Unit 4 Human Respiratory System

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Breathing starts at the nose and mouth. You inhale air into your nose or mouth, and it travels down the
back of your throat and into your windpipe, or trachea. Your trachea then divides into air passages
called bronchial tubes or bronchi.

For your lungs to perform their best, these airways need to be open during inhalation and exhalation
and free from inflammation or swelling and excess or abnormal amounts of mucus.

As the bronchial tubes pass through lungs, they branch off into smaller air passages called
bronchioles. The bronchioles end in tiny balloon-like air sacs called alveoli. Your body has over 300
million alveoli.

The alveoli, the walls of which are lined with simple squamous epithelial cells, are surrounded by many
tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Oxygen from the inhaled air passes through the alveoli walls and
into the blood.

After absorbing oxygen, the blood leaves the lungs and is carried to your heart. Your heart then pumps it
through your body to provide oxygen to the cells of your tissues and organs.

As the cells use the oxygen, carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed into the blood.

Your blood then carries the carbon dioxide back to your lungs through the capillaries, where it is
removed from the body when you exhale.

Lungs

The lungs, which are elastic and spongy, are the main organs of the respirator!' system. Humans have
two lungs, a right lung and a left lung. The right lung consists of three lobes while the left lung is slightly
smaller consisting of only two lobes. The two lungs are separated by a structure called the mediastinum,
which contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, and blood vessels. Both right and left lungs are covered
by an external membrane called the pleura. The outer layer of the pleura lorms the lining of the chest
cavity. In the lungs, oxygen is taken into the body and carbon dioxide is breathed out.

The Diaphragm's Role in Breathing

Inhalation and exhalation are the processes by which the body brings in oxygen and expels carbon
dioxide. The breathing process is aided by a large dome-shaped muscle under the lungs called the
diaphragm. When you breathe in, the diaphragm contracts downward, creating a vacuum that causes a
rush of fresh air into the lungs.

The opposite occurs with exhalation, where the diaphragm relaxes upwards, pushing on the lungs,
allowing them to deflate.

Clearing the Air

The respiratory system has built-in methods to prevent harmful substances in the air from entering the
lungs. Small hairs in your nose, called cilia, help filter out large particles. Mucus produced by cells in the
trachea and bronchial tubes keeps air passages moist and aids in stopping dust, bacteria and viruses,
allergy-causing substances, and other substances from entering the lungs. Impurities that do reach the
deeper parts of the lungs can be moved up via mucus and coughed out or swallowed.

+ VOCABULARY

Study the following word groups.

Branch (v & n)

This company has a lot of branches all over the world.

The tree in front of my house has got a lot of branches.

The road brunches here.

The branches of the bronchi eventually narrow down to tubes of less than 1.02 mm in diameter
called bronchioles.

Many small bronchioles branch off from the tertiary bronchi.

Line (v), lining (n), lined with –

A mucous membrane coven the inside of the stomach. A mucous membrane lines the stomach.
The stomach is lined with a mucous membrane.

To protect the stomach lining from the acid, a third type of cell secretes mucus that lines the
stomach cavity.

The inner surface of the thoracic cavity and the outer surface of the lungs are lined with pleural
membranes which adhere to each other.

The alveoli, the walls of which are lined with simple squamous epithelial cells, arc surrounded
by many tiny blood vessels called capillaries.

Verbs: Exhale = expire = breathe out; inhale = inspire = breathe in; breathe

Nouns: Exhalation, expiration, inhalation, inspiration, breath

During inspiration (inhalation), the external intercostal muscles contract, filling the ribs up and
out and the diaphragm contracts, drawing it down.

During expiration (exhalation), these processes are reversed and the natural elasticity of the
lungs returns them to their normal volume.

A newborn baby has a rate of about 40 breaths per minute.

A rat breathes about 60 times per minutes, while a horse breathes only about 12 times per
minute.

Elastic (adj), elasticity (n)

Some tissues can be stretched and then will return to their original shape. They are elastic.

Lung is either of a pair of elastic, spongy organs used in breathing and respiration.
 If a person becomes dehydrated, his or her skin will lose its stretchiness and elasticity.

Elastic tissue is strong extensible flexible connective tissue rich in yellow elastic fibers. Elastic
tissue is found in the dermis of the skin, in arterial walls and in the walls of the alveoli of the
lungs.

Divide (v), division (n)

Your trachea then divides into air passages called bronchial tubes or bronchi. In other words,
bronchi are the two divisions of your trachea.

