Respiratory Systems: Mechanisms of Gas Exchange

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on respiration, gas exchange, and cellular respiration.

Breathing is the process of __ air into the lungs and exhaling it out.

inhaling

Rib cage expands as rib muscles __.

contract

Rib cage gets smaller as rib muscles __.

relax

Diaphragm contracts (moves down) during __.

inhalation

Diaphragm relaxes (moves up) during __.

exhalation

The impulses for inspiration and expiration are generated within the respiratory centre in the __ after receiving input from various subsystems.

medulla oblongata

Inspiration: The DRG primarily controls inspiration by sending signals to the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles to __.

contract

Expiration: When the DRG ceases its activity, these muscles relax, allowing the lungs to recoil and air to be __.

expelled

External respiration is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and __ air.

inhaled

When air enters the alveoli, oxygen in the air seeps through the thin walls of the tiny sacs into the surrounding __.

capillaries

The carbon dioxide collected by the blood from the cells of the body diffuses into the __ to be expelled during exhalation.

alveoli

Internal respiration is the exchange of gas at the level of __ cells.

body

Oxygen-rich blood reaches the cells and releases oxygen into the cell, then the blood picks up the carbon dioxide produced by the cells during respiration and returns it to the __.

alveoli

Cellular Respiration is a set of metabolic __ occurring inside the cells to convert biochemical energy obtained from the food into ATP.

reactions

Metabolism refers to a set of chemical reactions carried out for maintaining the living state of the __.

cells

Catabolism – the process of __ molecules to obtain energy.

breaking down

Anabolism – the process of synthesizing all compounds required by the __.

cells