The respiratory system consists of the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli and lungs. Its main function is to oxygenate the blood and remove carbon dioxide. The respiratory tract includes the nasal cavities which warm and moisten air and trap pathogens. Small cilia help move mucus and trapped particles. The pharynx is a common passageway for food and air. The epiglottis closes the larynx during swallowing. The trachea divides into bronchi which end in alveoli, where gas exchange occurs. Diseases include asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia.

1. Respiratory System
Principles of Health Science
Dr. Halbert

2. Respiratory System
► Consists of nose,
pharynx, larynx,
trachea, bronchi,
alveoli and lungs
► Function: take in
oxygen & remove
carbon dioxide
► Body has 4-6 minute
supply of O2

3. Nasal septum
►Divides the nose into two hollow spaces

4. Nasal cavities
►2 hollow spaces in the nose; lined with
mucous membrane
►Mucus produced by this membrane
moistens the air & traps pathogens & dirt

5. Cilia
►Tiny hairlike structures that help move the
mucous layer pushing trapped particles
toward the esophagus

6. Sinuses
►Cavities in the skull that surround the nasal
area
►Warm & moisten the air
►Provide resonance for the voice

7. Pharynx
►Common passageway for food & air
►Divided into the nasopharynx, oropharynx,
laryngopharynx-esophagus & trachea
branch off laryngopharynx

8. Larynx
►Voice box
►Lies between the pharynx & trachea

9. Epiglottis
►Closes the opening to the larynx during
swallowing to prevent food & liquids from
entering the respiratory tract

11. Trachea
►Windpipe, tube extending from the larynx to
the center of the chest
►Made up of a series of C-shaped cartilages

12. Bronchi
►Trachea divides into two bronchi, the right
bronchus and left bronchus
►Each bronchus enters a lung

13. Bronchioles
►Smallest branches of the bronchi

14. Alveoli
►Air sacs in the lungs, where gas exchange
takes place
►Bronchioles end in alveoli

15. Lungs
►Right lung has 3 lobes: superior, middle &
inferior
►Left lung has 2 lobes: superior & inferior

16. Pleura
►Membrane that lines the lungs & chest wall

17. Ventilation
►Process of breathing
►Involves 2 phases: inspiration & expiration

18. Inspiration
►Breathing in air
►Diaphragm & intercostal muscles contract

19. Expiration
►Exhaling air
►Diaphragm & intercostal muscles relax

20. External Respiration
►Exchange of oxygen & carbon dioxide
between lungs & bloodstream

21. Internal respiration
►Exchange of carbon dioxide & oxygen
between the tissue cells & bloodstream

22. Cellular respiration
►Cells use oxygen & nutrients to produce
energy, water & carbon dioxide

23. Respiratory System
Diseases

24. Asthma
►Bronchospasms narrow the opening of the
bronchioles
►Usually caused by an allergy, overexertion,
or infection

25. Bronchitis
►Inflammation of the bronchi & bronchial
tubes
►Acute form: infection
►Chronic: pollutants & smoking

26. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD)
►Any chronic lung disease that results in
obstruction of the airways
►Smoking is the primary cause

27. Emphysema
►Chronic condition in which the alveoli
deteriorate & lose their elasticity

28. Epistaxis
►Nose bleed
►Capillaries in nose become congested &
bleed

29. Influenza
►Flu
►Highly contagious viral disease of the upper
respiratory tract

30. Laryngitis
►Inflammation of the larynx & vocal cords

31. Pleurisy
►Inflammation of the pleura of the lungs

32. Pneumonia
►Inflammation or infection of the lungs
characterized by a buildup of fluid in the
alveoli

33. Rhinitis
►Inflammation of the nasal mucous
membranes, resulting in a runny nose

34. Sinusitis
►Inflammation of the sinuses

35. Tuberculosis (TB)
►Infectious lung disease cause by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis

36. Upper respiratory infection (URI)
►Common cold
►Viral infection of the mucous membrane
lining the upper respiratory tract

37. Image Citations
► Slide 5: Normal anatomy, 3/22/06,
http://adam.about.com/surgery/100038.htm
► Slide 7: How the nasal passage works, 3/22/06,
http://www.sneezeze.com/go/sneezeze/HowItWorks.aspx?alias=sneez
eze&tabalias=HowItWorks
► Slide 8: Sinus passages, 3/22/06, http://www.sinus-
solution.com/sinuspassages.htm
► Slide 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17: Delmar Learning’s Medical Terminology
Library, Second Edition, 2003.
► Slide 11: Chewing, 3/22/06,
http://greenfield.fortunecity.com/rattler/46/upali4.htm
► Slide 12: Animation of the swallowing process, 3/22/06,
http://greenfield.fortunecity.com/rattler/46/upali4.htm
► Slide 18: Pleura, 3/22/06,
http://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/index.php?pageno=18
► Slide 21: Chest changes when inhaling & exhaling, 3/22/06,
http://www.biotopics.co.uk/humans/inhexh.gif

38. Image Citations
► Slide 23: External & Internal Respiration, 3/22/06,
http://connection.lww.com/Products/timby-fundamentals8e/Ch20.asp
► Slide 26: Asthma sufferer breathing, 3/22/06,
http://www.merckfrosst.ca/e/health/asthma/sum_01.html
► Slide 26: Animation, 3/22/06,
http://www.merckfrosst.ca/f/health/asthma/secwin_01.html
► Slide 27, 29: Animation of lungs, 3/22/06,
http://www.nlhep.org/lung_anat.html
► Slide 30: Nose bleed, 3/22/06, http://www.doctorsecrets.com/your-
ears-nose-throat/nose-bleed-cause.html
► Slide 34: Pneumonia, 3/22/06,
http://www.medicinenet.com/pneumonia/article.htm
► Slide 35: Schnupfen.jpg, 3/22/06,
http://www.aerzteverein.de/Aktuelles/aktuelles.html
► Slide 38: The big……sneeze, 3/22/06,
http://www.cladonia.co.uk/animation/sneeze.htm