Structure and Function of the

Respiratory System: Chapter 20

Gas exchange (in O2 and removal of

CO2)
Host defense (primary barrier)
Metabolic organ

Space with a volume of 4 L

Surface area large, 85m2 (composed
of myriads of INDEPENDENTLY
functioning units)
Functional unity- each unit is
structurally identical and functions just
like the others
1 kg
o 60 % lung tissue
o Remainder: blood
Alveolar spaces- most of the volume;
divided by interstitium (lung collagen
fibers, POTENTIAL space: fluid and
cells accumulate)

1) Upper airwaysNose, Sinuses, Larynx

-Condition inspired air body
temperature and fully humidified
a) Nose
i) Smell, filter.
ii) Neuronal endings (roof; above
superior turbinate) impulse
cribriform plate olfactory bulb
iii) Volume- 20mL, increased surface
area d/t nasal trubinates (series: 3
continuous ribbons that protrudes
into the nasal cavity)
iv) Air that enters 10k to 15k L
v) Nasal resistance
(1) Normal- 50% of the total
resistance of the respiratory
system (8cm H20/L/sec)
(2) Increases- with viral infections;
and increased air flowexercise
(3) Too high- mouth breathing
vi) Lined by respiratory epithelium:
surface secretory cells (Ig, inflamm,
interferon: FIRST line)
b) Paranasal sinus
i) Frontal, maxillary, sphenoid,
ethmoid
ii) Lined by ciliated epithelium:
facilitates mucus flow, clears every
15 minutes
iii) Functions
(1) Lighten skull- upright posture
(2) Resonance to voice
(3) Protect during frontal trauma
iv) Maxillary sinus- opening or ostium
is at the upper edge retention of
mucus= secondary sinusitis
c) Larynx
i) Epiglottis, arytenoids, vocal cords:
infections: edematous airflow
resistance
ii) Epi+ary= HOOD vocal cords during
swallowing, prevent aspiration
iii) Swallowing- within 2 second;
synced with muscle reflexes
iv) Eg stroke altered muscle reflexes
(esp arytenoid muscle inability to
hood the passageway for airway
aspiration pneumonia

(b) lower

iii) lungs- visceral and parietal pleura

(1) smooth gliding
(2) potential space
(a) air can enter=
pneumothorax
(b) fluid- pleural effusion
empyema
b) trachea 2 main branches (bronchi)
lobular bronchi segmental bronchi
bronchioles alveolus
2) Lower airwayTrachea, Bronchi,
Bronchioles, Respiratory Unit
a) Lungs
i) Right lung
(1) In right hemithorax
(2) 3 lobes 2 interlobular fissureoblique and horizontal

ii) Left lung

(1) In left hemithorax
(2) 2 lobes oblique fissure
(a) upper (inc lingua)

(1) segmental bronchiFUNCTIONAL anatomic unit

(a) region supplied
bronchopulmonary
segment
(b) easily surgically removed
(2) decreased diameter but
increased surface area
(3) physiologic unitrespiratory
unit or gas exchanging unit
( bronchioles, alveolar ducts
and alveoli)
(a) Conducting ariways
(i) Bronchi that contains
cartilage and
nonrespiratory
bronchioles (lacks alveoli)
(ii) Absent cartilage, move
gas
(b) Anatomic dead space
(i) 150 mL ; doesnt
participate in gas
exchange
(4) Gas exchange
(a) Respiratory bronchioles with
alveoli and area from the
terminal or nonrespiratory
bronchioles to the alveoli are
where all gas exchange
occurs
(b) 5 mm long
(c) 2500 mL; 70m2: resting
c) Alveoli
i) Polygonal
ii) Type I and type II cells: normal 1:1
ratio
iii) Type I
(1) 98% of surface area of the
alveolus
(2) Primary site for gas exchange
(3) Cytoplasm- gas diffusion
(4) Basement memb and capillary
endothelium fusedgas
exchange
iv) Type II
(1) Synthesize pulmonary
surfactant
(2)
(3) (reduces surface tension in the
alveolar fluid; regeneration of
alveolar struc if damaged)
(4) Pag sira ang type I magiging
type I ang type II
v) Alveolar-capillary network
(1) Dense meshlike network
(2) Barrier super liit sa rbc

(3) Passively diffuse,

3) Lung interstitium
a) Interstitial space- CT. smooth muscle,
lymphatics, capillaries
b) Normal- very small; hindi Makita sa mc
c) Abn- enlargedinflammatory cells and
edema fluid- interfere with gas
exchange in alveoli
d) Fibroblast dominant
i) Synthesize and secrete collagen
and elastin
ii) Collagen- for limiting lung
distensibility
iii) Elastin- for recoil
iv) Cartilage- supports conducting
ariways, encircles 80% trachea
(1) Amount of cartilage decreases
down at respiratory
(2) Disappears at level of
bronchioles
v) Smooth muscles
(1) Can dilate or constrict
vi) Kultschitzky cells
(1) Neuroendo
(2) Biogenic amines: dopa and
serotonin
(3) More numerous in fetus
(4) O: bronchial carcinoid

Blood supply to the lung

1. Pulmonary Circulation

Brings deox from right ventricle to the

gas exchanging units for removal of
CO2 and oxygenation
- Pulmonary capillary bed largest
vascular bed in body
- Capillary volume at rest= 70mL
- Exercise200mL
2. Bronchial Circulation
- From aorta nourishment to the lung
parenchyma
- Bronchial arteries (3) oxygenated,
systemic blood to the lungs
- Accompany with bronchial tree and
divide with it
- Nourish the wall of bronchioles,
bronchi, BV and nerves and perfuse
lymph nodes
- Returns to rt rtrium through the
bronchial veins, others drain into the
LA via pulmonary veins

EG cystic fribrosis
o Normally bronchial arteries
receive only 1% of CO abn
increase in size 10% to 20% of
CO
erosion of inflamed tissue= hemoptysis

INNERVATION
-

Brainstem
amygdala
hypothalamus
ANS of PNS under CNS
PNS-sensory and motor
o Stimulus to CNS
Para- constriction: airway constriction,
BV dilate, gland secretion
Sympa- relaxation; airway relax, BV
constrict, inhibit gland secretion
Involuntary lahat, walang voluntary, nor
pain fibers
Pain fibers only in pleura