Respiration Flashcards
The need for oxygen
All plant and animal cells require oxygen for survival through the process of aerobic cellular respiration.
Aerobic cellular repiration
Process of using oxygen to obtain energy from food through various chemical reactions
basic equation
basic equation to release energy required for life is:
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ 🡪 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy
Glucose +Oxygen 🡪 Carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP)
64% of energy is thermal energy : maintains body temperature
The remaining 36% is stored energy
HOW DOES OXYGEN GET TO OUR CELLS?
Gas Exchange : oxygen diffuses into cells, while carbon dioxide diffuses out
In simple organisms, this happens directly through cell membranes/ skin to/from (i.e. Jelly Fish)
how does oxygen get to our cells in humans
Humans contain many cells that do not directly contact the environment around us (air)
Cannot use mechanisms of simple organisms
Solution: specialized organ systems to supply O₂ and remove CO₂ waste
Gas Exchange occurs in two locations:
- lungs
- body cells
RESPIRATORY STRUCTURES
There are 4 key structural features of the respiratory system:
- A thin permeable respiratory membrane: for diffusion
- A large surface area: for gas exchange
- A good blood supply: carries blood
- A breathing system/path to bring oxygen rich air to the system
Without all four of these features, the system cannot function
INHALATION: 1) NOSE AND MOUTH
To prevent damage to thin and delicate respiratory membrane:
- Air is warmed and moistened
- Nasal hairs and mucus filter and trap dust and other particles
INHALATION – UPPER TRACT
2) Pharynx (back of throat)
3) Glottis: opening to trachea
4) Trachea: tube connecting mouth to lungs
Trachea structural features
- C-shaped cartilage rings: semi-rigid and open trachea
- Mucus Cells: sticky mucus to trap foreign particles
- Cilia: hair-like projections on cells to sweep trapped material upward to be swallowed, coughed, or sneezed
TO THE LUNGS
- The trachea branches into two bronchi
- The bronchi then branch off into smaller tubes called the bronchioles
- These tubes end in small sacs called the alveoli which are surrounded by a network of capillaries
- Each alveolus is tiny, and is surrounded by a bed of even tinier capillaries
Lungs
he major organs of the respiratory system: Two Lungs
provide the:
- thin respiratory membrane
- large surface area
- supply of blood required
contained within thoracic cavity: Rib cage provides protection
ALVEOLI
- The large number of alveoli allow for maximum surface area for gas exchange
- facilitated by the warm, moist and extremely thin membrane they are made of
- allows for easy diffusion of gases across the membrane and into the blood
gas exchange in lung
- occcurs in lung and body cell
- oxygen diffuses from the air into the bloodstream where it is transported by red blood cells to the cells and tissues that make up the body
gas excange in tissue
- The cells of all tissues are surrounded by interstitial fluid
- Oxygen will diffuse out of the blood into this fluid
- Then from the fluid into the cells
- At the same time carbon dioxide is transported, but in reverse, out of the body
GAS EXCHANGE VS. VENTILATION
- Gas Exchange: process of gases diffusing in and out of tissues with their concentration gradient (inside)
- Ventilation: process of moving oxygen-rich air to the lungs and carbon dioxide- rich air away from the lungs in complex organisms (outside)