Seeley’s Respiratory System Nasal Cavity – extends from the nares to the chonae

Nares (nostrils) – external openings

Four processes: Choanae – (conch shell) openings to the pharynx
Meatus – passageway beneath each concha
1. Ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the
– within superior and middle meatuses are
lungs
openings from various paranasal sinuses.
2. Gas exchange (external respiration) between the air in
– within each inferior meatus is an opening
the lungs and the blood.
for the nasolacrimal duct.
3. Transport of O2 and CO2 in the blood
Vestibule – anterior part of the nasal cavity
4. Gas exchange (internal respiration) between the blood
Hard Palate – it separates the nasal cavity from the
and the tissues.
oral cavity
Nasal Septum – divides the nasal cavity into right and
Functions:
left parts.
1. Regulation of blood pH by changing blood CO2 levels
2. Produces chemical mediators such as Angiotensin-
5 Functions of the Nasal Cavity:
converting enzyme which is a component of blood 1. Serves as a passageway for air. It remains open even if the
pressure regulation. mouth is full of food.
3. Voice production 2. Cleans the air.
4. Olfaction The Vestibule is line with hairs which trap some of the
5. Protection large particles of dust.
The Nasal Septum and Nasal Conchae make airflow
Anatomy
within the cavity more turbulent to make the debris in the air
1. External nose 2. Nasal cavity 3. Pharynx
come into contact with the mucous membrane which is then
4. Larynx 5. Trachea 6. Bronchi
swept along with the mucus into the pharynx to be swallowed
7. Lungs
and eliminated by the digestive system.
Structurally it is divided into, 3. Humidifies and Warms Air. Moisture from the mucous
Upper Respiratory tract: External Nose-Nasal Cavity-Pharynx-Larynx epithelium and from excess tears that drain into the nasal
Lower Respiratory tract: Trachea-bronchi-smaller bronchioles-Lungs cavity. Warm blood flowing through the mucous membrane
warms the air within the nasal cavity, thus preventing damage
Functionally, to the rest of the respiratory passages due to cold air.
1. Conducting Zone – air movement from the nose to the 4. Contains the Olfactory Epithelium (in the mos superior part
bronchioles. of the nasal cavity)
-structures adapted for air movement, cleaning, warming, and 5. Helps determine Voice Sound. The nasal cavity and
humidification. paranasal sinuses are resonating chambers for speech.

2. Respiratory Zone – Gas exchange within the lungs between air --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pharynx - common opening of both the digestive and the

respiratory systems.
-it is connected to the respiratory system at the larynx and to
the digestive system at the esophagus.

Nasopharynx Oropharynx Laryngopharynx

Posterior to the Extends from extends from the tip
chonae and the soft palate of the epiglottis to the
superior to the soft to the esophagus and passes
palate1 epiglottis. posterior to the larynx
Adenoid The oral cavity
(pharyngeal tonsil) opens into the
and blood. - posterior surface oropharynx
of the nasopharynx through the
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - helps defend the fauces2.
body against
CONDUCTING ZONE - Gases are simply moved from the external infection
environment to the area where they interact with blood.

1. Nose nasus (External nose + Nasal Cavity)

External Nose – Visible structure
1
soft palate - is an incomplete muscle and connective tissue
partition separating the nasopharynx from the oropharynx.
- The soft palate prevents swallowed materials from entering
the nasopharynx and nasal cavity.
UVULA – posterior extension of the soft palate.
2
Two sets of tonsils, called the palatine tonsils and the lingual
tonsils, are located near the fauces.

*Two pairs of ligaments extend from the anterior surface of the

arytenoid cartilages to the posterior surface of the thyroid
cartilage.

Vestibular Folds (false vocal cords) – these are superior

ligaments that are covered by mucous membrane.

Vocal Folds (true vocal cords) – inferior ligaments that are

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- covered by a mucous membrane

Larynx - anterior part of the throat and extends from the base of Glottis = vocal folds + opening between the ligaments
the tongue to the trachea.
- It is a passageway for air between the pharynx and the
trachea
- consists of an outer casing of nine cartilages.
- Six of the nine cartilages are paired, and three are unpaired

UNPAIRED CARTILAGES
Epiglottis Thyroid Cartilage Cricoid Cartilage
(Adam’s Apple)
attached to the largest cartilage Most inferior
thyroid cartilage - maintain open cartilage; base of
and projects passageway for the larynx where
superiorly as a airmovement other cartilages
free flap toward rest
the tongue. - maintain open
passageway for
airmovement
PAIRED CARTILAGES Note:
Arytenoid Corniculate Cuneiform The larynx prevents swallowed materials from entering the
articulate with attached to the contained in a lower respiratory tract and regulates the passage of air into
the posterior, superior tips of mucous and out of the lower respiratory tract.
superior border the arytenoid membrane
The closure of the vestibular and vocal folds can also prevent
of the cricoid cartilages anterior to the
the passage of air, as when a person holds his or her breath or
cartilage corniculate
increases air pressure within the lungs prior to coughing or
cartilages
sneezing.

