Functions and organization of the respiratory

Respiratory
systemPhysiology

Dr. Aida Korish

Associate Prof. Physiology
KSU
Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])
 Learning Objectives
• By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:-
1-Discuss the functions of the respiratory system, including non-
respiratory functions, like the metabolic function, the protective
functions, the production of surfactant and its physiological
significance.
2- Describe the structures and functions of the conductive and
respiratory zones of airways.
3-Distinguish the difference between internal and external
respiration.
4- Identify the cells lining the alveoli and discuss their functions
and the concept of surface tension.
5- Identify the innervation of the respiratory passages and the
determinants of airway resistance. Dr.Aida Korish
( [email protected])
 Functions of the respiratory system include
▪ Respiratory function: The main
function is to provide O2 to the tissues and
remove CO2 through Gas exchange.
▪ Non respiratory functions:
1- Olfaction: sense of small by the receptors in
roof of nose.
2- Phonation: is the production of sounds by the
movement of air through the vocal cords.
3- Pulmonary defense: The respiratory mucus
membrane has muco-cilliary barrier filter, and
it secretes:
✓Immunoglobulin A (Ig A)
✓Alpha-1 antitrypsin.

Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])

 Cont.. non respiratory functions of lung

✓ The pulmonary macrophages in the alveoli: engulf smaller foreign

particles which pass through the mucocilliary barrier filter.
✓ Cough reflex: initiated by slight foreign bodies irritation of bronchi and
trachea.

✓ Sneezing reflex: like the cough reflex, it applies to the nasal passageways
instead of the lower respiratory passages.

4- Activation of Angiotensin I to angiotensin II with the help

of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) formed by the lungs.

5- Regulating the acid-base status of the body by washing out extra carbon
dioxide from the blood.
6- Secretion of important substances like surfactant.
Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])
 Organization of the respiratory system

Respiratory system consists of:

• Respiratory Passages (airways)
• Respiratory Muscles
• Respiratory Control Centers

Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])

 II- Respiratory Zone
I- Conductive Zone (Respiratory unit)

▪ Starts from trachea to the ▪ Includes: Respiratory

end of terminal bronchioles. bronchioles, alveolar ducts,
▪ Help warming, alveolar sacs, alveoli
humidification, filtration of ▪ Function in gas exchange.
inspired air.
▪ Contains the olfactory
receptors for smell sensation.
▪ Conducts the sound during
speech.
▪ Protective function by cough
and sneezing reflexes.

Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])

 External and Internal Respiration
External respiration:

The absorption of O2 and removal of CO2 from the

body as a whole. 4 major functional events occur
during it:

(1) Pulmonary ventilation.

(2) Diffusion of (O2) and(CO2) between the alveoli

and the blood.

(3) Transport of Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the

blood and body fluids to and from the body’s tissue
cells.

(4) Control of breathing.

Internal Respiration:

The utilization of O2 and production of CO2 by the

cells. (Cellular respiration)
 External Respiration
4 major functional events occur during it:
(1) Pulmonary ventilation.
(2) Diffusion of (O2) and(CO2) between the alveoli and
the blood.
(3) Transport of Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
blood and body fluids to and from the body’s tissue
cells.
(4) Control of breathing.
Respiration (breathing) could be described as either:
Resting breathing: normal breathing during resting
conditions.
Forced (maximal) breathing: It occur during exercise
and in patients with bronchial asthma, allergy, other
pulmonary diseases.
 Lining cells of the alveoli
1- Type I alveolar epithelial cells
( type I pneumocytes)
*Participate in the respiratory
membrane, across which gas
exchange takes place.
2- Type II alveolar epithelial
cells (type II pneumocytes)
(10% of the surface area of alveoli)
*Secrete surfactant.
3- Alveolar macrophages
*Engulf the foreign bodies
that reach the alveoli.
 Surface Tension
H2O molecules at the surface of alveoli
are attracted to each other by attractive
forces that resist distension called
surface tension.
•Surface tension tends to oppose
alveolar expansion.
•Pulmonary surfactant reduces the
surface tension of the fluid lining the
alveoli.
• Collapsing Pressure is caused by
Surface tension of the fluid lining the
alveoli and is indirectly related to the
size of alveoli (law of LaPlace) .

Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])

 Surfactant
• Surfactant is a complex compound containing
phospholipids especially. dipalmitoylphosphatidyl
choline and a number of Apo proteins.
• The earliest detection of surfactant in fetal alveoli
begins between 6-7th month (24-28 Wk) but could be
delayed in others to wk 35 of intrauterine life.
• Functions of surfactant:
o Reduces surface tension throughout the lung,
o Reduces the effort (work of breathing) required by the
respiratory muscles to expand the lungs
o Prevents alveolar collapse,
o Decreases airway resistance and keeps alveoli dry.
 Surfactant deficiency
• Deficiency in premature babies causes
respiratory distress syndrome of the new
born (RDS) (hyaline membrane disease).
• Prevention: Corticosteroid injection to
mothers expected to deliver prematurely.
This will enhance surfactant maturation.
• After delivery they are given inhaled
surfactant.
• Smoking in adults, hypoxia or hypoxemia,
decrease the secretion of surfactant and cause
adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])

 Innervations of lungs and bronchi
• Is by autonomic nerves.
• Sympathetic stimulation releases epinephrine (adrenaline) causes
dilatation of the bronchi.
• Parasympathetic stimulation releases acetyl choline causes
constriction of the bronchi.
• Parasympathetic nerves are also activated by irritation of the
epithelial membrane of the respiratory passageways by noxious
gases, dust, cigarette smoke, or bronchial infection. Also, a
bronchiolar constrictor reflex often occurs when micro emboli
occlude small pulmonary arteries.
• Local Secretory Factors e.g : histamine, slow reacting substances of
anaphylaxis (SRSA) secreted by the mast cells due to allergy (as in
patients with asthma) often cause bronchiolar constriction and
increased airway resistance leading to forced breathing.

Dr.Aida Korish ( [email protected])

 Resistance to Airflow in the Bronchial Tree
➢ The greatest amount of resistance to airflow
occurs in some of the large bronchi and
bronchioles near the trachea.
The reason for this high resistance is that there
are relatively few of these large bronchi in
comparison with the approximately 65,000
parallel terminal bronchioles,
➢ In some disease conditions, the smaller
bronchioles play a far greater role in
determining airflow resistance because of their
small size and because they are easily occluded
by :
(1) Muscle contraction in their walls,
(2) Edema occurring in the walls, or
(3) Mucus collecting in the lumens of the
bronchioles.
Airway resistance decreases as lung volume increases