Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AS PE > 1.2 - The respiratory system > Flashcards

1.2 - The respiratory system Flashcards

1
Q

Define respiration:

A

The taking in of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why does the body need a continuous supply of oxygen?

A

To produce energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does respiration include? (5)

A

Ventilation - getting air into and out of the lungs.

External respiration - gaseous exchange between the lungs and blood.

Transport of gases

Internal respiration - exchange of gases between the blood in the capillaries and the body cells.

Cellular respiration - the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in a cell to obtain energy from fuels such as glucose.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is air and how is it drawn into the body?

A

A mixture of gases and it is drawn into the body through the nose.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the pathway of air:

A
  • In through the nasal cavity (mouth and nose).
  • Through the pharynx.
  • Onto the larynx (voice box).
  • Down the trachea (windpipe).
  • Into the right and left bronchus.
  • Air moves through each bronchus and then they subdivide into secondary bronchi.
  • Into progressively thinner branches called bronchioles.
  • Then into the respiratory bronchioles.
  • Leading into the alveoli.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a way to remember the passage of air?

A

Nearly Lobbed The Ball Brilliantly Again.

Nose, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the alveoli responsible for?

A

The exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How does gaseous exchange occur?

A

Via diffusion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How are the alveoli adapted for gaseous exchange?

A
  • Thin walls (1 cell thick) meaning a short diffusion pathway.
  • An extensive capillary network surrounds the alveoli so they have a good blood supply.
  • They have a large surface area as there are millions of alveoli in each lung allowing for a greater uptake of oxygen.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a way of remembering the adaptations for diffusion at the alveoli?

A

BOG

Big surface area
One cell thick
Good blood supply

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Define diffusion:

A

The movement of gas molecules from an area of high concentration or partial pressure to an area of low concentration or partial pressure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define gaseous exchange:

A

The movement of oxygen from the air into the blood, and carbon dioxide from the blood into the air.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In terms of the mechanics of breathing, the greater the difference in pressure…

A

The faster air will flow.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the pressure difference needed for inspiration:

A

The pressure needs to be lower in the lungs than in the atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the pressure difference needed for expiration:

A

The pressure needs to be higher in the lungs than in the atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How will increasing and decreasing the volume of the thoracic cavity (chest cavity) affect the pressure in the lungs?

A

Increasing the volume = reduction in the pressure of air in the lungs.

Decreasing the volume = increase in the pressure of the air in the lungs, forcing the air out.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What muscles are used in these ventilation phases at rest?

1) Inspiration
2) Expiration

A

1) Diaphragm, external intercostals.

2) Passive process so diaphragm and external intercostals just relax.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What muscles are used in these ventilation phases during exercise?

1) Inspiration
2) Expiration

A

1) Diaphragm, external intercostals, sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, pectoralis major.
2) Internal intercostals, abdominals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe the mechanics of breathing when inhaling:

A

Ribcage moves upwards and outwards.
Diaphragm contracts and is pulled flat.
Air taken in.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe the mechanics of breathing when exhaling:

A

Ribcage falls.
Diaphragm relaxes and rises to dome-shaped position.
Air forced out.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is inspiration?

A

Taking air into the lungs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is expiration?

A

Moving air out of the lungs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Roughly how much air do we inspire and expire at rest?

A

Approximately 0.5 litres.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is tidal volume?

A

Volume of air breathed in or out per breath.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)?

A

Volume of air that can be forcibly inspired after a normal breath.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is expiratory reserve volume (ERV)?

A

Volume of air that can be forcibly expired after a normal breath.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is minute ventilation?

A

The volume of air inspired or expired per minute.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How can minute ventilation be calculated?

A

Number of breaths taken per minute (approx 12) x Tidal volume.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What effect will exercise have on lung volumes and why?

A

More oxygen is required so depth of breathing increase. Tidal volume also increases because we are using more of our inspiratory and expiratory reserve volume.

