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Here's a short little video demonstrating how emphysema changes your lungs...

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Here's a short little video demonstrating how emphysema changes your lungs...

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2D Animation of Structural and Functional effects of Emphysema. Animation created by Jill Bartlett

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This video demonstrates diaphragmatic movement...it's pretty cool!

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This video demonstrates diaphragmatic movement...it's pretty cool!

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What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer begins in the trachea, bronchus, or lung tissue. Malignant cells form tumours which then metastasize.

What are the causes of lung cancer?

primary cause is also smoking

pollution, a family history/genetics and a lowered immunity can also lead to lung cancer

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What is emphysema?
Emphysema is a lung disease where protease (an enzyme) is released which breaks down the connective tissue of the lungs. The elasticity of the lungs decreases and the ratio of Surface Area: Volume Decreases. This means that efficient gas exchange can't occur and the blood has significantly lower blood oxygen levels.

What are the causes of emphysema?

primary cause is smoking

other things like genetics and chronic chest infections can also lead to the disease

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This is all well and good, but the lungs can experience problems...

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This is all well and good, but the lungs can experience problems...

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Let's take a closer look at those alveoli...

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Let's take a closer look at those alveoli...

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-there are 2 types of pneumocytes
1. Type I pneumocytes are super duper thin, which is an adaptation for efficient gas exchange

2. Type II pneumocytes secrete a surfactant, which moistens the alveoli, preventing them from sticking to one another (long story short, reduces surface tension)

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Ventilation maintains the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body and the gradients between the body and atmosphere.

antagonistic muscles oppose one another; muscles really only work when they contract, so pairs contract/relax to establish function (think: biceps and triceps)

Inhalation (when the body needs oxygen)

the diaphragm contracts, increasing the volume of the lungs and therefore decreasing the pressure (antagonistic muscle is the abdominals, which relax)

the external intercostal muscles also contract, allowing your rib cage to expand (antagonistic muscle is the internal intercostal muscles, which relax)

this makes the pressure in your lungs less than that of the atmosphere --> air floods into the lungs

oxygen molecules (after traveling to the alveoli) diffuse through 5 membranes and into the blood stream, where hemoglobin eventually accepts it

Exhalation (when the body needs to remove carbon dioxide)

the abdominal muscles contract while the diaphragm relaxes, decreasing the volume of the lungs and therefore increasing the air pressure of the lungs

the internal intercostal muscles contract while the external relax, bringing your rib cage back to its "resting" position

the pressure becomes greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere, to maintain the concentration gradient the air rushes out of the lungs

at this point CO2 has diffused from the capillaries and is expelled with this air

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intake through lungs/nose --> through trachea and bronchi --> bronchioles --> alveoli

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-the respiratory system works in tandem with the circulatory system
-responsible for the intake of oxygen and the excretion of carbon dioxide