The Respiratory System

Flashcards about the respiratory system

The respiratory system is responsible for providing the _ needed by the body and for removing the _ produced as your body uses energy for growth, repair, and movement.

oxygen, carbon dioxide

The respiratory system works in collaboration with the system.

circulatory

Air enters through the _ and , passes through the (throat), and travels down the (‘windpipe’).

nose, mouth, pharynx, trachea

The trachea splits into two branches called (singular: bronchus).

bronchi

The epithelial cells that line the trachea produce and have ____ (hairlike projections)

mucus, cilia

Cilia help move mucus &___ any foreign material that might enter the system.

trap

The trachea is supported by rings of __ to keep it open and allow air to flow freely.

cartilage

The _ that makes up this cartilage is formed by cells but is not actually living material.

collagen

enters the bloodstream in the lungs by __.

Oxygen, diffusion

Each of the bronchi branch again and again, ending in tiny air sacs called .

alveoli

The alveoli have very thin walls and are surrounded by a network of __.

capillaries

Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse between the walls of the _ and the walls of the ___.

alveoli, capillaries

The concentration of oxygen in the that flows through the is always less than the concentration of oxygen in the __. This means oxygen always diffuses into the ______.

blood, alveoli, blood

From the lungs the oxygen is transported through the circulatory system to other parts of the body where it diffuses from the _ into the . At the same time, excess ___ diffuses from the cells into the blood where it is carried to the lungs to be expelled.

blood, cells, CO2

The process of breathing involves alternately drawing air into the lungs () and pushing air out (___).

inspiration, expiration

Together, the __ (a large sheet of muscle underneath the lungs) along with the muscles contract and relax to increase or decrease the___ of the lungs.

diaphragm, between the ribs, volume

As the volume of the lungs changes, the ___ inside them also changes. This is how fresh air flows into and out of the _.

pressure, lungs

Breathing is , and is controlled by a part of our brain that detects the concentration of _ in the blood.

involuntary, carbon dioxide

As CO2 levels increase, the brain triggers the ____ to contract to increase breathing, and also triggers the _____ to beat faster to help remove the excess CO2.

diaphragm, heart

Fish have instead of lungs, which operate by bringing the blood very close to the water via __, where oxygen and CO2 can diffuse from the water into the ______.

gills, capillaries, blood

Fish need to either be constantly swimming, or opening and closing their gills in order to keep fresh water __.

flowing over their gills