Gas exchange Flashcards
What is gas exchange for?
- To clean and warm the air that enters during breathing.
- Maximise surface area for diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and atmosphere
- Minimise distance for this diffusion
- Maintain adequate gradients for this diffusion
what is Respiratory tract?
Passageways that carry air to and from the exchange surface of the lungs.
Where does respiratory tract begin?
Begins at the entrance to the nasal cavity and extends to the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and larger bronchioles.
What are nostrils and nasal passage lined with?
Nostrils are lined with hair and nasal passage are lined with a moist mucus membrane.
What is cilia?
microscopic hair-like structures. Has the function to keep the airway clean.
What provides sense of smell?
olfactory receptors
What is the function of hair and mucus?
To trap dust and bacteria
What does cartilage in larynx?
Acts like a strong yet flexible support system to keep the airway open and stable for breathing.
What is trachea?
Tube running from pharynx to lungs.
Passage way for air to move into the lungs.
Where is bronchi?
At its lower end, trachea divides into two tubes, bronchi, one leading to each lung
Function of c-shaped rings in trachea?
Prevents trachea being blocked by ‘kinks’ when neck bends. Keep trachea open when it develops a low internal air pressure during every intake of breath
Epithelium lining inner walls of trachea also bears?
cilia and goblet cells
What secretes mucus?
goblet cells / mucous glands
what is bronchi?
Passageway for air to move into the lungs
what is bronchioles?
bronchus divides repeatedly to form a mass of very fine branches called bronchioles. Passageway for air to move into the lungs
