Science Form 3

Unit 1 Respiration
1.1
HUMAN BREATHING MECHANISM
A. Human Respiratory System
1. Living organisms must be able to take oxygen from the air and get rid of carbon dioxide to the air.
2. Gas exchange takes place through a gas exchange surface, also known as a respiratory surface.
3. Breathing is also known as external respiration.
4. Breathing consists of two stages:
 Inhalation - during which air is taken into the lungs.
 Exhalation - during which air passes out of the lungs.
5. The breathing system or the human respiratory system consists of the following structures or organs:
-Nostrils - Alveolus

-Nasal Cavity - Ribs

-Trachea - Intercostal Muscles
-Bronchus - Diaphragm
-Bronchiole

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 6. Flow of air
NASAL CAVITY
- Mucous Membrane – trap bacteria and

AIR NOSTRIL
- Fine hair traps dirt
other foreign particle
- Fine Hair (cilia) – moved mucus to
pharynx to be swallowed

TRACHEA
- Tube supported by C- BRONCHUS (SING.)
shaped ring of cartilage - Tube that leads to lung

BRONCHIOLE
- Small tube inside the lung ALVEOLUS
- Tiny air sacs that located at
the end of each bronchiole.
- A place where the exchange
of respiratory gases occurs.

HOW GASEOUS CHANGES ( OXYGEN TO CARBON DIOXIDES)

The blood capillaries was fulled of

When we breathed in air, oxygen
filled up the alveolus.
Beside alveolus were blood
capillaries.
Inside blood capillaries have a
special protein, called
hemoglobin.
Beside alveolus were blood
capillaries.
carbon dioxide, while in alveolus, it
is full of oxygen.
But, in basic concept of diffusion,
they need to move to the lower
concentration of its kinds.

So when oxygen is passed over to the capillaries,

the hemoglobin grab it up and carbon dioxide is
unloaded .
The oxygen is carried into the bloodstream while
carbon dioxide is removed from the body.

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INHALATION
During Inhalation
The external intercostal
muscle contracts and the
internal intercostal muscle
relaxes
The rib cage moves
upwards and outwards
The diaphragm muscle
contracts and flattens
The volume of thoracic
cavity increases
The air pressure in the
thoracic cavity decreases
and becomes lower than
the air pressure outside the
body
Air from surrounding is
forced into the lungs
BREATHING MECHANISM
EXHALATION
Part Involved During Exhalation
The external intercostal
muscle relaxes and the
internal intercostal muscle
INTERCOSTAL MUSCLE
contracts
The rib cage moves
downwards and inwards
RIB CAGE
The diaphragm muscle
relaxes and curved upwards
DIAPHRAGM MUSCLE
The volume of thoracic
cavity decreases
THORACIC CAVITY
The air pressure in the
AIR PRESSURE IN THE thoracic cavity increases
THORATIC CAVITY and become higher than
COMPARED WITH THE the air pressure ouside the
SURROUNDING AIR body
PRESSURE
Air in the lung is pushed
out from the lungs
MOVEMENT OF AIR
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1.2
TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN IN THE
HUMAN BODY
A. Diffusion of Oxygen from the Alveolus to the capillaries
Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a region where they are highly concentrated to a region where they are
less concentrated.

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 The following characteristics enable oxygen to diffuse through the walls of the alveoli easily and efficiently.
 The alveoli have very large surface areas and thin walls (only one-cell thick).
 The inner surfaces of the alveoli are always moist.
 The outer surfaces of the alveoli are surrounded by a network of blood capillaries. These capillaries also have
very thin walls (only one-cell thick).
 Inhaled air is rich in oxygen.
 The oxygen concentration in the alveolus is therefore higher than the oxygen concentration in the deoxygenated
blood in the capillaries.
 The difference in oxygen concentration makes the oxygen diffuse easily into the blood capillaries.
 Oxygen in the alveolus diffuses through the wall into the blood.
 Carbon dioxide and water vapour diffuse from the blood into the alveolus.

B. Oxygen Transport
Through the breathing process, oxygen from the air flows into our bloodstream.
The heart then pumps the oxygenated blood to supply oxygen to the body cells.
Body cells need oxygen for cell respiration.

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Cell respiration is the oxidation of food to release energy.

Heamoglobin
It is the special carrier and it transports oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.
b. Haemoglobin is a blood pigment.
- It contains haem (or heme) (the part which is made up of ferum ) and globin (the protein part).
- As the oxygen concentration is high in the alveolus, oxygen diffuses into the capillaries.
- Oxygen then combines with haemoglobin in the red blood cells and forms oxyhaemoglobin.
- Blood with oxyhaemoglobin is bright red in colour.
- It is carried to the heart to be distributed to all the cells of the body.

