Respiratory System Health Mr. Gross
Dec 30, 2015
The Respiratory System
The trillions of cells in the body require oxygen to carry out their vital function
The brain can go less than 10 minutes without oxygen
These cells also give off carbon dioxide, a waste product that the body must get rid of.
Responsibility
The cardiovascular and respiratory systems share responsibility for supplying the body with oxygen and disposing of carbon dioxide
The blood is the transporting fluid
Function of the respiratory system Conduct air from the external
environment to the alveoli To purify, humidify and warm incoming
air by the sinuses, mucus and hair
Breathing Process
Rib muscles pull the chest up and out Diaphragm pulls down A low pressure is created Air rushes into the lungs YouTube - The Breathing process
Nose
The only external part of the respiratory system which takes in air
The air is warmed by a rich network of veins
The sticky mucus produced moistens the air and traps incoming bacteria and other foreign debris
Nose cont.
The cilia (hair like structures)create a current that moves contaminated mucus back toward the throat where it is swallowed and digested by the stomach
When the temperature is cold these cilia become sluggish allowing mucus to accumulate in the nasal cavity and to dribble out through the nostrils explaining a runny nose
Sinuses
Sinuses lighten the skull Resonance chambers for speech Produce mucus which drain into the nasal
cavity Tear ducts also drain into the nasal cavity Sinusitis-an inflammation of the sinuses
changes voice Sinusitis causes a vacuum leading to sinus
headache located over the inflamed area
Pharynx
Common passageway for food and air Contain the tonsils which help with the
filtration system used to trap and remove bacteria and other forms of pathogens
If the tonsils become inflamed it may cause an obstruction and the person has to breath through their mouth
Larynx
The larynx is the voice box Air passes over the vocal folds causing a vibration
allowing us to speak Routes air and food into the proper channels Houses the epiglottis the lid for the esophagus
which closes off the food passage while we breath When food or water is swallowed the epiglottis
closes off the larynx If anything other than air enters the larynx a cough
reflex is triggered to expel the substance
Trachea
A 10-12 cm tube lined with cilia to propel mucus loaded with dust and other debris away form the lungs to the throat, where it can be swallowed or spat out
Smoking inhibits or destroys the ciliated action
Thus coughing is the only way of expelling debris
Bronchioles
Branches of the bronchial tubes. The millions of tiny braches serve to supply air to the microscopic air sacs called alveoli
Alveoli
Have very thin walls which contain a network of capillaries through which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the blood
Pleura
Provides a slippery surface in order to reduce the amount of friction between the lungs and any other structures they may touch within the chest cavity.
YouTube - Respiration 3D Medical Animation
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchi Wheezing, shortness of breath and
coughing Common in smokers and high area of
polution Avoid smoke, dust, fumes and air
pollutants
Asthma
Mucous lining swells and secretions build up
Caused by exertion, emotion YouTube - Understanding Asthma