The Respiratory System

Balloon Lab Every person has a different lung capacity. Lung capacity, or how much air your lungs can take in and out, is determined by age, sex and health. Conditions like asthma and emphysema can decrease lung capacity. You can increase your lung capacity by getting plenty of aerobic exercise and eating healthy.

Balloon Lab Problem How much air can each student put in a balloon with one deep breath? Hypothesis Who in your class will have the highest lung capacity?

Functions The respiratory system moves oxygen from the outside environment into the body It also removes carbon dioxide and water from the body

Why do we Breathe? Respiration (break down of glucose for energy) requires oxygen as a reactant Respiration also produces water and carbon dioxide which can leave the body through the lungs

The Air You Breathe The air you breathe comes from the atmosphere –21% oxygen –78% nitrogen –1% other gases Your body does not use most of the air you inhale What you don’t need is exhaled

The Path of Air Air travels in and out of the organs of the respiratory systemAir travels in and out of the organs of the respiratory system –Nose –Pharynx –Trachea –Bronchi –Lungs BronchiolesBronchioles AveoliAveoli

The Path of Air As air moves through these organs, it is warmed, moistened, and bacteria and other small particles are removed

Nose and Nasal Cavity Air is warmed Air is filtered by the small hairs located in the nose Mucus also traps small particles, dust, and bacteria

The Pharynx The pharynx (throat) is a long hollow tube that connects the nose to the trachea

The Trachea The trachea, or windpipe, connects the pharynx to the bronchi lined with mucus and small hairs to help trap particles You can feel the ridges of the trachea by running your finger down your neck

Bronchi Passages that direct air into the lungs –Left bronchus goes to the left lung –Right bronchus goes into the right lung

The Lungs The main organs of the respiratory system that provide oxygen to the body The bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli are all inside the lungs

Bronchioles Smaller branches that come off of the bronchi

Alveoli Smallest structure in the lungs Where gas exchange takes place between the lungs and the blood Looks like a cluster of grapes 300 million alveoli in the lungs

Alveoli Just like the villi in the small intestine, the alveoli increase surface area in the lungs villi

Gas Exchange After air enters the alveoli, oxygen passes through the wall of the alveoli, into the capillary that surrounds it, then into the artery headed to the heart At the same time, carbon dioxide and water pass from the vein into the capillary, then into the alveoli where they are exhaled

How You Breathe You breathe on average 20,000 times a day Breathing speeds up when you exercise Breathing slows down when you are asleep Both involuntary and voluntary muscles and nervous system helps you breathe

Speaking Inside your trachea are vocal cords Vocal cords stretch across the opening Your vocal cords work like the neck of a balloon when it is stretched Air passes over the vocal cords, making them vibrate which produces sound –Low – vocal cords contract & shorten –High – vocal cords relax & lengthen

Body systems that work with the respiratory system; Depends on the muscular system (diaphragm) to pull air in, the nervous systems to trigger breathing, the circulatory system to get the oxygen around the vody and the digestive system to supply energy