The left lung is divided into two sections, or lobes: the superior and the inferior.

The autonomic nervous system consists of two divisions, more or less antagonistic in function:
the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

These two divisions control the functions of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and
urogenital systems.

Contract (v), contraction (n), relax (v), relaxation (n)

Muscular tissues, which contract and relax, comprise the striated, smooth, and cardiac muscles.

Return of venous blood to the right atrium takes place during the entire heart cycle of
contraction and relaxation, and to the right ventricle only during the relaxation part of the
cycle, called diastole.

If you contract the flu, you will become ill with it.

You should relax after a hard-working day.

After a hard day you should have more rest and relaxation.

Remove (v), removal (n)

Inspiration is the taking of oxygen into the blood while expiration is the removal of carbon
dioxide from the blood and expelling it into the air.

During expiration, carbon dioxide is removed from the blood and expelled into the air.

PRACTICE: Complete the gaps with the words just studied above.

1. Both right and left lungs are covered by an external membrane called the pleura.

The outer layer of the pleura forms the of the chest.

2. The two of the trachea, called bronchi, subdivide within the lobes into smaller and
smaller air vessels.

3. In , air is moved into the lungs. In , air is forced out of the lungs.

4. In respiration, body cells use oxygen to create energy, forming carbon dioxide as a waste product
that is
5. The walls of veins consist of three layers, but these are much thinner and less than those of
arteries.

6. Another kind of epithelial tissue is simple columnar epithelium, which the digestive system
from the stomach to the anus.

7. Respiration is into two distinc phases: external respiration and internal, or cellular,
respiration.

8. tissue, found in ligaments, the trachea, and the arterial walls, stretches and
again with each pulse beat.

9. When the right atrium , it forces the blood through an opening into the right
ventricle. of this ventricle drives the blood to the lungs.

10. We need to get oxygen from the air into the blood, and we need to carbon dioxide from the
blood into the air. Moving gases like this is called gas exchange.

READING COMPREHENSION

A. Read the text again and say if the following statements are true or false.

1. The respiratory system consists of the nose, the mouth, the esophagus, the trachea, the bronchi
and the lungs.

2. Bronchioles are the branches of the bronchi.

3. The alveoli are surrounded by many tiny blood vessels called coronary arteries.

4. The right lung is slightly bigger than the left lung.

5. The membranes that line the inner surface of the thoracic cavity and the outer surface of the lungs
are very different.

6. When the diaphragm contracts, the lungs expand. When the diaphragm relaxes, the lungs contract.

7. Just inside your nose are tiny hairs called cilia which help filter out large particles.

8. Foreign materials such as dust, bacteria, allergy-causing substances, etc. are prevented from
entering the lungs with the help of mucus produced by cells in the trachea and bronchial tubes.

B. CLOZE TEST: Choose the best word for each gap.

A. splits B. inhale C. supply D. opposite E. larynx F. muscles G. diaphragm H. where I. exhale J.

The primary function of the respiratory system is to (1) the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to
deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. When we
breathe, we (2) oxygen and (3) carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's
means of getting oxygen to the blood.
Respiration is achieved through the mouth, nose, trachea, lungs, and (4). Oxygen enters the respiratory
system through the mouth and the nose. The oxygen then passes through the (5) (where speech sounds
are produced) and the trachea, which is a tube that enters the chest cavity. In the chest cavity, the
trachea (6) into two smaller tubes called the bronchi. Each bronchus then divides again forming the
bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes lead directly into the lungs, (7) they divide into many smaller tubes
which connect to tiny sacs called alveoli. The average adult's lungs contain about 600 million of these
spongy, air-filled sacs that are surrounded by (8). Inhaled oxygen is able to diffuse into the capillaries
from the alveoli, while carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses in the (9) direction into the alveoli.
The carbon dioxide follows the same path out of the lungs when you exhale.

The diaphragm's job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the lungs and pull the oxygen into the
lungs. The diaphragm is a sheet of (10) that lies across the bottom of the chest cavity. As the
diaphragm contracts and relaxes, breathing takes place.

When the diaphragm contracts, oxygen is pulled into the lungs. When the diaphragm relaxes, carbon
dioxide is pumped out of the lungs.

•:* STRUCTURE THE PASSIVE VOICE: S + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE

Study the following table:

Present simple passive S + am/are/is + past participle

Present continuous passive S + am/are/is + being + past participle

Present perfect passive S + have/has been + past participle

Past simple passive S + was/were + past participle

Past continuous passive S + was/were + being + past participle

Past perfect passive S + had been + past participle

Future simple passive S + will be + past participle

Passives with modals S + can/must/should...be+ past participle

Look at the following examples from the text.

