THE RESPIRATORY

SYSTEM
MUNGCAL,
DHARLYNETTE RTRP
 LET US PRAY
“TO THE PERSON WHO PLEASES HIM, GOD
GIVES WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND
HAPPINESS”

-ECCLESIASTES 2:26
Table of
Contents!
3. The site of Gas
1. Overview
exchange

2. Upper and Lower 4. The Respiratory

airways Muscles
 01
OVERVIEW
 Objectives

1. To list the major components of the upper 4. To describe the function and structure of
and lower airways the gas exchange.

2. To differentiate the two functional 5. To describe the structures of the lung.

divisions of the respiratory system
6. To describe the components and functions
3. To describe the function and histology of of the respiratory muscles.
the tracheobronchial tree.
 FUNCTIONAL DIVISION
OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
● Conducting zone

● Respiratory zone
 02
UPPER AND LOWER
AIRWAYS
 THE AIRWAYS

Conducting airways
- are the passageways between the -It is divided into into two parts:
ambient environment and the gas
exchange units of the lungs.  Upper airways
 Lower airways
 UPPER AIRWAYS
● Consist of the:

■ Nose

■ Oral Cavity

■ Pharynx

■ Larynx
 UPPER AIRWAYS
● The primary functions of the upper airway are

(1) to act as a conductor of air

(2) to humidify and warm the inspired air

(3) to prevent foreign materials from entering the tracheobronchial

tree

(4) to serve as an important area involved in speech and smell

THE NOSE
• The outer portion of the nose is
composed of bone and cartilage.
● The primary functions of the
nose are to filter, humidify, and • The upper third of the nose (the
warm inspired air. bridge) is formed by the nasal bones
and the frontal process of the maxilla
● The nose is also important as
the site for the sense of smell • The lower two-thirds consist of the
and to generate resonance in lateral nasal cartilage, the greater
phonation alar cartilage, the lesser alar
cartilages, the septal cartilage, and
some fibrous fatty tissue.
● In the internal portion of the nose a partition, the nasal septum,
separates the nasal cavity into two approximately equal chambers.

● Posteriorly, the nasal septum is formed by the perpendicular plate of

the ethmoid bone and by the vomer.

● Anteriorly, the septum is formed by the septal cartilage.

.
● Air enters the nasal cavity through the two openings formed by the
septal cartilage and the alae nasi, called the nares, or nostrils.

● Initially, the air passes through a slightly dilated area called the
vestibule which contains hair follicles called vibrissae.

● Vibrissae are the first line of defense of the tracheobronchial tree.

.
● Three lateral bony protrusions

■ Superior

■ Middle

■ Anterior turbinates

These are also known as the conchae

ORAL CAVITY
● It is considered an accessory
respiratory passage.

● It consists of the vestibule, which is

the small outer portion between the
teeth and lips, and a larger section
behind the teeth and gums that
extends back to the oropharynx
PHARYNX
● After the inspired air passes through
the nasal cavity, it enters the pharynx.

● The pharynx is divided into three

parts:

○ nasopharynx

○ oropharynx

○ laryngopharynx
 NASOPHARYNX
● is located between the posterior portion of the nasal cavity (posterior nares) and
the superior portion of the soft palate.

● Lymphoid tissues called pharyngeal tonsils, or adenoids, are located on the

surface of the posterior nasopharynx.

● When the pharyngeal tonsils are inflamed and swollen, they may completely
block the passage of air between the nose and throat.

● The openings of the eustachian tubes (auditory tubes) are located on the lateral
surface of the nasopharynx.
 OROPHARYNX
● lies between the soft palate superiorly and the base of the
tongue inferiorly.

● The tonsils are the lymphatic tissue on the lateral walls of the
oropharynx that act as part of circular band of lymphoid tissue
and as a filter to protect the respiratory tract against infection.
 LARYNGOPHARYNX
● Hypopharynx

● lies between the base of the tongue and the entrance of the esophagus.

● The larynx connects the pharynx and trachea.

● Its opening is at the base of the tongue.

● It is broad superiorly and shaped like a triangular box.

● “PHONATION”
LARYNX
● Three functions:

● Voicebox (1) it acts as a passageway of air

between the pharynx and the trachea
● is located between the base of the
tongue and the upper end of the (2) it serves as a protective mechanism
trachea. against the aspiration of solids and
liquids
● commonly described as a vestibule
opening into the trachea from the (3) it generates sounds for speech.
pharynx.
 Cartilages of Larynx
● 9 Cartilages

● Three are single cartilages:

■ thyroid cartilage

■ cricoid cartilage

■ epiglottis.

● Three are paired cartilages:

■ arytenoid

■ corniculate

■ cuneiform cartilages
● Thyroid Cartilage is the largest cartilage of the Larynx.

● The epiglottis is a broad, spoon-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure. It prevents the

aspiration of foods and liquids by covering the opening of the larynx during swallowing.

● The cricoid cartilage is shaped like a signet ring. It is located inferior to the thyroid
cartilage and forms a large portion of the posterior wall of the larynx.

● The paired arytenoid cartilages are shaped like a three-sided pyramid.

● The paired cuneiform cartilages and corniculate cartilages are small accessory
cartilages that are closely associated with the arytenoid cartilages.
● Vocal folds

■ True vocal folds

■ False vocal folds

● Rima glottidis

● Vasalva’s Maneuver
 LOWER AIRWAYS
● The tracheobronchial tree

■ After passing through the larynx, inspired air enters the

tracheobronchial tree, which consists of a series of branching
airways commonly referred to as generations, or orders.

■ These airways become progressively narrower, shorter, and more

numerous as they branch throughout the lungs.
TRACHEA
● Carina - bifurcation
● The adult trachea is about 11 to 13
cm long and 1.5 to 2.5 cm in ● Approximately 15 to 20 C-shaped
diameter. cartilages support the trachea.

● It extends vertically from the ● These cartilages are incomplete

cricoid cartilage of the larynx to posteriorly where the trachea and
about the level of the second costal the esophagus share a fibroelastic
cartilage, or fifth thoracic vertebra membrane
MAINSTEM BRONCHI

 Two main bronchi

 Left Bronchus – longer than

the right, coming off at a
greater angle

 Right main bronchus –

shorter, wider and more in
line with the trachea.
LOBAR BRONCHI
● The right main stem bronchus
● The lobar bronchi are the
divides into the upper, middle, and
tracheobronchial tree’s second
lower lobar bronchi.
generation.
● The left main stem bronchus
branches into the upper and lower
lobar bronchi
SEGMENTAL BRONCHI
● A third generation of bronchi
● Each segmental bronchus is named
branch off the lobar bronchi to
according to its location within a
form the segmental
. bronchi.
particular lung lobe
● There are 10 segmental bronchi in
the right lung and 8 in the left
lung.
BRONCHIOLES
● The bronchioles are found between
the tenth and fifteenth generations.
TERMINAL BRONCHIOLES

● The conducting tubes of the

tracheobronchial tree end with the
terminal bronchioles
. between the
sixteenth and nineteenth generations.
 03
SITE OF GAS
EXCHANGE
RESPIRATORY BRONCHIOLES

● are characterized by alveoli budding

from their walls.

● Collectively, the respiratory

bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and
alveolar clusters that originate from a
single terminal bronchiole are referred
to as a primary lobule
 The difference between terminal and respiratory bronchioles is
the presence of individual alveoli bidding out from the walls of
the airways.

 Pores of Kohn and Canals of Lambert connects the alveoli both

within and across the terminal respiratory units.

 Pores of Kohn are holes in the alveolar walls that provide

channels for gas movement between contigous alveoli.

 Canals of Lambert – connect alveoli supplied by different
terminal airways.

