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Physical Education > 3. The Respiratory System > Flashcards

3. The Respiratory System Flashcards

1
Q

What happens to oxygen in the vascular system?

A
  • During exercise O2 diffuses into the capillaries supplying the muscles
  • 3% dissolves in plasma
    -97% combines with haemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin
    -At tissues,O2 dissociates from haemoglobin due to low pressure of O2 at tissues
  • within muscle, O2 stored by myoglobin
    → myoglobin has a high affinity (liking) for O2
    → it stores O2 until it can travel through capillaries to mitochondria (stored in muscles - where aerobic respiration takes place)
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2
Q

Myoglobin definition

A

Protein in muscle that stores oxygen

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3
Q

Carbon dioxide in vascular system

A
  • 70% transported in blood as hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate) ions
  • produced by muscles as a waste product, diffuses into bloodstream
  • taken up by red blood cells (combines with H2O ) and forms carbonic acid
    → most dissociates to bicarbonate & hydrogen ions
  • 23% combines with haemoglobin
    -7% dissolves in plasma
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4
Q

What is respiration?

A
  • body needs continuous supply of O2 to produce energy (ATP)
  • when we use O2 to break down food to release energy or when we exercise, CO2 is produced & must be removed
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5
Q

Respiration definition

A

The taking in of O2 & removal of CO2

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6
Q

Respiratory system function

A

To transport oxygen from the air we breathe through a system of tubes into our lungs and then into the bloodstream

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7
Q

Structure of the lungs

A

-Lungs found in thorax
- protected by rib cage & separated from abdomen by diaphragm muscle
- each lung is surrounded by pleura, a double membrane which contains lubricating pleural fluid
- right lung is slightly larger than left
- right lung has 3 lobes, left has 2

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8
Q

Haemoglobin characteristics

A

-In red blood cells
- transport oxygen from lungs to tissue
- binds with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin

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9
Q

Myoglobin characteristics

A

-In muscle cells
- stores & releases oxygen in muscles
- high affinity for oxygen so can hold & release when levers are low

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10
Q

How does an oxygen molecule travel through the bloodstream?

A
  1. Air drawn through nose & mouth
  2. Passes through pharynx into larynx
  3. Epiglottis covers opening of larynx to prevent food entering lungs
  4. Air moves into trachea (windpipe)
  5. Air passes into 1 of 2 brooch - 1 enters each lung
  6. Air travels into bronchioles
  7. at the end of the bronchioles, air enters 1 of many millions of alveoli
  8. Gaseous exchange occurs in alveoli - takes place by diffusion
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11
Q

What happens when you inhale?

A
  • External intercostal muscles contract
  • diaphragm contracts (flattens)
  • pulls ribcage up & out
  • causes thoracic cavity size to increase
  • decreased pressure in thoracic cavity
  • gases move from areas of high → low pressure
    -Oxygen moves from atmosphere to lungs

Exercise:
- sternocleidomaftoid muscle lifts the sternum & pectoralis minor raises s the ribs, scalene muscles (neck)

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12
Q

What happens when you exhale?

A
  • external intercostal muscles relax
    -Diaphragm relaxes (domes)
  • pulls ribcage down & in
  • thoracic cavity decreases size
  • thoracic cavity increases pressure
    -gases move from lungs into atmosphere

Exercise:
- internal intercostals help pull ribs down
- abdominals push diaphragm up

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13
Q

Alveoli role

A

Responsible for gas exchange between lungs & blood

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14
Q

Alveoli structure

A
  • dense capillary networks - supply of oxygen
  • extremely thin (one cell thick) - create large surface area & small diffusion distance for greater oxygen uptake
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15
Q

Mechanics of breathing

A
  • Air moves from area of high→ low pressure
  • greater pressure difference = faster the air flows
  • during inspiration pressure needs to be lower in lungs than atmosphere
  • during expiration the pressure needs to be higher in lungs than atmosphere
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16
Q

Tidal volume - definition & values

A

Volume of air breathed in or out per breath
- rest = 0.5L
-Exercise = ↑

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17
Q

Inspiratory reserve volume - definition & values

A

Volume that can be forcibly inspired after a normal breath
-Rest = 3.1L
-Exercise =↓

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18
Q

Expiratory reservevolume - definition & values

A

Volume that can be forcibly expired after a normal breath
- rest = 1.2 L
-Exercise = slight ↓

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19
Q

Residual volume - definition & values

A

Volume that remains in the lungs after maximum expiration
-Rest =1.2L
-Exercise= no change

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20
Q

Vital capacity - definition & values

A

Volume forcibly expired after maximum inspiration in one breath
TV + IRV + ERV = VC
- rest = 4.8 L
-Exercise = slight ↓

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21
Q

Minute ventilation - definition & values

A

Volume breathed in or out per minute
-Rest =6L
-Exercise = large ↑

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22
Q

Total lung capacity - definition & values

A

Vital capacity + residual volume
-Rest =6L
-Exercise = slight ↓

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23
Q

How does exercise affect lung volumes?

A

Move oxygen is required so breathing rate & tidal volume need to increase, this reduces the ability to breathe in or out an extra amount of air so IRV & ERV decrease

24
Q

Minute ventilation - definition & values

A

Volume of air inspired or expired per minute

Number of breaths per min (~12) x tidal volume (~0.5L) = 6L/min

25
Q

What is a spirometer trace?

