Shawn Fulwider

Pulmonary System and COPD Assignment

EXS 452

The respiratory tract works as one unit but is made up with multiple different
parts of the body with different roles. Every section has a purpose to allow the ability to
bring in O2 into the body to allow the possibility of blood to grab it and bring it back to the
heart for distribution to the rest of the body. I will be talking about the anatomy of this
system.
First, we start with the pharynx. The pharynx is part of the bodies initial cavity that
connects the nasal and oral cavities with other parts of the body such as the lower larynx
and the esophagus. To the every day Joe this is more commonly known as the throat. It
allows the movement of air from both the nose and the mouth to reach the lower larynx
for the repertory process.
After the pharynx comes the larynx. As stated above, this is the next step below
the pharynx. The action of this part of the body is much the same. It is there to carry the
air of the environment to allow the use of it in the body. It takes advantage of the air
passing by it to allow another process. This is the area that holds the vocal cords in
humans. This is where the voice box is located in you.
The larynx will then lead into the trachea. The trachea is a large membranous
tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, which connects the larynx to the bronchial tube and
acting as the duct of transportation of air to the next section. This is a thick, hard object.
In a way, it acts much like a vacuum hose and is similar in appearance. This objects,
known also as the wind pipe, allows a great amount of air to pass through it. This
unfortunately is also the area that gets obstructed by food and other materials, choking
the person until the airway can be reopened.

The right lung and left lung work very similar but have some anatomical
differences that must be noted. The right lung has both more lobes and segments than
the left. These consist of an upper, middle, and lower lobes. Each pair connected to the
trachea and sits within the rib cage. These are an elastic sacks that are expanded
creating a vacuum. This draws air into the lungs so the oxygen can be taken in and the
leftover carbon dioxide can be removed.
The diaphragm allows the lungs to expand through its contractions. It is a domeshaped, muscular partition separating the throat from the abdomen. Its contractions pull
the lungs into their expended form.
Back to the lungs, I will talk about the bronchi. From the esophagus comes a fork
in the road. The area is split up into two different pathways. One pathway leads to the
left lung while the other to the right. These are the extensions of the windpipe that shuttle
air into the lungs. These lead into multiple branching terminal bronchi. These act as still
a conducting zone with further lead to different bronchioles. These are just more
branches expanding through the lungs. The though are not supported by cartilage.
These allow a high rate of gas exchange with the increased pressuring atmosphere of
the lungs.
Beyond these are more branched. These branches are known as the alveolar
ducts due to the fact they are holding into the alveolar sacs. The alveolar sacs are
spread through the lungs to cover a great amount of surface are. This is where gas
exchange of the lungs is in contact with the blood. The blood at this point latches onto
O2 to then carry it to the heart, which brings it to the rest of the body.
So, as you can see, the respiratory tract has multiple different areas and parts
that work together for one common purpose. This also means there are multiple different
areas which things can go wrong. A common disease that is seen from this respiratory
system is COPD. COPD is a complex syndrome, which consists of inflammation,

mucociliary dysfunction and consequential airway structure changes. COPD is

determined by the chronic inflammation of the airways, lung tissue and pulmonary blood
vessels. COPD can consist of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Chronic bronchitis is when an individual suffers from a cough that consists of a
discharge lasting for at least 3 month, two years in a row. Many people who deal with
this have a chronic development of inflammation and much discomfort. The
bronchospasm that happen form the cough along with the inflammation can cause
narrowing of the airways, making breathing more difficult. Emphysema on the other hand
is a condition dealing with the alveolar sacs. This disease is present with the damaging
and enlargement of the air sacks. This condition causes abnormality of air present within
the body tissue. This can cause a feeling of breathlessness in a person.
Another condition many people deal with is asthma. Asthma is a respiratory
condition with severe spasms of the bronchi and lungs. This makes it extremely difficult
to breath. It is usually from an allergic reaction or other types of a hypersensitivity
reaction, such as temperature, stress, exercise induced, and more. It has been
compared to the feeling of trying to breath through a straw.
The repertory system is both complicated but great. It is one of the many
systems that allow life to happen. Sometimes there is no better feeling then taking a big
breath and filling your lungs up with air. For any though, this is an area where difficulty
and even life threatening evens can occur. It is important to know the anatomy of the
respiratory system to better help understand COPD and other diseases. Its through this
understanding that allows us to overcome these illnesses and help people live the better
lives they deserve.