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Bio L6 (5) Oxygen and carbon dioxide: gas exchange and transport > Lung structure and function > Flashcards

Lung structure and function Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Match the SA:Mass ratio of the lungs with the mammal it belongs to:

  • Seals, Humans and Bats.
  • 7cm2/g, 13 cm2/g, 100cm2/g.
A 
Humans = 7cm2/g.
Seals = 13 cm2/g.
Bats = 100cm2/g.
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2
Q

What is the relative diameter of an alveoli?

A

They are very small, diameter roughly 100um (micrometers)

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3
Q

What is the SA:V ratio like for alveoli?

A

There is a huge SA:V for alveoli and the lungs in general.

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4
Q

What is the capillary bed surrounding the alveoli like?

A

It is very dense, nearly covers 87% of the alveoli.

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5
Q

What is the alveolar epithelium?

A

“A layer of cells separating the body tissues from the environment”.

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6
Q

What is the endothelium?

A

“A layer of cells separating the blood from the tissues.”

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7
Q

What is squamous epithelium?

A

“A thin and flat cell at an exchange surface.”

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8
Q

Alveoli contains an epithelial cell which is specialised to produce what?

A

Surfactant.

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9
Q

What does surfactant do and why is this beneficial?

A

It lowers the surface tension of water which allows us to inflate our lungs properly.

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10
Q

Why may premature babies have trouble inflating their lungs fully?

A

Their surfactant producing cells have not developed enough and therefore water has a high surface tension and the lungs cannot inflate properly.

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11
Q

What is Fick’s Law?

A

Rate of diffusion is proportional to the concentration gradient x surface area / diffusion distance.

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12
Q

According to Fick’s law, which factors can be increased to speed up the rate of diffusion?

A 
Surface Area(:Volume ratio).
Concentration Gradient.
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13
Q

According to Fick’s law, which factors can be decreased to speed up the rate of diffusion?

A

Diffusion distance.

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14
Q

According to Fick’s law, which factors can be increased to slow down the rate of diffusion?

A

Diffusion distance.

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15
Q

According to Fick’s law, which factors can be decreased to slow down the rate of diffusion?

A 
Surface Area(:Volume ratio).
Concentration Gradient.
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16
Q

How are the alveoli adapted to have a high surface area?

A

They are very small so their SA:V ratio is large.

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17
Q

How are the alveoli adapted to have a high concentration gradient?

A

Ventilation of alveoli maintains the gradient, as well as the circulation of blood.

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18
Q

How are the alveoli adapted to have a low diffusion distance?

A

Squamous epithelial cells.

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19
Q

The trachea, bronchi and bronchioles are known as dead space, what does this mean?

A

They are simply a passage for air and gas exchange does no occur here.

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20
Q

What is the function of the smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles?

A

They allow the diameter of the airways to be altered to control movement of air into the alveoli.

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21
Q

What is the function of the C shaped rings of cartilage in the trachea and bronchi?

A

They prevent collapse of airway as pressure falls during inhalation they also allow expansion of oesophagus during swallowing.

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22
Q

Which airways contain most cartilage?

A

Trachea and Bronchi, to make sure the airway stays open.

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23
Q

How is cartilage found in the trachea and bronchi?

A

In a C-shaped formation.

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24
Q

What is the function of the goblet cells?

A

To produce mucus which collects dust and foreign particles such as bacteria.

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25
Q

What is the function of the ciliated epithelial cells?

A

They ‘waft’ the mucus up the throat to prevent it reaching the lungs.

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26
Q

What is the antagonistic pair in the wall of the bronchioles?

A

Smooth muscle and loose tissue with elastic fibres.

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27
Q

How does the antagonistic pair work in the bronchioles?

A

Smooth muscle contracts the airway and then elastic fibres recoil to open the airway back up.

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28
Q

Which part of the the antagonistic pair restricts the bronchiole?

A

Smooth muscle.

29
Q

Which part of the the antagonistic pair opens up the bronchiole?

A

Loose tissue with elastic fibres.

30
Q

Air entering through the nose enters which cavity?

A

Nasal cavity.

31
Q

Air entering through the mouth enters which cavity?

A

Buccal cavity.

