Respiration and Excretion Notes

Flashcards created from lecture notes covering key concepts in respiration and excretion.

Chemical respiration

The chemical reaction that releases energy from food molecules, such as glucose, and stores it in ATP.

Mitochondria

The cellular organelle where chemical respiration occurs.

Exhalation

The act of breathing out, during which carbon dioxide is released.

Inhalation

The act of breathing in, during which oxygen is absorbed into the body.

Gas exchange

The process of absorbing oxygen from the environment and releasing carbon dioxide.

Alveoli

Moist, thin air sacs surrounded by blood vessels where gas exchange occurs.

Diaphragm

A dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and plays a key role in respiration.

Bronchioles

The smaller branches of the bronchial tubes that lead into the lungs.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in the body.

Kidney

An organ that filters blood to produce urine and regulates substances in the blood.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtration and reabsorption.

Bicarbonate

An ion formed from carbonic acid; it plays a crucial role in regulating pH levels in the blood.

Oxyhemoglobin

The complex formed when oxygen binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells.

Carbonic acid

A weak acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water; important in regulating blood pH.

Ureter

The tube that transports urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

Dialysis

A medical procedure that filters waste from the blood when the kidneys are not functioning.

Emphysema

A lung disorder characterized by the destruction of alveoli, leading to breathing difficulties.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, resulting in coughing and difficulty breathing.

Cirrhosis

A liver disease marked by the replacement of healthy tissue with scar tissue, affecting liver function.

Urea

A nitrogenous waste product formed from the breakdown of proteins, excreted in urine.