Breathing and Exchange of Gas

Breathing/Ventilation- First step of respiration, refers to the movements that send fresh air or with
dissolved in water to the respiratory organs (inspiration) and removes foul air or water from
them(expiration).
External Respiration- Intake of oxygen by the blood from water or air in the respiratory organs and
elimination of carbon dioxide.
Internal Respiration- involves uptake of oxygen by tissue cells via tissue fluid, oxidation of food in tissue
cells leading to production of carbon dioxide, water and energy, storage of energy in the form of ATP and
release of CO2 from tissue cells into blood via tissue fluid.
Respiration - Biochemical process of ATP energy production by oxidation of food materials within cell.
C6H12O6 + 6O2
(Glucose)

ATP

6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

(oxygen)
Hydrolysis

(Released)

ADP +Pi +

(Reuse)

(stored as ATP)

Energy used in life activities

Aerobic Respiration involves use of molecular oxygen for breakdown of respiratory substrate and
release of carbon dioxide simultaneously. Occurs in most animals and plants.
Anaerobic Respiration does not utilize molecular oxygen, for the breakdown of organic substrate and
CO2 may or may not be released.
i.

In Yeast
C6H12O6
(Glucose)

ii.

2C2H5OH + CO2 + Energy

(Ethanol)

In Certain Bacteria and Parasitic Worms ( Ascaris, Tapeworm)

C6H12O6
2CH3CHOHCOOH + Energy
(Lactic Acid)

Types of Respiration
Cutaneous respiration - Exchange of respiratory gases through the thin, moist, permeable
and highly vascularised skin.
Buccopharyngeal respiration - Exchange of respiratory gases through thin, vascular lining of
buccopharyngeal cavity.
Branchial respiration - Exchange of respiratory gases in gills.
Pulmonary respiration Exchange of gases through lungs.

Respiratory Pigment greatly increase the capacity of blood to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Haemocyanin - respiratory pigment in plasma in crustaceans and mollusks.
Haemoglobin respiratory pigment in the red blood cells in vertebrates and in annelids in the plasma.

Mammals
Birds

Vertebrata

Lungs

Reptiles

Cephalochordata

Amphibians

Pharynge
al Wall

Chordata
Urochordata

Cyclostomes,
Fishes

Pharyngea
l Wall

Respiratory organs in
different animals

1.Skin
2.Buccophyng
eal
Gills

Pharyngeal
Wall
Hemichordata
Dermal
Branchae and
Echinoderms
Tube Feet

Nemathelminthes
Body
Surface
Platyhelminthes

Mollusca

Cnidarians

Ctenidia (Gills)
and Pulmonary
Sac

Sponges
Protozoa

Artropoda 1. Prawn Gills

Annelida
Moist Skin

(Branchial
respiration)
2. Insects Tracheae
(Tracheal respiration)
3.Scorpion Book
Lungs
4.King Crab Book
Gills

Human Respiratory System

Schematic diagram of lungs and thorax

PASSAGE OF
AIR
Nostrils

Nasopharynx

Oropharynx

Laryngopharynx

Larynx

Trachea

Bronchi

Bronchioles

Alveolar Ducts

Alveoli

1.Nasal Cavity - Moist epithelium and nasal hairs help in

i.
ii.
iii.

Filtering air
Preventing entry of microbes
Making air temperature according to body temperature

2.Larynx / Voice Box

i.
ii.

It is cartilaginous box which have vocal cords to produce sound.

Epiglottis prevent entry of food into glottis.

3.Glottis Aperture in laryngopharynx which opens into trachea.

4.Trachea
i.
ii.
iii.

It is a straight tube upto mid-thoracic cavity.

Wall of trachea and bronchi have C-shaped cartilaginous rings.
After entering in lungs, bronchi divide into primary, secondary and tertiary bronchioles and finally
end into irregular balloon shaped structure called Alveoli.

5.Lungs Two cone shaped spongy lungs are present which are covered by a doubled layered pleura
membrane with pleural fluid between them.
6.Diaphragm It is a domb shaped cartilaginous structure which is present on lower side of lungs.
7.Alveolar Wall is very thin (0.0001mm) wall composed of simple moist, non-ciliated, squamous
epithelium which easily recoil and expand during breathing. Number of alveoli is countless which increase
the surface area of lungs, thus accelerating gaseous exchange in alveoli. It is closely surrounded by a
network of pulmonary capillaries arising from pulmonary artery and rejoin to form pulmonary vein.

8.Respiratory membrane consists of alveolar epithelium, epithelial basement membrane , a thin

interstitial space, capillary basement membrane and capillary endothelial membrane (total thickness =
0.3m). Hence, diffusion of gases between the blood and alveolar air occurs easily and quickly.
Respiration involves the following steps:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Breathing or pulmonary ventilation by which atmosphaeric air is drawn in and CO 2 rich air is
released out.
Diffusion of gases (O2 and CO2) across air is released out.
Transport os gases by the blood.
Diffusion of O2 and CO2 between blood and tissue.
Utilisation of O2 by the cells for catabolic reaction and resultant release of CO 2 .

Advantages of lung breathing

i.
ii.
iii.

