Intro to Respiratory System

Question 1

What is the difference between respiration and breathing?

Answer 1

Breathing: movement of gases between external environment and the respiratory membrane (lungs)

Respiration: all the processes involved in transporting oxygen to the cells of the body
Includes:
• breathing
• gas exchange
• gas and transport
• cellular respiration

Question 2

2 Main Requirements for a Respiratory Surface

Answer 2

1. Large enough surface area
   • allow oxygen gas and carbon dioxide to be exchange at a rate that meets the organism’s needs
2. Moist
   • so that oxygen gas and carbon dioxide are dissolved

Question 3

Why do we need to breathe?

Answer 3

• supplies O2 to cells for respiration
• removes CO2 and other waste
• helps regulate pH
- all of the above allows cells to function regularly
• it is necessary in order to release energy from nutrients
• phonation (speech)

Question 4

Cellular Respiration

Answer 4

• the process through which cells break down carbohydrates in order to release energy (occurs in mitochondria)
• glucose + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + energy

Question 5

Challenge of Getting Oxygen: Gas Exchange

Answer 5

• different organisms have different ways of getting oxygen to their cells
• as organisms increase in size, this task becomes more difficult because they require more oxygen to function
• oxygen crosses into the system of an organism through a respiratory surface

Question 6

Mammalian Respiratory System

Answer 6

Upper Respiratory Tract
• nasal passages, glottis, pharynx, larynx, and trachea

Lower Respiratory Tract
• Bronchi
• Bronchioles
• alveoli