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Printable Version: Full Respiratory System Notes
Title: Respiratory System
Introduction
● Breathing is essential for life and ATP production.
● Oxygen is needed for ATP; carbon dioxide is a byproduct.
Functions of the Respiratory System
● Gas exchange (O2 in, CO2 out)
● Vocalization and speech
● Smell (olfaction)
● pH balance via CO2 removal
● Blood pressure regulation (angiotensin II)
● Flow of lymph and blood
● Filtration of small clots
● Assists in urination, defecation, childbirth (Valsalva)
Anatomy Overview
● Upper Tract: Nose to Larynx
● Lower Tract: Trachea to Lungs
Nose
● Warms, humidifies, cleans air
● Detects odors, amplifies voice
● Contains nasal conchae to increase air turbulence
Pharynx (Throat)
● Nasopharynx: air only
● Oropharynx & Laryngopharynx: air, food, drink
● Muscles aid swallowing and speech
Larynx (Voice Box)
● Prevents food from entering airway
● Produces sound
● Contains vocal cords and epiglottis
Trachea (Windpipe)
● Tube with C-shaped cartilage rings
● Mucociliary escalator clears debris
Bronchial Tree
● Trachea branches into right/left bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli
● Right bronchus is more vertical (easier for objects to enter)
Lungs
● Right lung: 3 lobes; Left lung: 2 lobes
● Contain ~150 million alveoli each
● Surrounded by pleura (visceral & parietal)
Alveoli
● Hyperventilation/Hypoventilation: excess/reduced ventilation
Alveolar Gas Exchange
● O2 diffuses into blood, CO2 diffuses out
● Dependent on partial pressure gradients and solubility (Henry's Law)
Condensed Version: Respiratory System Key Facts
● Main Job : Bring in O2, remove CO
● Organs : Nose → Pharynx → Larynx → Trachea → Bronchi → Lungs → Alveoli
● Lungs : Right (3 lobes), Left (2 lobes)
● Alveoli : Where gas exchange happens
● Breathing Types : Quiet, forced, labored, rapid, stopped
● Extra Functions : Smell, voice, blood pH and pressure control, abdominal pressure support
● Protection : Mucus, cilia, macrophages, pleura
● Control : Muscles + pressure differences + brain signals