The vocal folds are the primary source of sound production.

The frequency of vibrations determines pitch.
The greater the amplitude of the vibration, the louder the
sound.
TRACHEA (windpipe) RESPIRATORY ZONE
The trachea has an inside diameter of 12 mm and a length of Alveolar Ducts - long, branching hallways with many open
10–12 cm, descending from the larynx to the level of the fifth doorways. The “doorways” open into alveoli.
thoracic vertebra Alveoli
are small, air-filled chambers where gas exchange between the
*15–20 C-shaped pieces of hyaline cartilage - they protect the air and blood takes place
trachea and maintain an open passageway for air. Alveolar Sacs - chambers connected to two or more alveoli.

Trachealis Muscle – bundles of smooth muscle in the posterior *Although the epithelium of the alveoli and respiratory
wall of the trachea (which is free from cartilage) which can bronchioles is not ciliated, debris from the air can be removed by
narrow the diameter of the trachea once it contracts. macrophages that move over the surfaces of the cells.

The trachea divides to form two smaller tubes called main Average diameter of an alveolus is approximately 250 μm
bronchi, or primary bronchi each of which extends to a lung.
Two Types of Cells in an Alveolar Wall
Carina (a ridge) – the most inferior cartilage of the trachea
- the mucous membrane of the carina is very sensitive to Type I Pneumocytes Type II Penumocytes
mechanical stimulation, and materials reaching the carina thin squamous epithelial cells round or cube-shaped
stimulate a powerful cough reflex. that form 90% of the alveolar secretory cells that produce
surface. Most of the gas surfactant, which makes it
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- exchange between alveolar easier for the alveoli to
air and the blood takes place expand during inspiration
Tracheobronchial Tree through these cells.
- Beginning with the trachea, all the respiratory passageways
are called as such.

Lobar Bronchi (secondary bronchi) - The main bronchi divide

into lobar bronchi within each lung. Two lobar bronchi exist in
the left lung, and three exist in the right lung.

Segmental Bronchi (tertiary bronchi)

Bronchioles - less than 1 mm in diameter

Terminal bronchioles
Respiratory Membrane
Respiratory bronchioles The respiratory membrane of the respiratory zone in the lungs is
where gas exchange between the air and blood takes place.

Alveolar Ducts Lungs

The lungs are the principal organs of respiration.
Conical in shape, with its base resting on the diaphragm and its
Alveoli / Alveolar Sacs apex extending to a point approximately 2.5 cm superior to the
clavicle
NOTE: Approximately 16 generations of branching occur from The right lung is larger than the left.
the trachea to the terminal bronchioles.
Approximately 7 generations of branching occur from the Hilum - region on the medial surface of the lung where
terminal bronchioles to the alveolar ducts. structures, such as the main bronchus, blood vessels, nerves, and
lymphatic vessels, enter or exit the lung.
As the bronchi get smaller, the cartilage becomes sparser, and Root of the lung - All the structures passing through the hilum
smooth muscle becomes more abundant. The terminal are referred to as such.
bronchioles have no cartilage.
The right lung has three lobes, and the left lung has two and
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- includes an indentation called the cardiac notch.
The lobes are separated by deep, prominent fissures on the
surface of the lung, and each lobe is supplied by a lobar
bronchus. The lobes are subdivided into bronchopulmonary
segments, which are supplied by the segmental bronchi. There
are 9 bronchopulmonary segments in the left lung and 10 in the
right lung. The bronchopulmonary segments are subdivided into
lobules by incomplete connective tissue walls. The lobules are
supplied by the bronchioles.

Lobes – separated by fissures – which are supplied by lobar bronchus

Bronchopulmonary segements – supplied by Segmental Bronchi

(9 bronchopulmonary segments in the left 10 in the right)

Lobules – supplied by bronchioles

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Muscle of Inspiration Muscle of Expiration

diaphragm, external internal intercostals and
intercostals, pectoralis minor, transverse thoracis, which are
and scalenes assisted by the abdominal
muscles

Diaphragm – dome-shaped
-The top of the dome is a flat sheet of connective tissue called the
central tendon.

Pleura
The mediastinum separates the pleural cavities
Parietal Pleura
Visceral Pleura – covers the surface of the lung

The pleural cavity is filled with pleural fluid, which is produced by the
pleural membranes and has 2 functions (pleural fluid)

1. It acts as a lubricant for the parietal and visceral pleural

membranes to slide past each other.
2. it helps hold the parietal and visceral pleural membranes
together