C. Diffusion of Oxygen from the Capillaries to the Body cells.

1. Oxygenated blood is sent to all the cells in the body by a vast network of blood vessels.
- When blood reaches the body cells, oxyhaemoglobin is broken down into haemoglobin and oxygen.
- The oxygen then diffuses through the walls of the capillaries into the cells.
- Oxygen is then used to oxidise food to release carbon dioxide during cell respiration.

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 .

1.3

THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
1. Healthy Respiratory System
Our respiratory system is protected by a layer of cilia and glands which secrete mucus.
Our lungs are in direct contact with the air we breathe.
The pollutants in the air can cause damage to our respiratory system.

2. Effects of Harmful Substances

Nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the production of cells in thetrachea and lungs and leads to lung cancer.
Narrow and hardens the blood vessels. This affect blood flow and causes heart attacks.
Leads to addiction as nicotine is a drug.
Tar in tobacco blackens the lungs.
The walls of the lungs thicken and this makes respiration difficult.
Tar is carcinogenic and can cause lung cancer.
Nitrogen dioxide in cigarette smoke and from motor vehicles and industries
dissolves in the mucus layer on the walls of the trachea and alveolus. It forms an acid which can destroy lung
tissues. In big towns, the reddish-brown layer in the atmosphere is due to the presence of nitrogen dioxide.

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 Sulphur dioxide
Sulphur dioxide is acidic. It is released when fuels which contain sulphur are burnt. Cigarette smoke and smoke
from factories have a high sulphur dioxide content. Sulphur dioxide is very soluble in the alveoli. It forms an acid
which destroys the lungs.

Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas which is produced when organic fuels are burnt.
Most of the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere comes from vehicles and factories which use charcoal, petrol
and diesel as fuel.
Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin inthe red blood cells and prevents oxygen from combining with
haemoglobin.
Our cells become deprived of oxygen and this results in death.
Dust and dirt
Dust and dirt are released to the atmosphere by factories and motor vehicles. The presence of dust and dirt in
our lungs hinders the exchange of gases.

C. Diseases of the Respiratory System

Asthma
The primary cause of asthma is due to airborne irritants such as
pollutants and dust.
It may also caused by genetic factors and food allergy .
Asthma is a condition in which the tubes of the lungs become
inflamed. This is because the air tubes are narrower and partially
blocked. More and thicker mucus is secreted into the tubes.
Influenza
This disease is caused by viruses which attack the mucus
membranes in the respiratory system.
Blocked noses, teary eyes, giddiness, headaches, aches in the limbs,
coughs and fever are some of the symptoms of the disease.
The influenza virus spreads through tiny droplets in the air.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses and chemical substances in polluted air. The trachea and alveolus are attacked
by bacteria or viruses. The lungs are filled with pus and fluid and the patient will suffer from chest pains, fever and
coughs.
Tuberculosis (TB )
This disease is caused by bacterial infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) which are carried by water droplets and dust
in the air.
Infection occurs when the water droplets and dust are inhaled by other people.
The patient suffers prolonged coughs and spits out blood in the end stages.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is caused by viral infections.
Bronchitis makes a person cough and produce a lot of mucus.
The bronchus becomes swollen and the patient feels pain in the chest. Bronchitis causes colds and phlegm.

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This disease makes respiration and gaseous exchange difficult. Patients who smoke find it hard to recover.
Emphysema
This disease is linked to smokers and people who work in dusty areas such as in mines and quarries.
The alveoli expand and burst. The lungs become less elastic. The thickened layer of scar prevents oxygen from diffusing
into the blood. As a result the patient experiences breathing difficulties.
Lung cancer
Many cancer cases are a result of smoking cigarettes.
Air polluted with carcinogens from factories and vehicle emissions, dust and asbestos also cause cancer.
Lung cancer is difficult to cure. It is important that we keep away from these pollutants.
Lung cancer is not contagious and cannot spread from a patient to other people.

D. Improving Air Quality

Pollution is mainly caused by irresponsible human behaviour and improperly planned activities.
We must be responsible for preserving and conserving air quality.
Air pollution interferes with the respiratory process. It can cause respiratory diseases which can be fatal.
Chemicals found in cigarette

HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE AIR QUALITY?

Walk or cycle instead of using your car.

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 Service your vehicle regularly
- this can reduce pollution and make it
cheaper to run.
Use public transport
instead of taking the car

Opening up the windows to allow indoor

Stop open burning air circulation

Bring In Some Nature

Don’t Smoke
Car pool

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