A

Graphical represensation produced by a spirometer - a device that measures lung function
- records volume of air inhaled/exhaled over time

26
Q

O2 demand & CO2 production - maximal vs submaximal

A

-Max: more O2 needed, more CO2 produced, ventilation increases
-Submax: lower O2 demand, less CO2 output, ventilation rises to steady state

27
Q

Ventilatory response - maximal vs submaximal

A

-Max: ventilation spikes to expel high CO2 levels from lactic acid accumulation
-Submax: ventilation reaches steady state as aerobic metabolism meets O2demand without excess lactic acid

28
Q

Anaerobic vs aerobic metabolism - maximal vs submaximal

A

-Max: shifts partly to anaerobic, generating lactic acid & increasing ventilation
-Submax: remains largely aerobic, keeping ventilation lower & stable

29
Q

Respiratory Control Centre (control of ventilation)

A

Nervous system can increase or decrease the rate, depth (TV) and rhythm of breathing
- breathing rate regulated by respiratory muscles (controlled involuntarily)
- split into inspiratory centre & expiratory cente

30
Q

Inspiratory centre stimulated by…

A

-Baroreceptors: ↑ blood pressure
-Chemoreceptors: ↑ blood acidity (↓ ph),↑ CO2,↓O2
-Proprioreceptors: ↑ muscle movement
→ length: muscle spindles
→ tension: Golgi tendon organs

31
Q

Expiratory centre stimulated by…

A

Stretch receptors: prevent overinflation of lungs
→ if excessively stretched they send impulses to expiratory centre to induce expiration (Heuring Breuer reflex)

32
Q

Inspiratory centre nerve

A

Phrenic nerve

33
Q

Phrenic nerve causes…

A
  • Diaphragm contracts
  • External intercostals contract
    (sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis minor, scalene)
34
Q

Result of phrenic nerve actions

A

Increased inspiration→ increased breathing rate & depth (TV)

35
Q

Expiratory centre nerve

A

Intercostal nerve

36
Q

Intercostal nerve causes…

A
  • Diaphragm relaxes
    -external intercostals relax
    (Abdominals, internal intercostal)
37
Q

Result of intercostal nerve action

A

Increased expiration → increased breathing rate & depth (TV)

38
Q

Diffusion definition

A

Movement of gas molecules from an area of high concentration / partial pressure to an area of low concentration / partial pressure until equilibrium is reached

39
Q

Gas exchange definition

A

Movement of O2 from air into blood & CO2 from blood into air

40
Q

Where does external respiration take place?

A

Between lungs & capillaries

41
Q

Where does internal respiration take place?

A

Between capillaries & tissue
-O2 enters tissue, CO2 enters capillaries
-Part of systemic circulation

42
Q

What does the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve show?

A

How much oxygen separates from the haemoglobin it is bound to

43
Q

What is haemoglobin & oxygen saturation?

A

Haemoglobin is a protein that can carry up to 4 oxygen molecules each
Oxygen saturation reflects how much oxygen is being carried by the blood
Usually measured as a %

44
Q

What is the oxygen saturation in the lungs?

A
  • when blood passes through the capillaries surrounding the lungs, oxygen binds to haemoglobin resulting in high saturation levels
  • this oxygen rich blood circulates to deliver oxygen to tissues & organs
45
Q

What is the oxygen saturation in the tissues ?

A
  • as blood reaches the tissues, some O2 is released (dissociates) from haemoglobin to meet cellular demands
  • reduces oxygen saturation in blood as haemoglobin releases O2
46
Q

What is the oxygen saturation during exercise?

A

When more O2 is needed, haemoglobin releases more O2 leading to lower saturation so it moves back to the lungs for resaturation

47
Q

Causes of oxygen dissociation from haemoglobin are…

A
  • Increase in blood & muscle temp
  • decrease in partial pressure of 02 in muscle (↑ diffusion gradient)
  • increase in partial pressure of CO2 (↑ gradient)
  • increase in acidity caused by more CO2 / H+ / lactic acid in blood (Bohr effect)
48
Q

Partial pressure definition

A

The pressure exerted by a single type of gas within a mixture of gases
- represents the contribution of each gas to the total pressure

49
Q

Partial pressure of gases in lungs

A

O2 has ↑p.p in alveoli man blood
CO2 has↑ p.p in blood than alvedi

50
Q

Partial pressure of gases in tissues

A

O2 has ↑ p.p in blood than tissues
CO2 has ↑ p.p in tissues than blood

51
Q

AVO2 diff definition

A

The difference between the oxygen content of the arterial blood arriving at the muscles and the venous blood leaving the muscles

52
Q

What is the AVO2 diff at rest ?

A

Low difference of O2 between arterial & venous blood ( 8x O2 enters, 2x used, 6x leaves)
During rest there is a low oxygen demand in the muscles

53
Q

What is the AVO2 diff during exercise?

A

High difference of O2 between arterial & venous blood (8x O2 enters, 6x used, 2x leaves)
During exercise there is a higher demand for O2 in the muscles. More O2 dissociates from haemoglobin as there is a higher production of CO2 in the muscle.

54
Q

How can a performer increase their AVO2 diff? (Physiological adaptations)

A
  1. Increase muscle capillary density: larger surface area for oxygen exchange
  2. Enhance mitochondrial density:↑ size, number & efficiency, use O2 to produce ATP
  3. Improve haemoglobin levels: ↑ haemoglobin for O2 to bind to
  4. Improve myoglobin levels: improve ability to store & transport O2
55
Q

VO2 max definition

A

Maximum rate someone can consume O2 during intense exercise ( ml/kg /min)
→ cardiac output (q) x AVO2 diff = VO2 max

Physical Education (10 decks)

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