 These passageways allow for Collateral ventilation between

alveoli that are feb from the same and different bronchioles.
 Alveoli are composed of several distinct type of cells

 Type I pneumocytes is a squamous epithelial cell with a thin cell

wall and relatively large surface area that forms 95% of the
alveolar surface and is the primary conducting interface for gas
transport.

 Type II pneumocytes are granulated cuboidal cells, rich in

microvilli. They are more numerous than the type I cells but
constitute only 5% of alveolar surface. Production source of
surfactant.

 Type III pneumocytes are the alveolar macrophages, which

provide the primary protection of the alveoli against pollutants,
particulates and bacteria.
 Macrophage are the primary phagocytes of the alveoli. These cells
phagocytes bacteria and particulates.

 Macrophage with large amounts of foreign particles are frequently

found in lung lymph nodes, where they remain permanently.
LUNGS
 Lungs are divided into five
lobes.
.
 Each lobe is set by its own
lobar bronchus.

 Each lobe is further divided

into the bronchopulmonary
segment which are the
smallest anatomic units
capable of being removed from
the lung intact.
 Lobules are generally pyramidal In shape.

 Each lobule contains of five acini.

 Acinus is the area of the lung parenchyma that is fed by a single

respiratory bronchiole. It is composed of alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs,
alveoli and alveoli pores.
 04
RESPIRATORY
MUSCLES
  Diaphragm and Intercoastal
 Changes in thoracic cavity muscles
dimension during
breathing are the product  Primarily muscles of
of tension developed by ventilation.
various skeletal muscles.
 They are active both while at
rest and when the individual
exhibits stress-induces
increases in breathing.
DIAPHRAGM
 It orginates form the chest and
● is the major muscle of abdominal wall and converges in a
ventilation. central tendon at the top of its
dome.
● It is a dome-shaped 
musculofibrous partition located  The posterior portion arises from the
between the thoracic cavity and first three lumbar vertebrae.
the abdominal cavity.
 Highest point the dome of the right
hemidiaphragm reaches in a healthy
individual is in the 8th ribs
 The lateral coastal portions arise from the inner surface ribs 7
through 12 and transverse abdominal muscles on each side.

 During quiet breathing, the diaphragm is responsible approximately

75% of the change in thoracic volume

 During maximal inspiration, the diaphragm is pulled approximately

10cm.

 Exhalation results when diaphragmatic tension decreased and

diaphragm returns to its relaxed position.

 The diaphragm is pulled down 1 to 2 cm during tidal breathing

 Functionally, the diaphragm is divided into left and right
hemidiaphragm.

 Each hemidiaphragm is innervated by a phrenic nerve that

arises from branches of spinal nerves C3, C4 and C5.

 Although the diaphragm is the primary ventilatory muscle, it is

not essential for survival.

 The costrophrenic angle is the acute angle formed by the

costal pleura joining the diaphragmatic pleura
 ACCESSORY MUSCLES OF
VENTILATION
● During normal ventilation by a healthy person, the diaphragm alone can manage the
task of moving gas in and out of the lungs.

● However, during vigorous exercise and the advanced stages of COPD, the accessory
muscles of inspiration and expiration are activated to assist the diaphragm.
ACCESSORY MUSCLES OF INSPIRATION

- are those muscles that are recruited to assist the diaphragm in creating a
subatmospheric pressure in the lungs to enable adequate inspiration.

The major accessory muscles of inspiration are:

● • Scalenus muscles
● • Sternocleidomastoid muscles
● • Pectoralis major muscles
● • Trapezius muscles
● • External intercostal muscles.
SCALENUS MUSCLES

● The primary function of these

muscles is to flex the neck.

● When used as accessory muscles

for inspiration, they elevate the first
and second ribs, an action that
decreases the intrapleural pressure.
STERNOCLEIDOMASTOI
D • When the sternocleidomastoid
● are located on each side of the neck. muscles function as an accessory
muscle of inspiration, the head and
● They originate from the sternum neck are fixed by other muscles
and the clavicle and insert into the and the sternocleidomastoid pulls
mastoid process and occipital bone from its insertion on the skull and
of the skull. elevates the sternum.

