Human Breathing System Flashcards
Where is the respiratory system located?
In the chest cavity (thorax).
What happens when air is breathed in through the nose?
Air is filtered, moistened, and warmed.
What is the role of the epiglottis?
Prevents food/drink from entering the trachea.
What does the larynx contain?
Vocal chords for speech.
What are the trachea, bronchi, and larger bronchioles made of?
Muscle, elastic fibres, and rigid cartilage.
What do smaller bronchioles contain?
Muscle and elastic fibres only.
What is the function of mucus in the respiratory system?
Traps dust and microorganisms.
What are cilia?
Tiny hairs that sweep mucus out of the windpipe into the oesophagus.
What encloses each lung?
A pair of pleural membranes.
What is located in the pleural cavity?
A very small amount of fluid.
What is the outer layer of the pleura attached to?
The chest wall (parietal pleura).
What is the inner layer of the pleura attached to?
The lungs (visceral pleura).
What allows the two layers of pleura to slide off each other during breathing?
Tension between the two pleural layers.
Fill in the blank: The expanding chest wall helps to expand the _______.
[lungs]
What are alveoli?
Tiny, thin-walled air sacs that allow gas exchange and are one cell thick.
What gas diffuses from the alveoli to the RBCs in the blood?
Oxygen
What gas diffuses from the blood plasma into the alveoli?
Carbon dioxide
What is inhalation?
Breathing in
What is exhalation?
Breathing out
What surrounds the alveoli?
A network of blood capillaries
What drives the process of breathing?
The level of carbon dioxide
What happens to the diaphragm during inhalation?
It contracts and flattens
Which part of the brain sends a message to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles?
The medulla oblongata
What do intercostal muscles do during inhalation?
Contract, pulling the ribs up and out
What occurs to the volume of the thoracic cavity during inhalation?
It increases
What occurs to the pressure of the thoracic cavity during inhalation?
It decreases
What type of process is inhalation?
An active process
Why is air pulled into the lungs during inhalation?
Because the air pressure outside the lungs is higher than in the lungs
What is asthma?
A breathing disorder with the potential to be life-threatening
What physiological change occurs in asthma?
Narrowing and remodeling of the smaller bronchioles
What triggers asthma?
Outside agents called allergens
How can asthma be controlled?
By avoiding known allergens
What is a common treatment for asthma?
Medication, usually taken from inhalers
What do bronchodilators do for asthma patients?
Reverse the narrowing to allow more air to come in
What do steroid inhalers do?
Reduce inflammation within the lungs
What triggers breathing related to carbon dioxide levels?
Carbon dioxide levels in the blood
What happens to carbon dioxide in the blood or tissue fluid?
It forms an acid
What effect does carbon dioxide have on blood pH?
It decreases the blood pH
What does a decrease in blood pH trigger?
The brain to cause breathing
True or False: Carbon dioxide is a controlling factor in gas exchange in both leaves and human breathing.
True
What effect does exercise have on breathing?
Exercise increases the rate and depth of breathing.
What can be compared to show the effect of exercise on heart rate?
The heart rate at rest, after walking, and after rigorous exercise.
How do you measure the resting breathing rate?
Count the resting breathing rate per minute three times and find the average.
What should you do after counting the resting breathing rate?
Walk slowly for 5 minutes and count the breathing rate per minute.
What is the next step after walking slowly?
Walk at a fast pace for 5 minutes and count the breathing rate per minute.
What should you do after walking at a fast pace?
Exercise intensely for 5 minutes and count the breathing rate per minute.
True or False: Breathing rate decreases with exercise.
False
Fill in the blank: Breathing rate ______ with exercise.
increases
