Breathing and Gas exchange Flashcards
What to do all our cells have to do in order to get the energy they need to function?
Cellular respiration
What do cells require for cellular respiration?
Oxygen
What is the lung’s role in cellular respiration?
To get the oxygen we need from the air all around us into our bloodstream, where it can be transported to the rest of the body
What is the breathing?
The mechanical process to in intake O2/expel O2 into the organ system
Describe the passage the air takes once it’s been inhaled?
- Enters through the mouth and/or the nose
- Travels down the trachea
- Splits and goes down bronchi into each lung
- Bronchi split into bronchioles
- At the end of the bronchioles is the alveoli
What does the diaphragm do when you breath in?
It contracts and flattens, to increase the volume of the chest cavity and gives space for the lungs to expand
What do the intercostal muscles do when you breath in?
They contract, to increase the volume of the chest cavity and gives space for the lungs to expand
What do the ribs do when you breath in?
They get pulled up and out, to increase the volume of the chest cavity and gives space for the lungs to expand
What does the diaphragm do when you breath out?
It relaxes and domes, to decrease the volume of the lungs, which forces air out
What do the intercostal muscles do when you breath out?
They relax, to decrease the volume of the lungs, which forces air out
What do the ribs do when you breath out?
They get pulled down and in, to decrease the volume of the lungs, which forces air out
How are the alveoli adapted for gas exchange?
- High surface area
- Thin walls (one cell thick)
- Moist walls
Why do the alveoli have a high surface area?
To increase the rate of diffusion
Why do the alveoli have thin walls?
To create a short diffusion pathway, which increase the rate at which carbon dioxide and oxygen can diffuse across
Why do the alveoli have moist walls?
To allow gases to dissolve, which increases the rate of diffusion
