The Effects of Smoking

Describe the effects of smoking on the

mammalian gas exchange system, with
reference to the symptoms of
chronic bronchitis
emphysema (chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease or COPD)
lung cancer
 Constituents of cigarette smoke that
cause damage to health
Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 different
chemicals. The main problems are caused by :
Tar, a mixture of substances including
carcinogens (chemicals that cause cancer)
Nicotine
Carbon Monoxide
 Short Term Effects of Tar on Gas Exchange System
(NB: tar does not pass through lung tissue into blood stream)
Cause Damage to gas exchange system
Tar settles on lining of airways and
alveoli
Chemicals in tar causes an allergic
reaction

Tar paralyses or destroys cilia of

ciliated epithelium
Tar stimulates over-production of
mucus from goblet cells and mucus
glands

Mucus trapped and collects in

airways
Microbes trapped in airways
 Short Term Effects of Tar on Gas Exchange System
(NB: tar does not pass through lung tissue into blood stream)
Cause Damage to gas exchange system
Tar settles on lining of airways and tar layer slows gas exchange by increasing
alveoli diffusion distance for gases
Chemicals in tar causes an allergic smooth muscle in airway walls contracts.
reaction Reduces lumen diameter, restricts flow of air in
and out of airways

Tar paralyses or destroys cilia of
ciliated epithelium
Tar stimulates over-production of
mucus from goblet cells and mucus
glands
Cilia no longer move mucus out of airways
Mucus collects in airways, bacteria and viruses
become trapped in mucus. Cilia unable to
move it.

Mucus trapped and collects in Can cause blockages in small bronchioles

airways preventing air flow in and out
Microbes trapped in airways Likely to cause infection in lungs,
eg: pneumonia and influenza
 Long Term Effects of Tar on Gas
Exchange System
Cause Effect on gas exchange system
Irritation of airways by mucus and microbes

Frequent coughing damages cells lining the

airways,
Frequent coughing thickens the smooth
muscle layer

Constant infections encourage more white

blood cells to pass into lung tissues

Damaged alveoli and bronchioles cannot

stretch and recoil properly
Deposition of tar which contains carcinogens
on lung tissue
 Long Term Effects of Tar on Gas
Exchange System
Cause
Irritation of airways by mucus and microbes
Frequent coughing damages cells lining the
airways,
Frequent coughing thickens the smooth
muscle layer
Constant infections encourage more white
blood cells to pass into lung tissues
Damaged alveoli and bronchioles cannot
stretch and recoil properly
Deposition of tar which contains carcinogens
on lung tissue
Effect on gas exchange system
leads to frequent and persistent coughing
then damaged cells are replaced by thicker
less flexible scar tissue
then the thicker muscle layer reduces the
lumen of the airway so air flow in and out is
restricted
white blood cells produce elastase enzyme
which breaks down elastic tissue in alveoli
and bronchioles
so air is not pushed out of alveoli, alveoli
may burst due to coughing, bronchioles may
collapse
carcinogens taken into nucleus of cells,
causes mutations to DNA. Mutation of genes
can cause uncontrolled cell division ie: a
 Diseases of Gas Exchange system
associated with smoking
Lung Cancer
Bronchitis
Emphysema
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Lung Cancer
SEM of a lung cancer cell.
Cancer cells divide rapidly in a chaotic,
uncontrolled manner.
They may clump to form tumours, which
invade and destroy surrounding
tissues.
Lung cancer is a common form of cancer,
frequently associated with smoking
tobacco. It often develops at the
entrance to the bronchi
It causes a persistent cough, shortness
of breath and chest pain. Blood may
be coughed up in sputum.
Cancer may spread to other areas of the
body.
Treatment includes surgical excision of
the affected areas of the lung, with
radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
 Lung cancer
Outside lung Inside lung

Black deposits of tar in tissues Large cancerous tumour

Lung cancer
 Signs and Symptoms
Often no symptoms early on
Later symptoms maybe:
cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest
pain, and coughing up blood
Bronchitis
 Bronchitis
Inflammation of the airway lining, damaged cilia, increased mucous production.
Persistent cough, mucus filled with microbes and white blood cells
 Signs and symptoms of Bronchitis
Cough Fatigue
Production of mucus Slight fever and chills
(sputum), either clear Chest discomfort
or white or yellowish- Frequent respiratory
gray or green in color infections (such as colds
Shortness of breath, or flu) with a
made worse by mild worsening productive
exertion cough
Wheezing
Emphysema
 Emphysema

Damaged alveoli Normal alveoli

Emphysema
SEM of human lung tissue affected by
emphysema.
Emphysema is a disease in which the alveoli
of the lung become enlarged and the
walls separating them are damaged.
This damage occurs as a result of elastase
enzyme breaking down the elastic fibres
which allow the alveoli to expand and
recoil. There is difficulty exhaling.
Surface area for gaseous exchange is
reduced, restricting oxygen uptake. This
may cause breathlessness, bluish skin,
and heart or respiratory failure.
Occurrence of emphysema is strongly
associated with smoking.
Treatment of emphysema is with drugs and
the cessation of smoking.
 Emphysema signs and symptoms
Shortness of breath, Heart failure
shallow breathing Cyanosis / blue tinge
Wheezing, difficulty to skin
breathing out High blood pressure
Fatigue, extreme to lungs
tiredness Enlarged right side of
heart
 Learning Outcome
Describe the effects of
nicotine and carbon monoxide
in tobacco smoke on the
cardiovascular system
with reference to the course of events leading to
atherosclerosis
coronary heart disease
strokes.
 Match the effect that CO and nicotine have on
the body to the damage that they cause
Sort the cards into 6 pairs
 Remember Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide enter the
lungs and pass through the lung surface into the blood
Effects
Nicotine stimulates release of adrenaline
Nicotine causes constriction of the
arterioles
Nicotine makes platelets more sticky
Nicotine mimics action of
neurotransmitters at synapses
Carbon monoxide combines with
haemoglobin to form
carboxyhaemoglobin
Carbon monoxide causes damage to
arterial endothelial linings
Consequences
Adrenalin:
Increases heart rate
Increases breathing rate
Constricts arterioles
Increases blood pressure
Increases blood pressure
Reduces blood flow to extremities
May lead to necrosis of tissues-lack of O2 and glucose
In extreme cases may result in amputation
Increases the risk of blood clot or thrombus forming
Makes the smoker feel more alert
Reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood
When exercising heart rate and breathing rate rise
more than normal
Damage to lining makes it more likely that plaques
develop
 Development of Atheromas
(Atherosclerosis)
Damage to the arterial endothelium by CO or hypertension
Cholesterol, fatty deposits and cellular waste are deposited under the
damaged area in the wall, which is then repaired
Inflammation at the site stimulates monocytes to infiltrate the area
Monocytes differentiate into macrophages which ingest the cholesterol
and turn into foam cells. This is what forms the plaque
These changes also stimulate smooth muscle cells to multiply and form a
cap
The whole area increases in size and extends out into the lumen of the
artery restricting blood flow.
The atheroma may finally break through the repaired endothelium again
and release some of the lumps of fatty deposit into the blood stream. This
can increase the likelihood of blockages in small arteries.
Development of Atheroma in arterial
walls (Atherosclerosis)
 Reduction of arterial lumen by
atheroma

lumen

atheroma
 Watch real player video on atherosclerosis
 Essay
Explain how Nicotine and
Carbon Monoxide contribute to the
occurrence of
Coronary Heart Disease and Strokes