Gas Exchange and Respiratory Systems pt 2

This collection of flashcards focuses on key vocabulary and concepts related to gas exchange and respiratory systems, emphasizing definitions and mechanisms important for understanding the subject.

Respiratory surfaces

Specialized structures across which gas exchange occurs in organisms.

Partial pressure gradient

The difference in the concentration of a gas in one area compared to another, influencing gas movement.

Gas exchange

The process of taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide across respiratory surfaces.

Breathing

The process of inhalation and exhalation that drives gas exchange.

Aquatic organisms

Organisms that live in water and often have specialized adaptations for gas exchange due to lower oxygen availability.

Gills

Specialized respiratory structures in aquatic animals adjusted for extracting oxygen from water.

External gills

Gills that are visible and project from the body, allowing for gas exchange directly with the environment.

Countercurrent exchange

A mechanism where water and blood flow in opposite directions to maximize oxygen extraction.

Trachaeal system

A network of air ducts in insects allowing for direct gas exchange without a circulatory system.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs between air and blood.

Surfactants

Amphiphilic agents that reduce surface tension in alveoli to prevent collapse.

Positive pressure breathing

A method used by amphibians to force air into the lungs by elevating the floor of the mouth.

Unidirectional airflow

The one-way movement of air through the respiratory system, as seen in birds.

Vital capacity

The maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation.

Tidal volume

The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during normal breathing, about 500 mL.

Bohr effect

The phenomenon where increased carbon dioxide or decreased pH results in greater oxygen unloading from hemoglobin.

Carbonic anhydrase

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water to carbonic acid.

Haldane effect

The increased ability of deoxygenated hemoglobin to carry carbon dioxide.

Myoglobin

An oxygen-binding protein found in muscle cells, which has a higher affinity for oxygen than hemoglobin.

Pulmonary circulation

The flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart for oxygenation.

Systemic circulation

The flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body and back.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions across a selectively permeable membrane, down their electrochemical gradient.

Elastic recoil

The tendency of the lungs to return to their resting state after expansion.

Passive expiration

The process of exhaling air without active muscle contraction.

Conducting zone

The parts of the respiratory system that provide passageways for air to travel, without gas exchange.

Respiratory zone

The area of the respiratory system where gas exchange occurs, primarily at the alveoli.

Thoracic cavity

The chamber of the body enclosing the lungs and heart, involved in the mechanics of breathing.

Intrathoracic pressure

The pressure within the thoracic cavity that changes during breathing to facilitate air flow.

Oxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin that is bound to oxygen.

Deoxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin that has released its bound oxygen.

Bronchioles

The smaller passages that branch off from the bronchi leading into the lungs.

Larynx

The part of the respiratory system involved in sound production and routing air to the trachea.

Pharynx

The throat region through which air and food pass, part of both the respiratory and digestive systems.

Nasal cavity

The air-filled space behind the nose that filters, moistens, and warms air.

Respiratory pigments

Molecules that bind to oxygen or carbon dioxide to facilitate their transport in the blood.

Alveolar capillaries

Tiny blood vessels adjacent to alveoli where gas exchange occurs.

Hemoglobin saturation

The proportion of hemoglobin molecules that are bound to oxygen.

Temperature effect on hemoglobin

Increased temperature in active tissues enhances oxygen unloading from hemoglobin.

Chloride shift

The exchange of bicarbonate ions and chloride ions across the membrane of red blood cells.

Capillary exchange

The process of gases, nutrients, and waste products moving across capillary walls.

Ciliated epithelium

Type of tissue that helps trap particles and move mucus out of the respiratory tract.

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, which affects gas exchange efficiency.

Stroma

The supportive connective tissue of the lung that helps maintain structure.

Metabolic waste

Byproducts of metabolism, such as carbon dioxide, produced by living cells.

Respiratory rate

The number of breaths taken per minute.

Anatomy of the diaphragm

The muscle responsible for expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity during breathing.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in the body, including pH and gas concentrations.

Blood pH

A measure of acidity or alkalinity of blood, typically maintained around 7.4.

Gas transport mechanisms

Methods by which gases are transported in blood, including dissolved, bound, and bicarbonate forms.

Gaseous diffusion

The process whereby gas molecules move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

Respiratory adaptation

Physiological changes that improve gas exchange efficiency in specific environments.