PHYL 2044 Lecture 1: PHYL 2044 - Respiratory Physiology Lecture 1
Document Summary
Phyl 2044 lecture 1 january 7, 2019 respiratory physiology: lung structure and function lung volume. What is respiration: the main function of the respiratory system is to supply tissues with oxygen and dispose of carbon dioxide generated by cellular metabolism. Internal (or cellular) respiration is the utilization of oxygen in the metabolism of organic molecules (down at the level of mitochondria) The by-product of oxidative metabolism is carbon dioxide out is equally important, since the accumulation would result in acidification of bodily fluids. Oxygen is what our cells used at the level of mitochondria to generate energy. Complex organisms developed respiratory system to process oxygen. If we do not get the carbon dioxide out, the acid-base chemistry would be unbalanced (combination of what we breathe out and what we pee out). The lungs and the kidneys work together to make sure the ph is tightly maintained.