Respiration And Breathing Flashcards
Respiration
The process that releases energy from food
The equation for respiration
Glucose + Oxygen - Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
Aerobic Respiration
Needs oxygen to release energy from food
Anaerobic Respiration
Does not use oxygen to release energy from food
How does Oxygen get to our Cells
Oxygen is carried by the haemoglobin in red blood cells to all cells of the body.
Examples of anaerobic respiration
Yeast converts sugars to alcohol in “Fermentation” - this produces alcohol for drinks such as beers and wines!
Nose
We are supposed to inhale through our nose. The reasons for doing this are:
- Hairs and mucus trap dirt particles and bacteria in the nose.
- Air is warmed and moistened as it passes through the nose. Warm and moist air helps oxygen to pass from the lungs into the bloodstream more easily.
Trachea
The trachea or windpipe, carries air to and from the lungs. It is made of C-shaped rings of rigid cartilage (to prevent it from collapsing).
Bronchus and bronchioles
We have two bronchi. Each bronchus carries air between the trachea and a lung. The two bronchi subdivide many times to form tiny tubes called bronchioles. Bronchioles carry air to and from the air-sacs, or alveoli.
Alveolus
Each lung contains millions of tiny air-sacs called alveoli. The function of each alveolus is gas exchange:
Oxygen passes from the air in the alveolus into the blood vessels.
At the same time carbon dioxide and water pass from the blood vessels into each alveolus.
The gases pass in each direction by a process called diffusion. As an adaptation for diffusion each alveolus has a very thin lining, is moist and is surrounded by many tiny blood vessels called capillaries. For more on diffusion see chapter 13 in Chemical World.
Diaphragm
Is a sheet of muscle that forms the base of the chest. Along with the ribs and intercostal muscles (located between the ribs) the diaphragm causes air to move into or out of the lungs.
