Anatomy And

Physiology

THE HUMAN RESPIRATORY

SYSTEM* It is the system, consisting of tubes and is responsible for the exchange of gases in Humans by filtering incoming air

and transporting it into the microscopic alveoli where gases are exchanged * Your respiratory system provides the energy needed by cells of the body to function according to their designated tasks.

THE NOSE

The nose is the body's

primary organ of smell and

also functions as part of the

body's respiratory system.

Air enters the nose through

the external nares (nostrils).

The interior of the nose

consists of a nasal cavity

divided by a nasal septum.

It provides an entrance for air in which air is filtered by coarse hairs inside the nostrils.

It has 2 portions : the external and internal

The external portion -is supported by a framework of bone and cartilage covered with skin and lined with mucous membrane.

The internal portion - is a large cavity in the skull, merging with the external nose anteriorly and communicating with the throat posteriorly.

THE PHARYNX

The “throat” is a cone-shaped

passageway leading from the

oral and nasal cavities in the

head to

the esophagus and larynx.

The pharynx chamber serves

both respiratory and digestive

functions. Thick fibers

of muscle and connective

tissue attach the pharynx to the

base of the skull and

surrounding structures.

• It is composed of: Nasopharynx – uppermost portion Oropharynx – middle portion Laryngopharynx – lowermost portion

• It is a common passageway for air and food and it provides a resonating chamber for speech sounds.

• The term pharynx may also be used to describe a differentiated portion of the invertebrate alimentary canal. In some invertebrate species, the structure is thick and muscular. It is occasionally eversible (rotated or turned

• It is composed of: Nasopharynx – uppermost portion Oropharynx – middle portion Laryngopharynx – lowermost portion

• It is a common passageway for air and food and it provides a resonating chamber for speech sounds.

• The term pharynx may also be used to describe a differentiated portion of the invertebrate alimentary canal. In some invertebrate species, the structure is thick and muscular. It is occasionally eversible (rotated or turned

THE LARYNX

Also known as voice box• Glottis – opening between vocal cords

• It is an enlargement in the airway superior to the trachea and inferior to the pharynx.

• It helps keep particles from entering the trachea and also houses the vocal cords.

• It is composed of a framework of muscles and cartilage bound by elastic tissue.

Thyroid cartilage • Largest hyaline cartilage• “Adam’s apple”

• Epiglottis• Superior opening of the larynx • Routes food to the larynx and

air toward the trachea.

• Thyroid cartilage

THE TRACHEA

• The trachea, commonly known as the “windpipe “,

is a tube about 4 inches long and less than an inch in diameter in most people.

• The trachea begins just under the larynx (voice box)

And runs down behind the breastbone (sternum).

• The trachea then divides into two smaller tubes

called bronchi: one bronchus for each lung.

The trachea is composed of about 20 rings of tough cartilage. The back part of each ring is made of muscle and connective tissue. Moist, smooth tissue called mucosa lines the inside of the trachea. The trachea widens and lengthens slightly with each breath in, returning to its resting size with each breath out.

THE BRONCHI

The Bronchi are the two main air passages

into the lungs. They are composed of the:

* “Right Primary Bronchus” - leading to the right lung.

* “Left Primary Bronchus”

2 layers of serous membrane, collectively known as pleural membrane, enclose and protect each lung.

* Parietal Pleura - outer layer attached to the thoracic cavity * Visceral Pleura - inner layer covering the lung itself.

The Bronchi are the two main air passages

into the lungs. They are composed of the:

* “Right Primary Bronchus” - leading to the right lung.

* “Left Primary Bronchus”

THE BRONCHI TREE

The bronchial tree consists of branched tubes leading from the trachea to the alveoli.

The bronchial tree begins with the two primary bronchi, each leading to a lung.

The branches of the bronchial tree from the trachea are right and left primary bronchi;     these further subdivide until bronchioles give rise to alveolar ducts which terminate in alveoli.

It is through the thin epithelial cells of the alveoli that gas exchange between the blood and air occurs.

THE LUNG

The paired soft, spongy, cone-shaped lungs separated medially by the mediastinum and are enclosed by the diaphragm and thoracic cage.

THE LOBES OF THE LUNGS

* A layer of serous membrane, between the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura.

It contains a lubricating fluid secreted by the

membranes that prevents friction between the membranes and allows their easy movement on one another during breathing.

The right lung has three lobes.

The left lung has two lobes. Each lobe is composed of

lobules that contain air passages, alveoli, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and connective tissues.

THE PLEURAL CAVITIES

THE ALVEOLI

• Tiny, delicate air sacs deep within the lungs, where the gas/blood exchange occurs. Oxygen from inhaled air passes through the walls of alveoli and enters the bloodstream while carbon dioxide passes out in the same way when air is

• Tiny, delicate air sacs deep within the lungs, where the gas/blood exchange occurs. Oxygen from inhaled air passes through the walls of alveoli and enters the bloodstream while carbon dioxide passes out in the same way when air is