Douglas Todey

Functions

 The main function is to deliver oxygen to the blood  The four main functions can be described with the acronym VEEM  Ventilate the lungs  Extract oxygen from the air and transfer it to the bloodstream  Excrete carbon dioxide and water vapor from the lungs  Maintain the acid base consistency of the blood

Characteristics of Alveoli

    The primary gas exchange units of the lung The exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen happen in the alveoli Oxygen diffuses through the walls of the alveoli into the red blood cells. The oxygen is then carried by the blood to the body tissues.

Carbon dioxide produced by the body returns to the lung via the blood. It then diffuses across the capillary and alveolar walls into the air to be removed from the body

Characteristics of Alveoli

 Alveoli have a specialized structure that optimizes gas transfer  Extremely thin walls  A large surface area to volume ratio allowing for gases to flow across the membrane easily  They’re lined with fluid enabling gases to dissolve.

 Surrounded by numerous capillaries that carry oxygen into the blood and bring carbon dioxide back to be respirated out

Oxygen Transportation

 Oxygen combines with hemoglobin in red blood cells forming a compound called oxy-hemoglobin  When the oxy-hemoglobin hits the tissue, it breaks up releasing most of its oxygen  Approximately 3% of oxygen dissolves in the blood plasma and enters the tissue by diffusion

CO

2 

Transportation

Carbon dioxide is transported back to the alveoli by diffusing through the tissue fluids and then moving with the blood back to the lungs  Carbon dioxide is transported in three compounds:  Carbonic Acid – approximately 10% of dissolved CO 2 in the blood   Bicarbonates of Sodium and Potassium – approximately 80% of the dissolved CO 2 in plasma Carbominohemoglobin – approximately 10% of dissolved CO 2 in the blood

Oxygen: From Breath to Blood

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Oxygen enters the body through the mouth and nose The oxygen then passes through the trachea and the larynx Once in the chest cavity, the trachea splits into two bronchi Which then divides again into the bronchial tubes The bronchial tubes lead into the lungs where they divide into smaller and smaller tubes where they connect to the alveoli The alveoli then transfer the oxygen through their outer membrane and into the hemoglobin found in red blood cells

Ventilation System

Inhalation and Exhalation

   Inhalation is a result of two body processes 1.

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The intercostal (rib) muscles expand outward The diaphragm expands downward away from the lungs The result of both of these happening simultaneously creates a low pressure area in the chest cavity so air from the higher pressure outside the body rushes into the body.

  Exhalation is just the reverse process of inhalation The intercostal muscles contract and the diaphragm expands upward into the lungs This creates a higher pressure than outside the body, so the air in the lungs is forced out and you exhale

Asthma

 Approximately 10 million people, 10% of Americans, have asthma, which kills 4,000 people per year  Asthma is hypersensitivity of the respiratory system airways, and when triggered constricts the airways. This then constricts the airflow and causes trouble breathing.

 Signs of asthma include wheezing and shortness of breath  The two main treatments for asthma are bronchodialators that expand the bronchial tubes, and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the inflammation of the airways

Lung Cancer

 The National Cancer Institute estimates 226,160 new cases of lung cancer in 2012, which will kill 160,340 people  Lung cancer is cancer that forms in the tissue of the lung. The two types are Small Cell and Non-Small Cell.

 Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood  Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or any combination of the three

References

 http://www.ambulancetechnicianstudy.co.uk/respsyst em.html

 http://www.curoservice.com/parents_visitors/lungs_ci rculation/structure_alveoli.asp#  http://www.preservearticles.com/201102264268/transp ort-of-oxygen-and-carbon-dioxide-through-blood during-respiration.html

 http://www.nsbri.org/humanphysspace/focus2/respira tory.html

 http://respiratory-supplies.medical-supplies equipment-company.com/PPF/page_ID/62/article.asp

 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung