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Respiratory System

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  • Introduction

    Oxygen is needed by aerobic organisms because it is the final electron acceptor during cellular respiration. The diagram below shows that Cellular respiration is a process in which electrons are removed from glucose in a series of steps. The electrons are carried by NADH and FADH2 to the electron transport system. The electron transport system uses the energy in the electrons to synthesize ATP. The remaining carbon atoms in the glucose molecule are released as CO2, a waste product. The equation for the complete breakdown of glucose by aerobic eukaryotes is:

    \[\mathrm{C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + 36\: ATP}\]


    78% N2, 21% O2, 1% argon, noble gases, CO2

    Some Properties of Gases

    Diffusion refers to movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

    Partial pressure is the pressure exerted by one gas in a mixture.

    • Total atmospheric pressure at sea level = 760 mm Hg.
    • Partial pressure O2 = 760 × .21 = 160 mm Hg.

    Gasses move by diffusion from areas of higher partial pressure to areas of lower partial pressure.

    Respiratory Surfaces

    All animals need to take in O2 and eliminate CO2. Lungs are membranous structures designed for gas exchange in a terrestrial environment. Gills are designed for gas exchange in an aquatic environment.

    Oxygen must be dissolved in water before animals can take it up. Therefore, the respiratory surfaces of animals (gills, lungs, etc.) must always be moist. This is true of all animals.

    Very small organisms don't need respiratory surfaces because they have a high surface:volume ratio.


    The skin can be used as a respiratory surface but it does not have much surface area compared to lungs or gills. Animals that rely on their skin as a respiratory organ are small and either have low metabolic rates or they also have lungs or gills.

    Like all respiratory surfaces, the skin must remain moist to function in gas exchange.

    Amphibians, most annelids, some mollusks, and some arthropods use their skin as a respiratory organ.


    Gills provide a large surface area for gas exchange in aquatic organisms.

    It is difficult to circulate water past gills because water is dense and the O2 concentration in water is low. There is 5% as much oxygen in water as there is in air. To circulate water past the gills, amphibian larvae physically move their gills, mollusks pump water into mantle cavity which contains the gills, and some crustacean gills are attached to branches of the walking legs.

    The flow of blood in the gills of fish is in the opposite direction that water passes over the gills. This arrangement (called countercurrent flow) enables fish to extract more oxygen from the water than if blood moved in the same direction as the passing water.

    Gills cannot be used in air because they lack structural support; they would collapse. Their use in air would also result in too much water loss by evaporation.

    Tracheal System

    Insects, centipedes, and some mites and spiders have a tracheal respiratory system.

    Tracheae are a network of tubules that bring oxygen directly to the tissues and allow carbon dioxide to escape. The openings to the outside, called spiracles, are located on the side of the abdomen.

    Trachea and lungs are internal to reduce water loss.

    Vertebrate Lungs

    Simple lungs evolved 450 million years ago in fish.

    • Some evolved into swim bladders.
    • Others evolved into more complex lungs.

    Paired lungs are the respiratory surfaces in all reptiles, birds, and mammals.


    lung is a simple convoluted sac

    have small lungs but obtain much O2 by diffusion across moist skin

    ventilate lungs by positive pressure; (reptiles, birds and mammals use negative pressure)


    The skin is watertight; it is not used as a respiratory surface.

    The lungs possess alveoli.

    All diffusion occurs across the alveolar surface.

    Birds and Mammals

    The lungs of birds and mammals are more branched with smaller, more numerous alveoli.


    Birds have one-way flow of air in their lungs. As a result, the lungs receive fresh air during inhalation and again during exhalation.

    advantages of one-way flow:

    • no residual volume; all old (stale) air leaves with each breath
    • crosscurrent flow (crosscurrent = 90 degrees ; countercurrent = 180 degrees; crosscurrent is not as efficient but is still more efficient than mammalian lung)

    One-way flow is accomplished by the use of air sacs as illustrated below. During inspiration, the air sacs fill. During expiration, they empty.

    Human Respiratory System

    Surface area of human lung is 60 to 80 sq. meters


    pharynx \(\rightarrow\) epiglottis (open space is the glottis) \(\rightarrow\) larynx with vocal cords \(\rightarrow\) trachea \(\rightarrow\) bronchi \(\rightarrow\) bronchioles \(\rightarrow\) alveoli

    Nasal Cavities

    hair and cilia filter dust and particles.

    Blood vessels warm air and mucus moistens air.


    To inhale, the diaphragm contracts and flattens.

    Muscles move the rib cage which also contributes to expanding the chest cavity.

    To exhale, the muscles relax and elastic lung tissue recoils.

    The Heimlich Maneuver

    Choking results when food enters the trachea instead of the esophagus.

    The Heimlich maneuver can force air out of the lungs to dislodge the obstruction.

    Respiratory pigments


    Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen and is found in the blood of most animals.

    It is synthesized by and is contained within erythrocytes (red blood cells).

    Oxygen is bound reversibly to the iron portion.

    Hemoglobin increases the oxygen-carry capacity of the blood by 70 times. 95% of the oxygen is transported by hemoglobin, 5% in blood plasma.

    The bright red color occurs when it is bound with oxygen.


    Hemocyanin is a carrier protein found in many invertebrates

    It uses copper instead of iron.

    It does not occur within blood cells; it exists free in the blood. (Their blood is called hemolymph.)

    It is bright blue when bound with oxygen.

    Gas Exchange and Transport

    Gas Exchange in humans occurs in alveoli. Gasses must diffuse across the alveolar wall, a thin film of interstitial fluid, and the capillary wall.

