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BREATHING SYSTEM

Breathing is a process by which air is drawn into the lungs (inhalation) and out of the lungs (exhalation).
It is essential for respiration because it avails oxygen and excretes carbondioxide.

This breathing system is found in most multicellular organisms. The smaller, less complex organisms do not have
it, gases rather diffuse directly across to and from their environments.

Gaseous exchange is a process that occurs when oxygen and carbondioxide diffuse across alveolus surface

(Structure of the breathing system)

Breathing takes place in the respiratory tract (sometimes called respiratory system) which is a tube that runs from
the nostrils to the lungs.

Functions of parts;
1. Nostril – Air enters and leaves through this opening.
2. Nasal cavity – air is warmed, moistened, filtered by hair and the dust in the air is trapped by mucus here
in the nasal cavity.
3. Soft palate and Epiglottis – shut off the nose and trachea respectively during swallowing.
4. Larynx – (the voice box), contains vocal cords made of fine filaments and it vibrates when air passes
through it to produce sound.
5. Glottis – A ring opening into the trachea.
6. Trachea – A tube strengthened with a ring of cartilages to it from collapsing. The inner walls of trachea is
lined with;
cells which produce mucus
Hair called cilia – which “beats” / moves to force the mucus towards the pharynx where it can be
swallowed voluntarily.
7. Bronchus – a tube branching from the trachea, and is similar in structure to the trachea. It directs air to
the lungs.
Bronchus branch into smaller microscopic tubes called bronchioles which lead to a sac like
structure called the Alveolus.
8. Alveolus – Is a collapsible air sac found all over the lung. Alveoli increase the surface area for the
exchange of gases. Each alveolus is surrounded by a network of blood capillaries. Cells in the alveoli are
very thin.
9. Intercostal muscles – These are two sets of muscles found between the ribs. The external intercostal
muscles contract to raise the ribcage during inspiration in order to increase the lung capacity whilst the
internal intercostal muscles contract lower the ribcage during expiration in order to squeeze air out of the
lungs.
10. Pleural membrane and Pleural fluids – Lubricates ribs and lungs to prevent damage during movement.
11. Diaphragm – a muscle sheet at the lower end of the chest cavity which can contract / relax to alter the
volume of the chest cavity. It separates thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Gaseous Exchange in the alveolus

Gaseous exchange refers to diffusion of O2 into cells and the diffusion of CO2 out of the cells.

Structure Of An Alveolus

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The proportions of gases in inhaled (inspired) and exhaled (expired) air is summarized in the table below.
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Gas Inhaled air (%) Exhaled air (%)

Nitrogen 78 78
Oxygen 21 16
Carbon dioxide 0.03 4
Water vapour variable saturated
Noble gases 1 1

At the exchange surfaces of the alveoli;

 The body gains oxygen from inhaled air
 The body gives up carbon dioxide produced from respiration to the exhaled air.

Absorption of O2
 From the inhaled air O2 diffuses into moisture film
 O2 then diffuses through the walls of alveoli and capillaries into the blood.
 Low concentration of O2 in the blood causes O2 to diffuse into blood
 O2 then diffuses into the red blood cells and then where it combines with haemoglobin to form an unstable
compound called oxyhaemoglobin
 At body cells where there is low concentration of O2 the oxyhaemoglobin dissociates to release O2

Oxyhaemoglobin Oxygen + haemoglobin

Removal of CO2
 From the body cells CO2 dissolve into the blood and it is converted to hydrogen carbonate ions by
enzymes.
 At the alveoli the enzymes (carbonic anhydrase) converts the hydrogen carbonate into CO2
 CO2 then diffuses down its concentration gradient from the blood plasma across the capillaries walls into
the alveoli.

Factors that Promote Gaseous Exchange

1. The alveolus has a very thin epithelium that enables gases to diffuse quickly across the membrane
2. There is a network of blood capillaries around every alveolus
3. There are many alveoli which serve to increase the surface area for gaseous exchange
4. There is a thin film of moisture that wets the gases as they diffuse across

What happens during breathing?

