorax and the diaphragm.
lower than atmospheric pressure. The visceral pleura
follows the parietal pleura pulling the lung with it.
This stretches the lungs and the pressure within the
alveoli and in the air passages falls, drawing air into
the lungs in an attempt to equalize the atmospheric
and alveolar air pressures.
 Expiration
Relaxation of the intercostal muscles and the
diaphragm results in downward and inward movement
of the rib cage.
As this occurs, pressure inside the lungs exceeds that in
the atmosphere and therefore air is expelled from the
respiratory tract. The lungs still contain some air and
are prevented from complete collapse by the intact
pleura.
After expiration, there is a pause before the next cycle
begins.
END