SCHOOL OF BREATHING SCIENCES
101 Respiratory Structure & Function
Proper functioning of the respiratory system is essential for bringing oxygen into the body for metabolism and excreting or utilizing the byproducts of cellular respiration, e.g. CO2. This course includes: Anatomy of the pulmonary system – the lungs, airways, pulmonary arteries, veins and bronchial arteries; Histology of the lungs – with emphasis alveolar, bronchial network; Physiology of the pulmonary system – including Mechanics of breathing – how air enters and is expelled from the lungs; Lung Volumes and their significance; Alveolar respiration – how gas exchange occurs; Ventilation and perfusion – ratios and pulmonary circulation; Cellular respiration – how cells utilize O2 ; Central control – neuronal mechanisms; Blood gases – how they are derived and what they mean.