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INSPIRATION / INHALATION (Breathing in) EXPIRATION / EXHALATION (Breathing out)

1. External intercostal muscles contract 1. Internal intercostal muscles contract and this
And this pulls ribcage upwards & outwards pushes the ribcage inwards & upwards

2. The diaphragm muscle contract to flatten the 2. The diaphragm muscle relax to push it
diaphragm thus increasing the volume of the chest upwards into dome shape (resting position) thus
cavity (lungs) decreasing the volume of the chest cavity
(lungs)

3.Air pressure inside thoracic cavity decreases & 3. Air pressure inside thoracic cavity increases
become less than atmospheric pressure & become greater than atmospheric pressure
4. As a result air drawn into the lings 4. As a result air is forced out of the lungs
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VITAL CAPACITY
This is the maximum volume of air that can be exchanged during breathing in and out.
In an adult human being, the maximum volume of the lungs when fully inflated is 5litres.
 Only 500cm3 of air can be exchanged at normal breathing
 The normal breathing rate of a person at rest is 16 breaths per minute.
 During exercise, the breathing rate can rise to 20 or 30 breaths per minute. This increase in depth and
rate of breathing ensures that there is adequate supply of O2 to active muscles and fast removal of CO2
from the body.

Ventilation

It is the free movement of air in and out of the lungs.

The number of breaths per minute is called the breathing rate

- When you breathe fast we say your breathing rate is high
- When you breathe in & out you draw a certain volume of air into or out of the lungs respectively. The
depth of your breath is a measure of the volume of air you take in or out during breathing. The maximum
volume of air one can breathe per single breath is called the Vital volume or Vital capacity.

Note;
Vigorous physical activities like running, swimming & cycling can increase the breathing rate and depth.
i.e. during such exercises you breathe faster and deeper.
A relaxed adult makes 16 breaths per minute and draws  500cm3 of air into & out of the lungs per
breath.
During a vigorous activity, the adult makes 30 breaths per minute and draws 3500cm3 of air per breath.

DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BREATHING SYSTEM

1. Lung cancer
2. heart disease
3. Emphysema
4. Chronic bronchitis

The diseases mentioned above are caused by substances contained in cigarette smoke, namely;
- Tar
- Nicotine
- Carbon monoxide

1. Lung Cancer;
Tar contains substances known as carcinogens which promote the abnormal multiplication of cells in the lungs
leading to a condition known as lung cancer

2. Heart disease;
The nicotine and carbon monoxide increase the tendency of the blood to clot, which blocks the coronary artery.
The heart muscles will therefore receive less oxygen which leads to heart failure.
Blockage of arteries may lead to other conditions such as STROKE.
3. Emphysema
This is the breakdown of the alveoli. The irritant substance in tobacco smoke weakens the walls of the alveoli
such that when the person coughs the weakened alveoli breaks. Tar usually accumulates in the air passages and
this irritates a person and thus triggering coughing / sneezing. Tar deposit reduces the surface area for gaseous
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exchange thus reducing amount of oxygen reaching body cells. As a result the smoker get easily tired and
breathless.

4. Chronic Bronchitis;
The smoke stops the cilia from beating and leads to excessive production of mucus in the air passages. The
accumulation of mucus leads to inflammation, a condition known as bronchitis.

Dangers of Tobacco Smoke to unborn Babies

Nicotine & carbon monoxide can pass across the placenta to the foetus. This can cause serious harm to the baby
such as;
 Miscarriage
 Still born
 Underweight babies

Major components of cigarette smoke

Carbon monoxide Tar Nicotine

 A colourless poisonous gas  Collects in the lungs when the  It is a drug
smoke cools.  Affects the nervous system
 If absorbed into the blood, it  Tar contains over a thousand  It causes addiction
binds to the haemoglobin chemicals some of which  Nicotine causes narrowing of
forming a compound called cause cancer. blood vessels thus leading to
carboxyhaemoglobin  It irritates the air passages heart diseases
 It makes air passages narrow
 Too much tar triggers “smoke
 It results in the reduction of cough”
the red blood cells’ capability
to trap & transport O2

On account of the above, cigarette smokers usually perform poorly in physical activities like sports.
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Courtesy of Lebsy Mb
Contact; 71726846