Breathing System Flashcards
What is the function of the nose?
Warms incoming air
What is the function of nasal hairs?
Filters incoming air
What is the function of cilia?
It’s tiny hairs that line the respiratory system that push mucous up towards the mouth for swallowing
What is the function of the larynx?
It produces sound
What is the function of the rings of cartilage?
Keep the airways open and prevents them from collapsing
What is the function of the epiglottis?
Stops food entering trachea [pharynx]
What is the function of the ribs?
Protect the lungs and heart
What is the function of the intercostal muscles?
They contract during inhalation
What is the function of the diaphragm?
It’s a sheet of muscle that separates the lungs and intestines
What is the function of the pleural membrane?
Lubricates and protects the lungs when they move against the rib cage
What is the bronchus?
It’s one of the branches of the trachea
What is the bronchioles?
Branches of the bronchi
What is the function of the trachea?
It carries air to lungs
What is the function of the alveolus?
Found at the end of the bronchioles and are covered in a network of capillaries
Where does gas exchange occur?
In the alveoli [in the lungs]
Deoxygenated blood in gas exchange in alveoli
Comes from the heart through pulmonary artery
Oxygenated blood in gas exchange in alveoli
Returns to heart through pulmonary vein
What moves from the blood into the alveolus?
Co2 and h20 by diffusion
What moves from the alveolus into the blood?
Oxygen by diffusion
Adaptations of alveoli and capillaries for gas exchange
Thin walls - diffuses easily
Moist surface - faster diffusion
Capillary network - allows gases to diffuse easily
Large number of alveoli - large surface area
What kind of process is breathing
An involuntary process - not done consciously
What occurs during inhalation?
Diaphragm contracts and lowers
Intercostal muscles contract causing ribcage to move up and out
Volume of thoracic cavity increases causing air pressure in the lungs to decrease
Equalise pressure, air is drawn into the lungs
What kind of a process is inhalation?
Active process - energy is needed
What occurs during exhalation?
Diaphragm relaxes and rises
Intercostal muscles relax causing ribcage to move in and down
Volume of thoracic cavity decreases and pressure increases
Equalise pressure - air pushed out
What kind of process is exhalation?
Passive process - no energy required
Symptoms of asthma
Noise wheezy breathing
Cause of asthma
Cigarette smoke
Allergens are inhaled causing lower bronchioles to become narrow - difficult to breathe
Prevention of athsma
Identify allergens and avoid them
Treatment for asthma
Inhale drugs that cause bronchioles to widen - inhaler
What is the medulla oblongata?
It’s in the brain and detects the level of carbon dioxide gas in the blood
Is carbon dioxide acidic or alkaline?
Acidic, lowers pH
How does the medulla oblongata detect the level of co2
It sends a nervous impulse to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles causing them to contract when the level of co2 in the blood gets too high
Where does gas exchange occur?
In the alveoli [in the lungs]
Deoxygenated blood in gas exchange in alveoli
Comes from the heart through pulmonary artery
Oxygenated blood in gas exchange in alveoli
Returns to heart through pulmonary vein
What moves from the blood into the alveolus?
Co2 and h20 by diffusion
What moves from the alveolus into the blood?
Oxygen by diffusion
Adaptations of alveoli and capillaries for gas exchange
Large number of alveoli - large surface area
Thin walls - diffuses easily
Moist surface - faster diffusion
Capillary network - allows gases to diffuse easily
What kind of process is breathing
An involuntary process
Name a human breathing disorder
Asthma
Make sure to know how to draw human breathing tract!!
Pg 32 in purple book
Diagram of microscopic detail of human lung
Exam paper, page 144
Diagram of microscopic lung
Give two features of the structures in diagram that allow for efficient gas exchange
Thin wall
Large no. of alveoli
Which gas, dissolved in the blood, can trigger deeper or faster breathing?
CO2
Name the process involved in the passage of gas between the alveolus and the blood
Diffusion
What part of the brain is responsible for controlling breathing?
Medulla Oblongata
Give two ways in which the medulla oblongata is adapted for efficient gas exchange?
Numerous
Thin walls
Name the process by which gas exchange occurs?
Diffusion
In which part does gas exchange occur?
Alveolus
Where is the diaphram found?
Below the lungs seperating the lungs and intestine
Where are the intercostal muscles found?
Between the ribs