• This action increases the

anteroposterior diameter of the
chest.
PECTORALIS MAJOR ● Normally, the pectoralis majors pull
from their sternoclavicular origin and
bring the upper arm to the body in a
● are powerful, fan-shaped muscles
hugging motion.
located on each side of the upper
chest. ● When functioning as accessory muscles
of inspiration, they pull from the
● They originate from the clavicle
humeral insertion and elevate the chest,
and the sternum and insert into the
resulting in an increased anteroposterior
upper part of the humerus.
diameter
 TRAPEZIUS MUSCLES
● are large, flat, triangular muscles that
are situated superficially in the upper
back and the back of the neck.

● Normally, the trapezius muscles rotate

the scapula, raise the shoulders, and
abduct and flex the arms. Their action is
typified in shrugging of the shoulders.
EXTERNAL INTERCOASTAL
MUSCLES
● arise from the lower border of each rib
(the upper limit of an intercostal space)
and insert into the upper border of the rib
below.

● They contract during inspiration and pull

the ribs upward and outward, increasing
both the lateral and ap diameter of the
thorax.
ACCESSORY MUSCLES OF EXPIRATION

● The accessory muscles of expiration are the muscles recruited to assist in

exhalation when airway resistance becomes significantly elevated.

● When these muscles contract, they increase the intrapleural pressure and
offset the increased airway resistance.
● The major accessory muscles of exhalation are:

○ • Rectus abdominis muscles

○ • External abdominis obliquus muscles

○ • Internal abdominis obliquus muscles

○ • Transversus abdominis muscles

○ • Internal intercostal muscles

 RECTUS ABDOMINIS
● are a pair of muscles that extend the ● When contracted, the rectus abdominis
entire length of the abdomen. muscles assist in compressing the
abdominal contents.
● Each muscle forms a vertical mass
about 10 cm wide and is separated from ● This compression, in turn, pushes the
the other by the linea alba. diaphragm into the thoracic cage,
thereby assisting in exhalation.
 EXTERNAL ABDOMINIS OBLIQUUS MUSCLES
● muscles are broad, thin muscles located ● When contracted, the external
on the anterolateral sides of the abdominis obliquus muscles assist in
abdomen. compressing the abdominal contents
which, in turn, push the diaphragm into
● They are the longest and the most the thoracic cage, thereby assisting in
superficial of all the anterolateral exhalation.
abdominal muscles
 INTERNAL ABDOMINIS OBLIQUUS MUSCLES
● Smaller and thinner than the external
abdominis obliques. ● The internal abdominis obliquus
muscles also assist in exhalation by
● are located in the lateral and ventral compressing the abdominal contents
parts of the abdominal wall directly and in pushing the diaphragm into the
under the external abdominis obliquus thoracic cage
muscles.
 TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS MUSCLES
● are found immediately under the ● When all four pairs of accessory muscles
internal abdominis obliquus muscles. of exhalation contract, the abdominal
pressure increases and drives the
● When activated, they also help to diaphragm into the thoracic cage.
constrict the abdominal contents.
● As the diaphragm moves into the thoracic
cage during exhalation, the intrapleural
pressure increases, thereby enhancing the
amount of gas flow
INTERNAL INTERCOASTAL

● run between the ribs immediately ● The internal intercostal muscles

beneath the external intercostal contract during expiration and pull the
muscles. ribs downward and inward, decreasing
both the lateral and anteroposterior
diameter of the thorax.
Q AND A
QUIZ AND
ACTIVITY
 LET US PRAY
“TO THE PERSON WHO PLEASES HIM, GOD
GIVES WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND
HAPPINESS”

-ECCLESIASTES 2:26
THANK YOU!

HAVE A GREAT
DAY!