1. NOTES: Respiratory System (UNIT 7 part 2) – Breathing Mechanism

2. *Changes in the size of the thoracic cavity accompany INSPIRATION and EXPIRATION.
INSPIRATION = inhalation
 EXPIRATION = exhalation

3. Pressure… *ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE (760mm Hg)
(the “weight” of the air) is the
force that moves air into
the lungs.
*Air (gases) move from regions of
HIGH PRESSURE to regions of
LOW PRESSURE

4. INSPIRATION:
• If the pressure inside the lungs/alveoli decreases, atmospheric pressure will force air into the lungs

6. INSPIRATION: How does the pressure inside the lungs decrease???
> Diaphragm contracts (moves downward)
> Thoracic cage moves upward and outward (external intercostal muscles contract)

8. INSPIRATION:
 The INCREASE IN VOLUME of the thoracic cavity causes a DECREASE IN PRESSURE (758 mm Hg)

9. INSPIRATION:
• As the walls of the thoracic cavity expand, they pull on the parietal pleura
• The serous fluid in the pleural cavity holds the pleural membranes tightly together
(much like a wet microscope slide will stick to another microscope slide)
• As the parietal pleura is pulled outward, the visceral pleura follows…

11. INSPIRATION: • The lungs expand in all directions and air is
pulled inward!!
**For a deeper breath, the
diaphragm and intercostals
muscles contract with
more force

12. EXPIRATION:
• The forces for normal exhalation come from ELASTIC RECOIL of tissues
• The opposite pressure and volume changes occur…pressure inside the lungs increases and forces air out

13. EXPIRATION: How does the pressure inside the lungs increase???
> Diaphragm relaxes (moves upward)
> External intercostals muscles relax; thoracic cage moves downward and inward

14. EXPIRATION:
Lungs and thoracic cage recoil and return to their original shape
The DECREASE IN VOLUME of the thoracic cavity causes an INCREASE IN PRESSURE (763 mm Hg)
 Air is forced out!!

16. RESPIRATORY AIR VOLUMES AND CAPACITIES:
• One RESPIRATORY CYCLE = one inspiration followed by one expiration
• The amount of air that moves in (or out) during a single respiratory cycle is the TIDAL VOLUME
About 500 mL

17. RESPIRATORY AIR VOLUMES AND CAPACITIES:
• Even after forceful expiration, some air remains in the lungs (RESIDUAL VOLUME (1200 mL) …why?
-So that lungs don’t collapse! (alveoli always stay partially inflated)
-Prevents the O2 and CO2 levels from fluctuating greatly (“new” air always mixes with “old” air)

18. RESPIRATORY AIR VOLUMES AND CAPACITIES:
• The maximum amount of air a person can exhale after taking the deepest possible breath is the VITAL CAPACITY (4600 mL)

19. Vital capacity

20. TOTAL LUNG CAPACITY =
VITAL + RESIDUAL
CAPACITY VOLUME
**all of these volumes/capacities vary with age, sex, and body size (average is about 5800 mL)

21. How is Breathing Controlled & Gases Exchanged?
*Normal breathing is rhythmic and involuntary.

22. Respiratory Center:
● The respiratory center is in the brain stem (pons & medulla)

23. FACTORS AFFECTING BREATHING:
1) Respiratory center in the brain
2) Chemical concentrations
(gases, ions, pH, etc.)
3) Stretching of lung tissue
4) Emotional state

24. EXAMPLES:
*When chemoreceptors in the walls of certain large arteries detect low O2 levels (or high CO2 levels), breathing rate increases
*Fear and pain typically increase the normal breathing pattern

25. ALVEOLAR GAS EXCHANGES
*Gas exchange between air and blood occurs in the alveoli.
● ALVEOLI: tiny air sacs in the lungs clustered at the ends of alveolar ducts

26. ALVEOLAR GAS EXCHANGES
● Gases (O2 and CO2) diffuse from regions of HIGH concentration (and partial pressure) to regions of LOW concentration (partial pressure)
● OXYGEN diffuses from alveolar air space into blood
● CARBON DIOXIDE
diffuses from blood
into alveolar air space

27. Partial Pressure in Blood Action Partial Pressure in Alveolar Space
Gas
Partial Pressure in Blood
Action
Partial Pressure in Alveolar Space
Carbon Dioxide
45 mm Hg
exit                
40 mm Hg
Oxygen
               enter blood
104 mm Hg

29. GAS TRANSPORT IN THE BLOOD / BODY
*Blood transports gases between the lungs and body cells.

30. OXYGEN TRANSPORT:
● Oxygen binds to the protein hemoglobin in the blood (inside RBC’s)
● The resulting molecule, oxyhemoglobin, is unstable and readily releases oxygen in regions where oxygen concentration is low

32. OXYGEN TRANSPORT (continued)…
● More oxygen will be released from oxyhemoglobin when:
-CO2 levels in the blood increase which causes blood to become more acidic (lower pH)
-Blood temperature increases

34. CARBON DIOXIDE TRANSPORT:
● Carbon dioxide may be carried:
-in a solution:
**as a bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) … MOST CO2 is in this form!
-Bound to hemoglobin (different spot on molecule than where oxygen binds)