2.3 - Respiratory System Flashcards
What happens to the chest when we breathe in?
The muscles between our ribs contract causing our chest to expand upwards and outwards.
What happens to the diaphragm when we breathe in?
The diaphragm contracts; it flattens and lowers, changing from a dome to a flat shape.
What happens we you breathe air in?
The air passes through the nose it is filtered by the hairs, warmed by the blood vessels and moistened by water vapour before passing through a tube called the trachea.
Describe the trachea and bronchi
The trachea branches left and right into the bronchi which take air to the left and right lung. The trachea and the bronchi also contain microscopic hairs, which are covered with mucus to ensure that the air is cleaned. The bronchi branch off into smaller and smaller bronchioles until at the very end they reach the tiny sacs called alveoli.
How do the alveoli participate in gaseous exchange?
The alveoli are surrounded by capillaries that carry blood. Oxygen in the alveoli diffuses into the deoxygenated blood. Haemoglobin then carries oxygen around the body. At the same time, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood into the alveoli. This carbon dioxide is then breathed out in exhaled air.
What is EPO?
A type of peptide hormone that increases the red blood cell count
What is oxygen debt?
The amount of oxygen consumed during recovery above that which would have ordinarily been consumed in the same time at rest (this results in a shortfall in the oxygen available).
What are the immediate effects of participation in exercise on the respiratory system?
Breathing rate increases, tidal volume increases
What are the long term effects of participation in exercise on the respiratory system?
- It improves the efficiency of the lungs and increases lung capacity
- It increases vital capacity
- It increases the number of alveoli available for gaseous exchange so more oxygen is available for the working muscles and the process becomes more efficient.
What are the effects of smoking on the respiratory system?
Smoking can damage the lungs, especially the alveoli, which become less stretchy so they cannot take in as much oxygen or get rid of carbon dioxide as easily. This means the process of gaseous exchange is less efficient. The person becomes short of breath and their heart has to pump harder to get the oxygen their body needs.
