Download The Respiratory System - Leuzinger High School

The Respiratory
System
Section 37-3
Pages 956-963
Respiration
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Process of gas exchange
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The release of carbon dioxide and the
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Uptake of oxygen between the lungs and
the environment
Function
To exchange oxygen & carbon
dioxide between the blood, the
air, and tissues
Structures
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Nose &
mouth
Pharynx
Larynx
Epiglottis
Trachea
Bronchi
lungs
Flowchart
Movement of Oxygen and Carbon
Dioxide In and Out of the
Respiratory System
Section 37-3
Oxygen-rich
air from
environment
Bronchi
Trachea
Nasal
cavities
Pharynx
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Oxygen and
carbon dioxide
exchange at
alveoli
Alveoli
Bronchioles
Pharynx
Nasal
cavities
Carbon
dioxide-rich
air to the
environment
Cilia & Mucus
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To keep lung tissue healthy, air entering the
body must be warmed, moistened, & filtered
Mucus – moistens air & traps particles of dust
and/or smoke
Cilia – sweeps trapped particles & mucus away
from lungs & pharynx
Mucus & tapped particles are either swallowed
or spit out
This process keeps the lungs clean & open for
gas exchange
Hemoglobin
Oxygen-carrying protein in blood
 When blood goes into the lungs, the
hemoglobin picks up oxygen and carries it
to all the tissues in our body
 It binds with so much oxygen that it
increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of
blood more than 60 times

Breathing – movement of air into & out of lungs
- no muscles connected to lungs
- air pressure drives air into & out of lungs
Air
exhaled
Air
inhaled
Rib cage
descends
Rib cage
rises
Diaphragm
Diaphragm
Inhalation
Exhalation
How Breathing is Controlled
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Only have partial control over breathing
Medulla Oblongata controls breathing
Autonomic nerves are connected to diaphragm &
chest muscles
They automatically stimulate them to contract to
allow for breathing
Medulla Oblongata monitor CO2 levels
- when levels get high – send message to
breath
Tobacco & the Respiratory System

Dangerous substances in tobacco:
1. Nicotine – stimulant drug, increases heart
rate & blood pressure
2. Carbon Monoxide – poisonous gas that
blocks the transport of oxygen
by hemoglobin in blood
- decrease blood flow to tissues
- deprives heart & tissue of oxygen
needed to function
3. Tar – contains compounds known to cause
cancer
Effects on Respiratory System
Nicotine & Carbon Monoxide paralyze cilia
 Unable to moved particles out of lungs
 So particles stick on lungs & walls of
trachea
 Mucus becomes trapped in airways
 Causes “Smokers Cough”
 Leads to respiratory diseases

Diseases Caused by Smoking
Bronchitis – swollen & clogged bronchi
- unable to do simple activities without loss of breath
 Emphysema – loss of elasticity of lungs
- unable to get enough air into lungs
- not enough oxygen gets to tissues
- unable to do any physical activities
 Cancer – 160,000 people diagnosed every year
- once diagnosed usually die within 5 years
- preventable by not smoking
- lung cancer can spread to other areas in body
 Heart Disease – smoking causes blood vessels to narrow
– which causes the heart to work harder & rises blood
pressure
- leads to heart attack & damage to heart tissue

Smoking & the Nonsmoker
Tobacco smoke is dangerous to anyone who
inhales it – even if you do not smoke
 Passive Smoking – inhaling smoke of others
- damaging to kids
- lungs still developing – damage is greater
- kids of smokers are twice as likely to
develop respiratory problems like asthma
than kids of nonsmokers

Dealing With Tobacco
No matter what age or the length of time
a person smoked – they can improve their
health by quitting
 Lungs can heal themselves as long as the
tissue is not completely damaged
 Smoking is hard to quit because of
Nicotine – it is a very additive & powerful
drug
 So best solution is to not start to smoke in
the first place
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