Respiratory Systems Flashcards

Flashcards about the respiratory system and gas exchange

Cellular respiration

The aerobic breakdown of glucose in the mitochondria to make ATP.

Respiratory systems

The organs in animals that exchange gases with the environment.

Respiration

The sequence of events that results in gas exchange between cells of the body and the environment.

Respiratory system function

Allow animals to move oxygen into body tissues and remove carbon dioxide from cells.

Basis of Gas Exchange

Depends on diffusion of gaseous oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) down their concentration gradients.

Factors Affecting Diffusion Rate

Surface area, gas concentration gradient, respiratory proteins.

Specialized structures for gas exchange

Gills, spiracles, lungs.

Spiracle

Opening to body surface for insect respiration.

Trachea

Tubes inside insect bodies for respiration.

Book lungs

Thin plates highly vascularized, arranged like pages of a book. Gas exchange occurs over the thin sheets of tissue

Countercurrent exchange

Water and blood move in opposite directions for gas exchange in fish.

Gills

Structures used by fish to extract oxygen from water.

Bird air sacs

Air sacs that allow oxygen-rich air to pass respiratory surfaces on both inhalation and exhalation.

Parts of the mammalian respiratory system

Nasal cavity, pharynx, epiglottis, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli.

Human respiratory system

Functions in gas exchange, sense of smell, voice production, body defenses, acid-base balance, and temperature regulation.

Epiglottis

Protects the trachea during swallowing.

Clean airways

Cilia and mucus-secreting cells.

Vocal cords

Change the size of the glottis for voice production.

Diaphragm

Broad, dome-shaped smooth muscle beneath the lungs.

Intercostal muscles

Skeletal muscles between the ribs.

Pleural Membrane

Double-layer membrane with a fluid-filled space between layers that keeps lungs airtight and helps them stick to chest wall during breathing.

Respiratory cycle

One inhalation and one exhalation.

Inhalation

Contraction of diaphragm and external intercostal muscles increases volume of thoracic cavity.

Exhalation

As muscles relax, the thoracic cavity shrinks.

During inspiration

The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract.

During exhalation

The diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax.

Alveoli

Moist, thin-walled pockets which are the site of gas exchange.

Surfactant

Prevents the alveolar walls from collapsing and sticking together.

The respiratory surface

Made up of the alveoli and capillary walls.

Air entering the lungs

Contains more oxygen and less carbon dioxide than the blood that flows in the pulmonary capillaries.

Hemoglobin

Binds to oxygen that diffuses into the blood stream.

Carbon dioxide

Can dissolve in plasma, and about 70% forms bicarbonate ions.