RESPIRATION AND THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

1. Respiration is the process by which the human body takes in oxygen, oxidizes food to unlock its stored energy, and releases carbon dioxide and water vapor. 2. The organs responsible for taking in oxygen and utilizing it to burn food in order to produce energy make up the respiratory systemthe energy department of the human body. 3. Organs of the respiratory system. a. Nose and nasal cavities. b. Nostrils. These are the two openings of the nose. Air enters the nose through the nostrils. Hairs in the nostrils and the mucous lining of the nasal cavities filter the dust and other foreign bodies from the air. c. Nasal septum. This is a thin sheet of cartilage and soft bone that separates the nostrils. d. Pharynx. This cavity lies at the back of the nose above the roof of the mouth. e. Larynx. It is sometimes called the voice box because of the vocal chords stretched across it. It is more prominent in men than in women, which is why it is also referred to as Adams apple. f. Glottis. It is an opening of the trachea. It is always open except when swallowing. g. Epiglottis. It is a leaf-like lid that partially covers the opening of the larynx. It closes the glottis when swallowing. If the epiglottis fails to close the glottis when food is swallowed, food particles may accidentally enter the air tube. When a situation such as this happens, the body reacts by coughing in order to expel the food out of the air tube. h. Trachea and wind pipe. This is a tube of about 12 cm length and 3 cm diameter. It is kept open by incomplete rings of cartilage, which widen automatically when we inhale more air. i. Bronchi (singular, bronchus). These are two branches of the trachea that extend to the lungs. j. Lungs. These are large spongy sacs that fill the chest cavity. They contain a network of bronchioles, alveoli, and capillaries. 4. Parts of the lungs. a. Bronchioles are the countless branches of the bronchi that lead to the air sacs. b. Alveoli are the air sacs. These are lined with a film of fat and protein that prevents the sacs from collapsing. c. Capillaries are the blood vessels where the blood takes up a new supply of oxygen and deposits the excess carbon dioxide and water vapor. d. Pleura are the delicate membranes covering the lungs and extending around the chest cavity, thus forming two layers of protective coverings for the lungs. Small amounts of lymph between two layers keep them from rubbing each other.

MECHANICS OF BREATHING

1. Breathing refers to the mechanical process of inhaling and exhaling air. It is accomplished by changing the size of the chest cavity by contracting and relaxing the diaphragm and the chest muscles. 2. When we inhale, the diaphragm stretches down and the chest muscles raise the ribs and breastbone. The chest cavity expands forming a lesser pressure inside the cavity. Air is pushed through the nose or mouth into the lungs. 3. When we exhale, the diaphragm moves up again, and the ribs drop to their normal position, thus increasing the pressure against the lungs. Air is then expelled through the nose or mouth. 4. When air is inhaled into the lungs, the oxygen diffuses through the capillaries into the bloodstream. The hemoglobin combines with oxygen producing oxyhemoglobin. As the oxygenated blood passes the cells where the concentration of oxygen is low, the unstable oxyhemoglobin releases its oxygen, which then diffuses through the capillaries into the cell. 5. In the cell, a series of chemical reactions, called metabolism, takes place. The oxygen burns the digested food to unlock its stored energy in the form of ATP and release waste. This is known as catabolism. The metabolic wastes, carbon dioxide and water vapor, diffuse through the cell into the bloodstream and are carried to the lungs where they are expelled through exhalation.

COMMON RESPIRATORY AILMENTS

1. The rate of breathing is controlled by specialized cells at the medulla of the brain, called the breathing center, which serves to monitor the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood. When these cells sense too much carbon dioxide in the blood, they activate the nerves that speed up the actions of the diaphragm and the rib muscles.

2. Yawning is an adaptation of the human body when it is tired. A tired body slows down. It does not readily get rid of the metabolic wastes. Thus, too much carbon dioxide remains in the blood, which in turn activates the breathing center. 3. Hiccups happen when the message going to the breathing center gets mixed up with other messages, particularly those that activate the epiglottis. It may happen that while the breathing center activates the diaphragm to inhale air, the epiglottis at this point gets the wrong signal and close the wind pipe. As a result, the diaphragm jerks violently and intermittently. 4. Common Respiratory Ailments. a. Common Cold Cause: viral or bacterial infection of the mucous membrane. Symptom: fever, headache, congested nose, running nose. Treatment/prevention: complete bed rest, drink plenty of water or juice, hot compress on chest or face. b. Bronchitis Cause: inflammation of the bronchial tubes due to virus/bacteria. Symptoms: chilling, headache, fever, muscular/back pain, deep cough, dry/itchy/hoarse throat. Treatment: complete bed rest, steam breathing, hot foot bath, keep the body warm, drink plenty of fruit juices, and avoid fatty foods, sweets and starch. c. Pneumonia. Cause: inflammation of the lungs due to bacteria. Symptoms: chilling, high fever, chest, back and abdominal pains, cough. Treatment: medical attention is necessary; the patient is usually given antibiotics, dextrose, injection and artificial respiration. d. Influenza or Flu Cause: virus infection, very contagious

Symptoms: fever, weakness, headache, muscle pains, loss of appetite, sore throat, cough. Treatment: bed rest, ice bag on forehead, plenty of water/juice, steam breathing, medical attention in prolonged cases. e. Asthma Cause: allergy to pollen, dust, drugs; change in temperature Symptom: difficulty in breathing Treatment: warm drink, steam breathing, prescribed drugs. Prevention: determine the objects of allergy and avoid them. f. Tuberculosis Cause: bacteria, called tubercle bacilli, attack the alveoli, causing lesions Symptoms: poor appetite, loss of weight, coughs blood in the sputum, chest pain, easily fatigued; slight fever in the late afternoon and early morning. Prevention: strong body resistance, avoid contamination, TB is highly contagious.