Respiratory System: Anatomy, Physiology, and Gas Exchange, Lecture notes of Anatomy

A detailed overview of the respiratory system, covering its anatomy, physiology, and the process of gas exchange. It includes information on the upper and lower respiratory tracts, pulmonary ventilation, respiratory volumes, and common respiratory disorders. Designed to help students understand the mechanics of breathing, the transport of respiratory gases, and the various factors that can affect respiratory function. It also touches on clinical disorders and diseases of the respiratory system, such as hypoxia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, lung cancer, and pneumonia. This resource is valuable for students studying anatomy, physiology, or related health sciences.

Typology: Lecture notes

2025/2026

Available from 10/17/2025

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RESPIRATORY
INTRODUCTION
NOTES
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RESPIRATORY

INTRODUCTION

NOTES

Respiratory System Principal

Organs

Respiration ProcessRespiration Process A collective term for the following processes:

  • (^) Pulmonary Ventilation Movement of air into the lungs (inspiration) Movement of air out of the lungs (expiration)
  • (^) External Respiration Movement of oxygen from the lungs to the blood Movement of carbon dioxide from the blood to the lungs
  • (^) Transport of Respiratory Gases Transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues Transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs
  • (^) Internal Respiration Movement of oxygen from blood to the tissue cells Movement of carbon dioxide from tissue cells to blood

Three Distinct Parts of

Respiration

Three Distinct Parts of

Respiration

 Ventilation – flow of air

between outside and

lungs

 Inhalation – flow of air

into lungs; brings fresh

oxygen

 Exhalation – flow of air

out of lungs; removes

carbon dioxide

RESPIRATORY SYSTEMRESPIRATORY SYSTEM

UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT

  • (^) Nose
  • (^) Nasal cavity
  • (^) Sinuses
  • (^) Pharynx
  • (^) Larynx

PharynxPharynx

  • (^) Pharynx (Throat): Intersection where pathway for air and food cross. Most of the time, the pathway for air is open, except when we swallow
  • (^) Located behind the oral and nasal cavities

UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACTUPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT cont’dcont’d

  • (^) EPIGLOTTIS
    • (^) Leaf-shape elastic structure that is attached along one end to the top of the larynx
    • (^) It prevents food from entering the tracheobronchial tree by closing over the glottis during swallowing

glottis open vocal cords glottis (closed) epiglottis tongue’s base glottis closed Larynx: Vocal Cords and Glottis

LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT

  • (^) TRACHEA
 AKA Windpipe
 Passageway for air
 Extends from pharynx and larynx to main
bronchi
 Approximately 4 inches (10 CM) in length
 Composed of smooth muscle and cartilage
rings
 Lined with mucous membrane and cilia
 Assists in cleansing, warming, and
moisturizing air as it travels to the lungs

TRACHEA

Bronchial TubesBronchial Tubes

 (^) Formed by the division of the distal end of the trachea  (^) Left and right main bronchi  (^) Each bronchus enters one and branches to form secondary bronchi.  (^) Each secondary bronchi becomes more narrow to form the bronchioles.  (^) Each bronchiole terminates in a small group of air sacs (alveoli).  (^) Approximately 150 million alveoli in each lung  (^) Network of pulmonary capillaries encases each alveolus = the respiratory membrane  (^) External respiration, the exchange of oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) between the air within the alveolus and the blood inside the capillaries, takes place across the respiratory membrane.

LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT

  • (^) BRONCHIOLES
    • (^) Branch from the secondary bronchi and subdivide into the small terminal and respiratory bronchioles
    • (^) Fine tubes that allow passage of air. Epithelium of bronchioles is covered with cilia and mucus to trap and remove dust and other particles