Gas exchange in humans Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the gas exchange system located?

A

The thorax

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2
Q

Describe what happens when we breath in?

A
  1. Air passes down trachea
  2. Trachea splits to form the two bronchi
  3. These tubes lead to the lungs
  4. Bronchi branch into smaller and smaller tubes called bronchioles
  5. At the end of each bronchiole there are alveoli
  6. These are the sight of gas exchange
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3
Q

What are the lungs surrounded by? (Clue: Pleural)

A

Pleural Membrane

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4
Q

What does the Pleural Membrane do? (Clue: Combined with pleural fluid)

A

The pleural membrane combined with pleural fluid forms a air tight seal and prevents the lungs sticking to thorax wall

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5
Q

What do the ribs do?

A

Help to protect the organs in the thorax

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6
Q

What do intercostal muscles do and where are they located?

A
  • They are located between the ribs

- They are important in moving air in and out of the lungs

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7
Q

What does the diaphragm do?

A

Important in moving air in and out of the lungs

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8
Q

What is ventilation?

A

Process of moving air into and out of the lungs

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9
Q

What are the two types of ventilation (Clue: Breathing in and breathing out)

A

Inhalation and Exhalation

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10
Q

Describe the process of inhalation?

A
  1. Diaphragm contracts
  2. Intercostal muscles contract
  3. This causes the volume of thorax to increase and air pressure in thorax to fall
  4. Air pressure in the thorax is less than atmospheric pressure
  5. Air moves into lungs
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11
Q

Describe the process of exhalation?

A
  1. Diaphragm relaxes
  2. Intercostal muscles relax
  3. This causes the volume of thorax to decrease and air pressure in thorax to rise
  4. Air pressure in the thorax is more than atmospheric pressure
  5. Air moves out of lungs
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12
Q

Where does Gas Exchange in humans occur (Clue: Air Sacs)

A

Alveoli

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13
Q

How does oxygen diffuse in the alveoli? (Clue: Red blood cells)

A

Oxygen diffuses from the air into red blood cells, where it binds with haemoglobin for transport.

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14
Q

How does carbon dioxide diffuse in the alveoli? (Clue: Plasma)

A

Carbon dioxide, dissolved in the plasma, diffuses from blood into the alveolus

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15
Q

Why do alveoli have a large surface area? (Clue: Speed up diffusion)

A

Increases the rate of diffusion

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16
Q

What is each alveolus surrounded by and what do they do? (Clue: Speed up diffusion)

A
  • Capillaries constantly carry deoxygenated blood to the alveolus and oxygenated blood away.
  • This maintains a high concentration gradient and so speeds up diffusion
17
Q

How thick are alveoli and what do they do? (Clue: Speed up diffusion)

A
  • One cell thick

- Gases need to move a very small distance speeding up diffusion

18
Q

What happens during exercise? (Clue: Breathing)

A

Our breathing rate increases

19
Q

What happens when our breathing rate increases?

A

We excrete CO2 more rapidly

20
Q

Why does are heart pump faster when doing exercise?

A

To supply more oxygen for aerobic respiration

21
Q

How do we measure breathing rate?

A
  1. Count the number of breaths per minute at rest and for a minute after exercise. Then work out the difference.
22
Q

How do we measure breathing depth?

A
  1. Use a spirometer
23
Q

What does CORMS stand for?

A
Change (Dependant and Independant)
Organism
Repeats
Measure (Equipment)
Same (Fair test)
24
Q

What makes tobacco addictive?

A

Nicotine

25
Q

What is in tobacco that can alter the DNA and increase the risk of cancer?

A

Carcinogens

26
Q

Carbon monoxide is in tobacco. What does this do when inhaled?

A

Carbon monoxide irreversibly binds to the haemoglobin forming carboxyhemoglobin

27
Q

What does tobacco destroy which results in mucus production?

A

It destroys cilia which leads to an increase in mucus production. The mucus can’t be moved out of airways and so builds up causing smokers cough.

28
Q

How is bronchitis caused by tobacco?

A

Caused by the build up of infected mucus in the bronchi and bronchioles

29
Q

How is emphysema caused?

A
  1. Alveoli walls break down and fuse together
  2. This forms large irregular air spaces
  3. This decreases the surface area for gas exchange
  4. Less oxygen diffuses into the blood