32
Q

Where do the nasal and buccal cavities lead?

A

The pharynx

33
Q

What difference is there to air entering the nasal cavity and the buccal cavity?

A

Air in the buccal cavity is not warmed or moistened as much as the air passing through the nasal cavity, and it is not filtered at all.

34
Q

What is the pharynx?

A

A tube that conducts both food and air.

35
Q

What prevents food from going down the trachea?

A

The epiglottis closes over the glottis to block off the windpipe.

36
Q

What is commonly known as the windpipe?

A

Trachea.

37
Q

What is the little flap of tissue that prevents food entering the windpipe?

A

Epiglottis.

38
Q

Where is the larynx located?

A

Just above the trachea.

39
Q

From the pharynx, where does air go before the trachea?

A

The larynx.

40
Q

What holds open the trachea?

A

C-shaped rings of cartilage.

41
Q

Without the cartilage rings, what would happen to the trachea?

A

It would collapse when breathing out.

42
Q

Why are the cartilage in the trachea C-shaped and not fully circular?

A

To allow food to pass down the oesophagus.

43
Q

What are the microscopic hair-like extensions on the ciliated epithelium?

A

Cilia.

44
Q

What is the function of the cilia in the trachea?

A

They beat in a wave-like manner, moving mucus, dust, and microorganisms upwards and out of the lungs.

45
Q

The trachea divides into two main branches, what are these?

A

The right and left bronchus.

46
Q

What does the bronchus divide into?

A

Smaller branches called the bronchioles.

47
Q

Where do the bronchioles lead to?

A

Numerous alveoli.

48
Q

What is mucus?

A

A slimey material rich in glycoproteins.

49
Q

What happens to air entering the nasal cavity?

A

It is filtered by the nasal hairs, warmed by contact with the tissues and moistened by cells in the mucous membrane.

50
Q

What adaptations do the alveoli have fore efficient gas exchange?

A
  • Very thin walls.
  • A moist inner surface.
  • A huge combined surface area.
  • A rich blood supply.
51
Q

What are the microscopic bulbous sacs in the lungs?

A

Alveoli.

52
Q

Where does gaseous exchange occur?

A

Alveoli.

53
Q

How is oxygen obtained and transported?

A

Obtained from the air and transported in the blood.

54
Q

What is the main function of the gaseous exchange system?

A

Exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and the blood.

55
Q

What is ventilation?

A

The continuous flow of air into and out of the lungs.

56
Q

How is ventilation achieved?

A

Through the breathing mechanics of the chest.

57
Q

The main organ of gaseous exchange is the lungs, however some animals breathe through other ways, give an example:

A

Aquatic vertebrates = Gills.
Some land vertebrates = Skin.
Bats can use their wings to lose C02 as well as their lungs.

58
Q

What is the rough diameter of an alveoli?

A

100 um (micrometers).

59
Q

What maintains the moistness of the alveoli?

A

The fluid from the cytoplasm passes through the cell surface membrane on the surface of the alveolar walls.

60
Q

What is the transport medium for the oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and body cells?

A

Blood.

61
Q

What is the unit for partial pressure?

A

kPa (Kilopascals).

62
Q

What protects the lungs from external forces?

A

The ribcage.

63
Q

What is the passage of air to where it it exchanged into the blood?

A

Trachea -> Bronchi -> Bronchiole -> Alveoli.

64
Q

How many layers of intercostal muscles are there?

A

3, but only label internal and external.

65
Q

What is the structure of a single alveoli?

A

Each alveolus is made from a single layer of thin, flat cells called alveolar epithelium.

66
Q

How are the alveoli adapted for gas excahnge?

A

1) Thin exchange surface.

2) Large surface area.

67
Q

How do the alveoli ensure a large surface area?

A

Through the massive numbers of them present.

68
Q

How do the alveoli ensure a thin exchange surface?

A

The alveolar epithelium is only one cell thick meaning there is a short diffusion pathway.

69
Q

How does the alveoli’s steep concentration gradient maintain itself?

A

Through the dense network of capillaries supplying lots of blood for diffusion.

Bio L6 (5) Oxygen and carbon dioxide: gas exchange and transport (8 decks)

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