The Respiratory System

Concentration

The amount of solute in a solution

Solute

The dissolved substance in a solution

Solution

A mixture in which two or more substances are mixed evenly

Concentration gradient

The gradual difference in the concentration of solutes in a solution between two regions

The respiratory system is a…

metabolic process that occurs within the cells of organisms, it is an energy producing reaction

How is energy produced?

by the breakdown of glucose and is further used by cells to perform various life functions

What does respiration produce and release

produces carbon dioxide and water, releases energy

describe what happens in inhalation(inspiration)

diaphragm contracts and lowers, pressure of lungs decrease, volume of lungs increases, intercostal muscles contract, intercostal muscles pull ribs up and out

describe what happens in exhalation(expiration)

diaphragm relaxes and rises, pressure in lungs increases, volume of lungs decreases, intercostal muscles relax, intercostal muscles pull ribs down and in, size of chest and lungs reduce

List the organs of the respiratory systme

Nose, Pharynx, Larynx, Bronchi, Lungs - alveoli

where is air drawn into the body

nose or mouth

advantages of breathing through your nose

air is warmed closer to your body temperature, tiny hairs and mucus filter air preventing dust and pollen to reach alveoli, mucus moistens the air making it easier for the alveoli to absorb

What does the pharynx do?

warms and moistens the air, acts as a passageway for air and food

what does the larynx do?

traps foreign particles, produces sound, acts as a passageway for air

What is the trachea and what does it do?

The trachea is the windpipe, it filters air, traps foreign particles, it is a passageway for air that extends into the right and left bronchi

What is the bronchi?

Branches off into right and left primary bronchi, makes up bronchial tree

Name all steps or locations of the respiratory system:

Nasal or oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, primary bronchus, secondary bronchus, tertiary bronchus, bronchioles, alveoli

What are bronchioles?

smaller tubes that branch from the bronchi

What are the alveoli?

bunches of tiny air sacs within the lungs, thin walled sacs surrounded with capillaries

What is the main site of gas exchange?

alveoli

what are capillaries?

blood vessels that have extremely thin walls

Diffusion:

the net movement of gas or dissolved molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration down a concentration gradient

is diffusion passive?

yes, no cellular energy is required

what does diffusion lead to?

equilibrium

what is the concentration of oxygen in the blood

high concentration

what is the concentration of oxygen in the cells

low concentration

oxygen goes from where to where?

the blood to the cells

where does oxygen dissolve in?

the moist epithelial lining of the alveolus

what does the epithelial lining of the the alveolus do?

stops the alveolus from drying and cracking, lubricates the inside of the alveolus

what linings do the oxygen molecules need to diffuse through?

the lining of the alveolus and the blood capillary

what happens to the oxygen in the blood capillaries?

the oxygen is picked up by the red blood cells

Name all of the adaptations of the alveoli:

large surface area to speed up rate of gas exchange, thin cell walls for a short diffusion pathway to speed up rate of gas exchange, partially permeable membrane to allow only selected materials to diffuse easily, steep concentration gradient maintained, moist to prevent the other alveoli from sticking to each other, surrounded by capillaries for a large blood supply

amount of oxygen inhaled

21%

amount of oxygen exhaled

17%

amount of carbon dioxide inhaled

0.03%

amount of carbon dioxide exhaled

4%

amount of nitrogen inhaled

79%

amount of nitrogen exhaled

79%

Ventilation:

the mechanical action of the muscles surrounding the lungs moving air in and out (inhalation and exhalation)

what does ventilation require?

energy (muscle use), help from the diaphragm

what is ventilation based on?

volume and pressure changes

what does the diaphragm control?

breathing

when does the diaphragm contract during?

inhalation

when does the diaphragm relax during?

expiration

describe the intercostal muscles in inhalation

the intercostal muscles between the ribs contract, pulling the ribs up and out

describe the diaphragm in inhalation

contracts and flattens, increasing the size of the chest

describe the size of the lungs in inhalation

they increase in size

describe the pressure of lungs during inhalation

the pressure falls

describe the intercostal muscles in exhalation

the intercostal muscles between the ribs relax, pulling the ribs down and in

describe the diaphragm in exhalation

relaxes and moves upward, reducing the size of the chest

describe the size of the lungs in exhalation

they decrease in size

describe the volume of the lungs in exhalation

the volume decreases

describe the pressure in the lungs during exhalation

the pressure increases

what is the pulmonary artery?

an artery that starts from the heart that carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs

what is the pulmonary vein?

a vein that returns oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart

what happens to muscle cell respiration during exercising

respiration increases, more oxygen is used up and carbon dioxide levels rise

what happens when the brain detects the increasing levels of carbon dioxide

the brain sends a signal to the lungs to increase breathing

what happens after a signal is sent to the lungs from the brain to increase breathing?

the breathing rate and the volume of air in each breath increase, therefore more gaseous exchange takes place

what does the brain tell the heart to do during exercise?

the brain tells the heart to beat faster so that more blood is pumped to the lungs for gaseous exchange

why does the brain tell the heart to beat faster?

this happens so that more oxygenated blood gets to the muscles and more carbon dioxide in removed

what happens to your respiratory system when you regularly exercise for a long time?

your respiratory system strengthens

what happens to your respiratory muscles when you exercise regularly?

your respiratory muscles get stronger, so that they can make the chest cavity larger

what does a larger chest cavity result in?

this means that more air can be inspired, therefore increasing your vital capacity

what happens to the capillaries of someone who exercises regularly?

more capillaries form around the alveoli, so that more gaseous exchange can take place

what are the respiratory muscles?

the diaphragm and intercostal muscles

how does regular exercise affect gas exchange?

gas exchange can now take place faster, meaning exercise can be maintained at a higher intensity for longer

are lungs muscles?

no lungs are not muscles, they do not increase in size