    Partial pressures









    The partial pressure of CO2 is higher in the tissues because respiring tissues produce CO2 as a result of the breakdown of glucose (C6H12O6) during cellular respiration.

    Oxygen Transport

    \[\mathrm{1\: hemoglobin\: molecule + 4\: oxygen\: molecules \rightarrow oxyhemoglobin}\]

    The amount of oxygen that combines depends upon the partial pressure. More oxygen is loaded at higher partial pressures of oxygen.

    Hemoglobin does not necessarily release (unload) all of its oxygen as it passes through the body tissues. Oxyhemoglobin releases its oxygen when:

    • the partial pressure of O2 is low.
    • the partial pressure of CO2 is high. High CO2 causes the shape of the hemoglobin molecule to change and this augments the unloading of oxygen.
    • the temperature is high.
    • the pH is low (high acidity).

    Active tissues need more oxygen and all of the conditions listed above are characteristic of actively metabolizing tissues. Therefore, these tissues receive more oxygen from hemoglobin than less active tissues.

    CO (carbon monoxide) binds to hemoglobin 200 times faster than O2 and does not readily dissociate from the hemoglobin. Small amounts of CO can cause respiratory failure.

    Carbon Dioxide Transport

    Carbon dioxide is transported to the lungs by one of the following ways:

    • dissolved CO2
    • bound to hemoglobin (HbCO2)
    • HCO3- (bicarbonate ions).

    Most CO2 enters red blood cells where bicarbonate ions are produced.

    \[\mathrm{CO_2 + H_2O \leftrightarrow \underset{\large{carbonic\:acid}}{H_2CO_3} \leftrightarrow \underset{\large{bicarbonate\:ion}}{\sideset{ }{_{3}^{-}}{HCO}} + H^+}\]

    The hemoglobin picks up the H+, preventing the blood from becoming acidic. Most of the bicarbonate ions move into the plasma in exchange for chloride ions.

    In the lungs, the partial pressure of CO2 is low, so the equation above moves toward the left. Bicarbonate ions enter red blood cells, hemoglobin releases its hydrogen ions, and CO2 is released.

    The equation above moves toward the right when the partial pressure of CO2 is high. When the partial pressure of CO2 is low, it moves to the left and CO2 comes out of solution.

    In the active tissues, the CO2 partial pressure is high, so CO2 becomes dissolved in water, forming H2CO3, which then forms HCO3- and H+. In the lungs, the partial pressure of CO2 is low because the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is low. As blood passes through the lungs, HCO3- + H+ form H2CO3 which then forms CO2 + H2O.

    Carbonic anhydrase (in red blood cells) speeds up this reaction 150 times.

    Control of breathing rate

    Eliminating CO2 is usually a bigger problem for terrestrial vertebrates than obtaining O2. The body is therefore more sensitive to high CO2 concentration than low O2 concentration.

    Aquatic vertebrates are more sensitive to low O2 because O2 is more limited in aquatic environments.

    Neural Control Mechanisms in terrestrial vertebrates

    During inhalation, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles are stimulated. Other neurons inhibit these when exhaling.

    Respiration is not under voluntary control.

    Monitoring H+ and CO2

    Chemoreceptors in the respiratory control center of the brain (medulla oblongata) detect changes in CO2 by monitoring pH of cerebrospinal fluid. High CO2 lowers the pH (an acid is a solution with a high H+ concentration).

    \[\mathrm{CO_2 + H_2O \rightarrow H_2CO_3 \rightarrow \sideset{ }{_{3}^{-}}{HCO} +\: H^+}\]

    Chemoreceptors in the aorta and carotid artery are also sensitive to pH and to greatly reduced amounts of O2.

    Bronchiole diameter

    The primary bronchus branches extensively into bronchioles. Terminal bronchioles are surrounded by smooth muscle.

    The diameter of the bronchioles (and blood vessels) increases or decreases in response to needs. It is adjusted by smooth muscle under the control of the nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system (discussed in the chapter on nervous systems) stimulates these muscles to contract, reducing the diameter of the airways. This is advantageous when the body is relaxing and breathing is shallow. Narrow bronchioles result in less air remaining within the lungs after each exhalation.

    The sympathetic nervous system relaxes these muscles as a response to stressful situations. This allows a more rapid rate of intake and expulsion of air.

    Allergens trigger histamine release which constricts muscles.

    • Narrower bronchioles result in decreased ventilation of the lungs.
    • Severe attacks may be life-threatening.

    Defense Mechanisms in the Respiratory Tract

    Large particles are filtered out by the nose.

    Small particles become trapped in mucous and are moved upward, out of the respiratory tract by cilia lining the bronchi and bronchioles.


    Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways that causes mucous to accumulate. The normal cleansing activity of cilia is reduced and not sufficient to remove the mucous. Coughing attempts to clear the mucus.

    Smoking and other irritants increase mucus secretion and diminish cilia function.


    Emphysema occurs when the alveolar walls lose their elasticity. Damage to the walls also reduces the amount of surface available for gas exchange.

    Emphysema is associated with environmental conditions, diet, infections, and genetics. It can result from chronic bronchitis when the airways become clogged with mucous and air becomes trapped within the alveoli.

    Effects of Cigarette Smoke

    Cigarette smoke prevents the cilia from beating and stimulates mucus secretion.

    Coughing is necessary to expel excess mucous but it contributes to bronchitis and emphysema.

    Cigarette smoke also kills phagocytic cells in respiratory epithelium. These cells normally help rid the lungs of foreign particles and bacteria.

    Cigarette smoke contains compounds that are modified in the body to form carcinogens.

    Smoking causes 80% of lung cancer deaths.