B5 - Respiratory systems

Question 1

What is breathing?

Answer 1

Breathing is the exchange of gases.

Question 2

What is respiration?

Answer 2

Respiration is the release of energy from food.

Question 3

What is gaseous exchange?

Answer 3

The movement of gases across an exchange membrane e.g lungs.

Question 4

Why do earthworms dig deeper into the soil in dry weather?

Answer 4

Their skin must be moist for oxygen to dissolve in so they will need moisture from deeper in the soil.

Question 5

What is the scientific name for a windpipe?

Answer 5

The windpipe is called the trachea.

Question 6

What two structures protect the lungs?

Answer 6

The ribs protect the lungs and pleural membrane surrounds the lungs.

Question 7

What is a spirometer?

Answer 7

An instrument for measuring the air capacity of the lungs.

Question 8

What is the overall amount of air that you can breathe called?

Answer 8

This is called the tidal capacity.

Question 9

What is the small amount of air that cannot be breathed out called?

Answer 9

This is called the residual capacity.

Question 10

Why is the residual capacity necessary?

Answer 10

To prevent alveoli from sticking together.

Question 11

Describe what happens to the diaphragm, intercostal muscles and the ribs as air is breathed in.

Answer 11

The diaphragm contracts and flattens out, the intercostal muscles contract and the ribs move out and up.

Question 12

Describe what happens to the diaphragm, intercostal muscles and the ribs as air is breathed out.

Answer 12

The diaphragm relaxes and stretches, the intercostal muscles relax and the ribs move down and in.

Question 13

Why does the diaphragm flatten when it contracts?

Answer 13

So that it creates a vacuum and inflates the lungs with air.

Question 14

What happens to the volume in the lungs when air is breathed in?

Answer 14

Lung volume increases.

Question 15

What happens to the pressure in the lungs when air is breathed in?

Answer 15

Lung pressure decreases.

Question 16

What happens to the volume in the lungs when air is breathed out?

Answer 16

Lung volume decreases.

Question 17

What happens to the pressure in the lungs when air is breathed out?

Answer 17

Lung pressure increases.

Question 18

Why does diffusion take place in the lungs?

Answer 18

The air entering the lungs has a higher amount of oxygen than the deoxygenated blood flowing through the lungs so diffusion takes place.

Question 19

Where does gaseous exchange take place?

Answer 19

In the alveoli.

Question 20

Why does carbon dioxide diffuse out of the blood?

Answer 20

Because the blood contains a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than the air does.

Question 21

What is an alveoli?

Answer 21

The alveoli are the tiny air sacs in the lungs through which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

Question 22

How are the alveoli adapted to be efficient gas exchangers?

Answer 22

• a large surface area
• a moist surface
• a thin permeable lining
• a good blood supply

Question 23

Why does the surface area where gaseous exchange takes place need to be as large as possible?

Answer 23

So that the exchange of gases is quicker and more effective.

Question 24

What is asthma?

Answer 24

A condition where airways are restricted and inflamed.

Question 25

Name four other diseases of the respiratory system besides asthma.

Answer 25

• bronchitis
• cystic fibrosis
• lung cancer
• pneumonia

Question 26

Which cells in the lungs make mucus?

Answer 26

Epithelium cells also known as goblet cells.

Question 27

What does mucus do?

Answer 27

Mucus traps dust particles and some bacteria.

Question 28

What are cilia?

Answer 28

Cilia are hair like structures that produce a wave like motion that pushes mucus upwards out of the lungs and into the throat.

Question 29

What is the drug called that widens bronchioles?

Answer 29

Ventolin is a drug that widens bronchioles.

Question 30

What are bronchioles?

Answer 30

Bronchioles are the passageways by which air passes through the nose or mouth to the alveoli.

Question 31

What is the function of a bronchiole?

Answer 31

To ensure that incoming air goes to the alveolus.

Question 32

Why are amphibians restricted to damp habitats?

Answer 32

They rely on moist skin for respiration.

Question 33

Why are the alveoli easily damaged?

Answer 33

They are easily damaged because they are thin, moist and delicate to ensure efficient diffusion of oxygen.