Lungs lie within the body, hence respiratory surface can be kept moist.
Air less dense than water, hence requires less energy to move the air to and from the respiratory
surface.
A tidal flow (in and out) sufficient to ventilate lungs.

Advantage of nasal breathing over

mouth breathing
Air passing through nasal chamber is
subjected warming, moistening,
sterilization and cleaning specially by
virtue of the presence of hair and
mucus which holds the dust particles
and bacteria of the passing air, which

Mechanism of Breathing
Breathing involve 2 stages
a) Inspiration In halation of atmospheric air into lungs. Inspiration is initiated by contraction of
diaphragm and external intercostals muscles, which lift up the ribs and the sternum causing
increase in volume of thoracic chamber. Volume increase cause decrease un pulmonary pressure
which result inhalation of air from outside to lungs.
b) Expiration Exhalation of air from lungs. Expiration is initiated by relaxation of diaphragm and
contraction of internal intercostal muscles to their normal position causing decrease in volume of
thoracic chamber. Volume decrease causes increase in pulmonary pressure which result in
expulsion of air from lungs to outside.
Note : Breathing rate 12-16 per minute.
Spirometer is used to estimate air volume during breathing.
Respiratory Volume and Capicities
1. TV (500ml)
Volume of air normally inspirited / expirated.
2. IRV (2500ml)
Volume of additional air forcefully inspired.
3. ERV (1000ml)
Volume of additional air forcefully expired.
4. I.C = TV + IRV
= 500 + 2500 = 3000ml
5. E.C = TV + 1000 = 1500ml
6. T.L.C = TV + ERV + RV + IRV = 500 + 1000 + 1100 + 2500 + 5100ml
7. F.R.C = ERV + RV
= 1000 + 1100
= 2100ml
8. V.C = IRV + ERV + TV
= 2500 + 1000 + 500
= 4000ml

Exchange of Gases
Alveoli are the site of gaseous ecchange between air and blood.
Gaseous exchange occur by simple diffusion mainly based on partial pressure of O 2 and CO2.
Diffusion of gases occur through 3 layers :
a) Thin epithelium of alveoli.

b) Thin endothelium of blood capillary

c) Basement between them.

Transport of Gases
1. Transport of oxygen
97% O2 transport by RBC.
3% O2 transport by Plasma
O2 can bind with haemoglobin in a reversible manner to form oxy-haemoglobin.
Hb + 4O2

Hb(O2)4

(A) High pO2

Low pCO2
Low pH (H+ conc.)
Low temperature

(B) Low pO 2
High pCO2
High pH ( H + Conc.)
High temp.

A sigmoid curve is obtained per cent saturation of haemoglobin with O 2 is plotted against pO2.

Saturation of Hb. With O2

pO2
Note : Every 100ml of oxygenated blood can delivery about 5ml of O 2 to tissues.
2. Transport of CO2
a) As caramino haemoglobin 20 25%
Hb + CO2
Hb. CO2
Carbamino
Haemoglobin
I.
High pCO2 and low pO2
II.
Low pCO2 and high pO2
b) As bicarbonate ion (70%)
CO2 + H2O
H2CO3
Carbonic Anhydrase Carbonic acid
c) As dissolved state in plasma(7%)

HCO3- + H+

Note : Every 100ml of deoxygenated blood delivary about 4ml of CO 2.

Regulation of Respiration
a) Respiratory Rhythm Centre
Situated in medulla region.
It regulates breathing rhythms acc. to demand of body tissue.

b) Pneumotaxic Centre Situated in pons region

It can moderate function of respiration rhythm centre and thereby alter the respiratory rate.
c) Chemosenstive Centre
Situated near rhythm centre.
It is very sensitive to CO2 and H+ ion.

Disorders of Respiratory
1. Asthma is a difficulty in breathing causing wheezing due to inflammation.
2. Emphysema is a chronic disorder in which alveolar walls are damaged due to which respiratory
surface is decreased.
One of the major causes of this is cigarette smoking.
3. Occupational Respiration Disorde
In certain industries, especially those involving grinding or stone breaking, so much dust is
produced that the defence mechanism of the body cannot fully cope with the situation.
Long exposure can give rise to inflammation leading to Fibrosis ( proliferation of fibrous
tissue) and thus causing serious lung damage.
Works in such industries should wear protective masks.
Eg. Silicosis and Asbestosis

Questions
Q1. How many oxygen molecules can be carried out by one haemoglobin
molecule?
Ans: 4 molecules
Q2.Give the name and function of a fluid filled double membranous layer which
surrounds the lungs?
Ans: Pleuron. It reduces the friction and keeps the two pleura together and the
lungs in flated.
Q3. Cigarette smoking causes emphysema. Give reason.
Ans. Cigarette smoking damages alveolar walls due to alveolar sacs remaining
filled with air leading to decreased respiratory surface for exchange of gases.
Q4. How is the entry of food prevented in the respiratory tract?
Ans. During swallowing, a cartilaginous flap like structure called epiglottis covers
the glottis and prevents the entry of food into respiratory tract.
Q5. What are occupational respiratory disorders? What are their harmful effects?
What precautions should a person take to prevent such disorder?
Q6. Explain the role of neural system in regulation of respiration in human?
Q7. Name the organ of respiration in the following organisms.
a) Flatworms b) Birds c) Frog d) Cockroach