30
Q

What is residual volume?

A

The amount of air that remains in the lungs after maximal expiration.

31
Q

Why does some air remain in our lungs after maximal expiration/breathing?

A

Because we can never totally empty our lungs as there will still be some air left in the alveoli, bronchi and trachea as these are held open permanently by rings of cartilage.

32
Q

How will tidal volume change during exercise?

A

Increase

33
Q

How will inspiratory reserve volume change during exercise?

A

Decrease

34
Q

How will expiratory reserve volume change during exercise?

A

Slight decrease

35
Q

How will residual volume change during exercise?

A

Remains the same

36
Q

How will minute ventilation change during exercise?

A

Big increase

37
Q

What is a spirometer?

A

A device that is used to measure the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs.

38
Q

How is a spirometer used and how does it work?

A

An individual breathes in and out of a sealed chamber through a mouthpiece making the chamber inflate and deflate and as this happens, a pen recorder traces the breathing movements onto a chart.

39
Q

How will a spirometer trace look different during exercise?

A

The lines will be closer and longer showing quicker and deeper breathing. There will be longer peaks and troughs for tidal volume showing that the inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes are reduced.

40
Q

How does minute ventilation change/differ with different intensities of exercise?

A

The more demanding the exercise, the more breathing increases to meet the extra oxygen demand so minute ventilation would increase more with higher intensity exercise than at a lower intensity.

41
Q

What is partial pressure?

A

The pressure exerted by an individual gas when it exists within a mixture of gases.

42
Q

What is a concentration/diffusion gradient?

A

Often referred to as the concentration gradient. It explains how gases flow from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. The steeper the gradient (difference between concentration levels at high and low areas), the faster diffusion occurs.

43
Q

How much of air is oxygen?

A

Approx 21%.

44
Q

Why does oxygen diffuse from the alveoli into the capillaries?

A

The partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the alveoli (100 mmHg) is higher than the partial pressure of oxygen in the capillary blood vessels (40 mmHg) as oxygen has been removed by the working muscles so its concentration in the blood is lower and therefore so is its partial pressure. Due to the concentration gradient, oxygen will diffuse into the blood until the pressure is equal in both.

45
Q

What does the partial pressure of oxygen have to be like at the tissues for gaseous exchange at the muscles?

A

Partial pressure of oxygen has to be lower at the tissues than in the blood for diffusion to occur.

46
Q

What 3 factors are involved in the regulation of pulmonary ventilation (breathing) during exercise?

A 
Neural control (brain and nervous system)
Chemical control (blood acidity)
Hormonal control
47
Q

What happens to the breathing when blood acidity is high and how does this happen?

A

The brain is informed and it sends impulses through the nervous system to increase breathing.

48
Q

In terms of respiration what effect does the sympathetic nervous system do?

A

Prepares body for exercise so will increase breathing rate.

49
Q

In terms of respiration what effect does the parasympathetic nervous system have?

A

Lowers breathing rate.

50
Q

What happens to the rate of breathing if there is an increased carbon dioxide concentration in the blood?

A

Increased respiratory rate stimulated by the respiratory centre.

51
Q

What are the 2 main areas of the respiratory centre and what do they do?

A

The inspiratory centre - responsible for inspiration and expiration. It sends out nerve impulses via the phrenic nerve to the inspiratory muscles (diaphragm and external intercostals) causing them to contract. This stimulation lasts for around 2 seconds and then these impulses stop and passive expiration occurs due to the elastic recoil of the lungs.

The expiratory centre - stimulates the expiratory muscles during exercise.

52
Q

What does the respiratory centre mainly respond to?

A

Changes in blood chemistry.

53
Q

Why does blood acidity increase during exercise and how does the respiratory centre respond?