When the diaphragm contracts, oxygen is pulled into the lungs. When the diaphragm relaxes,
carbon dioxide is pumped out of the lungs.

In the lungs, oxygen is taken into the body and carbon dioxide is breathed out.

As the cells use the oxygen, carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed into the blood.

Read the following examples and see how to change active sentences into passive.

1. Active: The pancreas makes insulin.

Passive: Insulin is made by the pancreas.

2. Active: Dr. Smith treated that patient.

3. Active: Losing a lot of blood can cause shock.

Passive: Shock can be caused by losing a lot of blood.

4. Active: People say that he contracts tuberculosis.

Passive: It is said that he contracts tuberculosis / He is said to contract tuberculosis.

5. Active: People say that he died of lung cancer.

Passive: It is said that he died of lung cancer. / He is said to have died of lung cancer.

PRACTICE 1: Put the verbs in the brackets in the correct form (active of passive) and in the correct tense.

1. The patient who (treat) for diabetes by Dr. Nam was very young.

2. A general doctor is a medical doctor who (treat) many different problems.

3. The medication which (prescribe) by my doctor was effective.

4. The medication which my doctor (prescribe) was effective.

5. In June 2009, the World Health Organization (declare) a worldwide swine flu pandemic.

6. Mammograms (use) to help find breast cancer early.

7. Hepatitis C (transmit) primarily by direct blood contact.

8. Autoimmune hepatitis is a condition in which the liver (attack) by the body's immune system.

9. Carriers of the hepatitis virus can (infect) others, even though they feel perfectly well.

10. Two valves called semi-lunar valves (find) in the pulmonary artery and aorta.

PRACTICE 2: Change these sentences intopassive structures.

1. Many tiny blood vessels surround each alveolus.

- Each alveolus ...

2. The beta cells of the pancreas secrete insulin.

- Insulin ................................................

3. Doctors may prescribe antiviral drugs to treat people who become very sick with the flu.

- Antiviral drugs ................................

4. The WHO declared a worldw swin flu pandemic in June 2009.

- worldwide swine flu pandemic……………..

5. A virus called HIV causes AIDS.

6. Scientists have discovered many new antibiotics since the last century.

- Many new antibiotics ..............................................................

7. When did Sir Alexander Fleming discover penicillin?

- When ......

8. Doctor Smith will operate on that patient tomorrow.

- That patient

9. Dr. Nam is treating my father at the moment.

- My father

10. The nervous system controls all life activities.

- All life activities

11. People think that the accident happened because of the bad weather last night.

- The accident ……….. because of the bad weather last night.

12. It is said that he is infected with HIV.

- He ………………… with HIV.

•:* FURTHER READING

Lung Volume

The total air volume of the lungs is about 4 to 6 liters and varies with a person's size, age, gender, and
respiratory health. Lung volumes are measured clinically by a device known as a spirometer. Normal
shallow breathing only moves a small fraction of the lungs' total volume into and out of the body with
each breath. This volume of air, known as tidal volume, usually measures only around 0.5 liters. Deep
breathing can force more air into and out of the lungs than during shallow breathing. The volume of air
exchanged during deep breathing is known as vital capacity and ranges between 3 to 5 liters, depending
on the lung capacity of the individual. There is a residual volume of around 1 liter of air that remains in
the lungs at all times, even during a deep exhalation. Fresh air entering the lungs with each breath mixes
with the residual air in the lungs so that the residual air is slowly exchanged over time even at rest.

Control of Breathing

Breathing is controlled by the brain and may be controlled both consciously and unconsciously.

- Unconscious control of breathing is maintained by the respiratory center of the brainstem. The
respiratory center monitors the concentration of gases in the blood and adjusts the rate and depth of
breathing as needed. During exercise or other exertion, the respiratory center automatically increases
the breathing rate to provide constant levels of oxygen to the blood. During rest, the respiratory center
reduces the breathing rate to prevent hyperventilation and maintain healthy oxygen and carbon dioxide
levels in the blood.

- Conscious control of breathing is maintained by the cerebral cortex of the brain. The cerebral cortex
may override the respiratory center and often does so during activities such as speaking, laughing, and
singing. Unconscious control of breathing resumes as soon as conscious control of breathing ends,
preventing the body from suffocating from lack of breathing.