Y9. Chapter 3 - Breathing and Gas Exchange - The alveoli and disease

chronic disease

a disease that develops gradually and continues over a long period of time

Cancer

A disease in which some body cells grow and divide uncontrollably, damaging the parts of the body around them.

Alveoli

tiny air sacs of lung tissue specialized for the movement of gases between air and blood

Trachea (windpipe)

Allows air to pass to and from lungs

Nicotine

The addictive drug found in tobacco

tar

a thick, dark liquid that forms when tobacco burns

Emphysema

a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and fused together, this greatly reduces the surface area for gaseous exchange.

chronic bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchi persisting over a long time.

The tar in cigarettes damages and paralyses the cilia.

Therefore bacteria build up and you get more chest infections.

The tar also irritates the lining encouraging more mucous to be produced which cant then be cleared.

Therefore, the smoker develops a heavy cough called a smoker’s cough and also chronic bronchitis.

Carcinogen

substance that causes cancer by causing cells to mutate into tumours.

goblet cells

a column-shaped cell found in the respiratory and intestinal tracts, which secretes the main component of mucus.

Cilia

The hairlike projections on the outside of cells that move in a wavelike manner.

They "waft"

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

fatty deposits in the wall of the coronary arteries which normally supply your heart with oxygen.

Eventually these can get blocked entirely by a clot and oxygen will not get to some of the heart.

This is called a heart attack