Lesson 25

AS PE Anatomy &
Physiology

James Barraclough
Respiratory System
Regulation & Gaseous Exchange at the Lungs










Hangman Prompts
Gaseous exchange
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Thermoreceptor
Baroreceptor
Proprioceptor
Homework Answers

Topic: Respiratory System
Objectives: by the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
Explain how the respiratory control centre regulates the
mechanics of breathing at rest and during exercise
Outline the processes of gaseous exchange that takes place
between the alveoli and blood, and between the blood and tissue
cells.
Explain the changes in gaseous exchange that take place between
the alveoli and blood, and between the blood and tissues cells
during physical activity
Respiratory System
Activity 1: Quiz You, Quiz Me
In 3s write a quiz for the other group to find answers to
(make sure you have the answers too!):
Group 1:
Respiratory control centre & effects of altitude
Group 2:
Pulmonary diffusion

30 minutes

THEN SWAP QUESTION PAPERS &
15 minutes to answer
Respiratory Control Centre (RCC)
Controlled by nervous system (involuntary)
RCC situated in medulla area of brain
Inspiration: nerve impulses generated & sent to inspiratory
muscles (external intercostals & diaphragm) telling them to
contract
Lasts c.2 secs then stops & expiration occurs passively be
elastic recoil of lungs
During exercise breathing rate increases
So expiratory centre may send impulses to expiratory muscles
(internal intercostals)
This speeds up expiratory process

Respiratory Control
Centre
Chemical composition of blood main influence on respiration
rates
Chemosensitive area in RCC senses changes in blood acidity
Chemoreceptors (in aortic arch & carotid artery) measure this
& concentrations of CO2 & O2
If increases in CO2 detected RCC emits impulses to instruct
respiratory muscles to work harder
Ventilation rate increases
When blood acidity lowered fewer impulses sent =
decreased respiration rate
Other Factors Controlling
Breathing
Proprioceptors & mechanoreceptors: inform inspiratory centre that
movement occurring
Thermoreceptors: inform RCC that heat energy produced & blood
temperature increased
Baroreceptors: send info to expiratory centre re level of lung inflation

Regulation of breathing helped by STRETCH RECEPTORS (in lungs
& bronchioles)
These prevent overinflation of lungs
If lungs stretched excessively - expiratory centre sends impulses to
start expiration
Known as HERING-BREUR REFLEX
Next slide: respiratory regulation during exercise

Effect of Altitude on
Respiration
The higher you go (altitude) =
less atmospheric pressure

%ages of gases in air = same as at sea level

BUT partial pressures change as altitude increases

e.g. pO2 of arterial blood at 8000ft = c.60 mmHg (c.100 mmHg
at rest at sea level)
pO2 in muscles at rest is 40mmHg at both levels

Question
What is the pressure gradient at:
Sea level?
8000 ft?

60mmHg
20mmHg

Decrease in pressure gradient decreases movement of O2
into muscles & performance suffers
Altitude Training
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=392CSRdztWc

Body adapts because of drop in pO2 by c.50%
Increased red blood cell mass & Hb levels
Therefore enhances O2 carrying capacity when
returning to sea level
Altitude Training
Possible Benefits

Increased concentration
of red blood cells
(haematocrit)
Increased Hb
concentration
Enhanced O2 transport
Possible drawbacks
Expensive
Altitude sickness
Harder to train (less O2)
Possible de-training
Benefits soon lost when
returning to sea level
Pulmonary Diffusion
Gaseous exchange at the lungs 2 main functions:
1. Provide O2 to blood in turn to supply muscles & tissues
2. Remove CO2 from blood due to metabolic processes

Pulmonary Diffusion
(Partial Pressure)
Partial pressure:
individual pressure that gas exerts when it occurs in
mixture of gases

Diffusion:
Movement of respiratory gases from areas of higher partial
pressure to lower partial pressure until equilibrium
reached
Pulmonary Diffusion
(Partial Pressure)
Inhaled air has same concentrations as atmospheric air:
79% Nitrogen
20.9% Oxygen
0.03% Carbon Dioxide

Sea level Total Atmospheric Pressure = 769mmHg
Pulmonary Diffusion
(Partial Pressure)
Oxygen in air is c.21%
Nitrogen in air is c.79%
O2 & N exert pressure of 760 mmHg

pO2 (Partial Pressure of O2)

pO2 = Barometric x Fractional
pressure concentration
= 760 mmHg x 0.21
= 159.6 mmHg
Activity
Can you work out partial pressure in the atmosphere of:
1. Carbon Dioxide (pCO2)
2. Nitrogen (pN)

pCO2 = Barometric (760) x Fractional (0.0003) = 0.228
mmHg
pressure concentration
pN = Barometric (760) x Fractional (0.79) = 600.4 mmHg
pressure concentration
Pulmonary Diffusion
(Partial Pressure)
Partial pressure of gases explains movement of gases
within body
Accounts for processes of gas exchange between:
Alveoli & blood
Blood & muscles/tissues
Pulmonary Diffusion
(Gaseous Exchange at Lungs)
Imbalance between gases in alveoli & blood
PRESSURE GRADIENT = movement of gases across
respiratory membrane
O2 from alveoli blood, CO2 from blood alveoli
The special adaptations of the alveoli for gas exchange
are:
Thin walls
Huge surface area
Covered in capillaries to provide blood
A wet lining to dissolve gases

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFCj9STCvdI
Pulmonary Diffusion
(Diffusion Gradient)
pO2 of Blood in pulmonary capillaries =
45 mmHg (most O2 used in working muscles)
Pressure gradient = c.60 mmHg forces O2 from alveoli into
blood until pressure is equal on both sides
pCO2 in blood = 45 mmHg; pCO2 in alveolar air = 40 mmHg
pressure gradient 5 mmHg
CO2 moves from pulmonary blood into alveoli & is expired

IN SIMPLE TERMS DIFFUSION GRADIENT =
PARTIAL PRESSURE OF GAS ON 1 SIDE OF RESPIRATORY
MEMBRANE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF GAS ON OTHER
SIDE



Extension Activity
What are the acute & chronic effects of exercise on the
respiratory system?
Recap
http://www.teachpe.com/multi/relationship_cardiovascular_
respiratory_system.htm

Homework




Next Lesson

Describe the transport of oxygen & the oxyhaemoglobin
dissociation curve