A

It increases as a result of an increase in the plasma concentration of carbon dioxide and an increase in lactic acid production. These changes are detected by chemoreceptors, which are found in the carotid artery and the aortic arch and they send impulses to the inspiratory centre to increase ventilation until the blood acidity has returned to normal. To do this the respiratory centre sends impulses down the phrenic nerve to stimulate more inspiratory muscles (the sternocleidomastoid, scalenes and pectoralis minor). As a result, the rate, depth and rhythm of breathing increase.

54
Q

What are proprioceptors?

A

Sensory receptors found in muscles and joints that provide information to the central nervous system about position and movement.

55
Q

How do mechanical factors affect neural control of breathing?

A

Proprioceptors are sensory receptors located in the joints and muscles that provide feedback to the respiratory centre to increase breathing during exercise.

56
Q

How do baroreceptors affect neural control of breathing?

A

A decrease in blood pressure detected by baroreceptors in the aorta and carotid arteries results in an increase in breathing rate.

57
Q

How do stretch receptors affect neural control of breathing?

A

During exercise the lungs are also stretched more. Stretch receptors prevent over-inflation of the lungs by sending impulses to the expiratory centre and then down the intercostal nerve to the expiratory muscles (abdominals and internal intercostals) so that expiration occurs.

58
Q

If barorecptors, proprioceptors or chemoreceptors detect a change, where is the information sent?

A

Inspiratory centre.

59
Q

If stretch receptors detect a change, where is this information sent?

A

Expiratory centre.

60
Q

How is information sent from the respiratory centre to the diaphragm and external intercostals and what is the outcome of this?

A

Via the phrenic nerve.

Breathing rate increases.

61
Q

How is information sent from the respiratory centre to the abdominals and internal intercostals and what is the outcome of this?

A

Via the intercostal nerve.

Expiration increases.

62
Q

What is the simplified order of neural/chemical control for inspiration?

A
  • Receptors
  • Medulla
  • Phrenic nerve
  • Diaphragm and external intercostals
63
Q

What is the simplified order of neural/chemical control for expiration?

A
  • Receptors
  • Medulla
  • Intercostal nerve
  • Abdominals and internal intercostals
64
Q

What is adrenaline and where is it made?

A

The hormone that increases breathing rate in preparation for exercise.

Produced in the adrenal glands of the kidney.

65
Q

How is adrenaline transported and where does it affect?

A

In the blood.

It affects the nervous system.

66
Q

What is adrenaline often referred to as and why is it released?

A

Often referred to as the body’s activator and is released in response to exercise.

67
Q

Why/how is adrenaline released before we exercise and what effect does this have?

A

Just before we start exercise, the brain sends impulses to the renal glands which respond and pump adrenaline into the blood in anticipation of the increased need for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.

As a result breathing rate increases in preparation for exercise and the demand to take in more oxygen and remove more carbon dioxide.

68
Q

How does smoking affect the respiratory system? (7)

A
  • It can cause irritation of the trachea and bronchi.
  • It reduces lung function.
  • Increases breathlessness caused by the swelling and narrowing of the lungs’ airways.
  • Cigarette smoke damages the cells lining the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles.
  • Excess mucus builds up in the lung passages as cilia on the cells are damaged so can’t push it out of the lungs leading to smoker’s cough to try to get rid of the mucus.
  • Damage alveoli as their walls break down and join together forming larger air spaces than normal, reducing the efficiency of gaseous exchange and therefore increasing the risk of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
  • Reduced oxygen transport as the carbon monoxide from cigarettes combines with haemoglobin in red blood cells much more readily than oxygen. This therefore reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, increasing breathlessness during exercise.
69
Q

What are cilia?

A

Microscopic hair-like projections that help to seep away fluids and particles.

70
Q

What is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?

A

A chronic and debilitating disease and is the name for a collection of diseases such as emphysema. The main cause of emphysema is smoking. It is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that causes shortness of breath.

71
Q

What is the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli?

A

100mmHg

72
Q

What is the partial pressure of oxygen in the capillaries?

A

40mmHg

AS PE (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions