Respiration and Gas Exchange Flashcards
What is the structure of the thorax?
Ribs Intercostal muscles Diaphragm Trachea Bronchi (pl) Bronchioles Alveoli Plural membranes
What is the function of the ribs?
Bone structure , protects internal organs (e.g: lungs)
What is the function of intercostal muscles?
Muscles between ribs, control their movement causing INGALATION + EXHALATION.
What is the function of the diaphragm?
Sheet of connective tissue + muscle at bottom of thorax
- helps change volume of thorax to allow INHALAITION + EXHALATION
What is the function of the trachea?
Windpipe that connects mouth + nose to lungs
What is the function of the Bronchi (pl)
Large tubes branching off trachea with single bronchiole for each lung
What are the bronchioles?
Bronchi split into smaller tubes (BRONCHIOLES) in lungs connected to alveoli
What is the function of alveoli?
Tiny air sacs where gas exchange takes place.
What is the function of pleural membranes?
Stick outside of lungs to inside of chest cavity.
- so lungs follow CHEST MOVEMENTE, lubricates lungs to REDUCE FRICTION.
Describe the role of intercostal muscles + diaphragm in ventilation?
When we need to INCREASE gas exchange, intercostal muscles will also work to pull ribs up + out + INCREASE VOLUME OF THORAX.
What happens to the pressure inside of lungs when the volume of the thorax increases?
As volume of thorax increases, pressure inside lungs decreases
- once it drops below air pressure outside lungs, AIR IS FORCED IN.
What happens to the internal intercostal muscles during EXHALATION?
They contract
What happens to the external intercostal muscles during EXHALATION?
They relax
Describe what happens during exhalation
- internal intercostal muscles contract
- external intercostal muscles relax
- ribcage moves down + in
- diaphragm relaxes + becomes dome-shaped
- volume of thorax decreases
- pressure inside thorax increases
- AIR IS FORCED OUT
Describe what happens during inhalation
- internal intercostal muscles relax
- external intercostal mucles contract
- ribcage moves up + out
- diaphragm contracts + flattens
- volume of thorax increases
- pressure inside thorax decreases
- AIR IS DRAWN IN
What are alveoli?
Gas exchange surface of the lungs
What are the adaptations of alveoli for gas exchange?
LARGE SURFACE AREA THIN WALLS MOIST SURFACE GOOD BLOOD SUPPLY PERMEABLE
Why do alveoli have a LARGE SURFACE AREA?
Allow faster diffusion of gases across surface
Why do alveoli have THIN WALLS?
Ensure diffusion distances are short
Why do alveoli have a MOIST SURFACE?
So gases can dissolve + diffuse easily
Why do alveoli have a GOOD BLOOD SUPPLY?
To mantain a high concentration gradient so diffusion occurs faster
Why are alveoli PERMEABLE?
to gases, allows gases to pass through
When air is inhaled, from where to where is oxygen diffused?
From alveoli into the blood to be used for respiration by body cells.
What is respiration?
Process that releases energy into every living cell of every organism
Why is energy in respiration important?
Energy is essential for keeping cell alive as it powers processes such as: PROTEIN SYNTHESIS GROWTH REPAIR CELL DIVISION
How does the process of respiration produce ATP in living organisms?
once glucose molecule is broken apart, energy stored in bonds is released + then (LOCKED UP) in bomds of a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
How is the energy released by ATP?
ATP releases energy from its bonds very quickly —> this is why it is used as energy carrying molecules in cells.
What is ATP?
a molecule - adenosine triphosphate, which provides energy for cells
What is the WORD EQUATION for aerobic respiration?
glucose + oxygen –> carbon dioxide + water
What is the BALANCEED SYMBOL EQUATION for aerobic respiration?
C6H12O6 + 6O2 —> 6CO2 + 6H2O
What is aerobic respiration?
the complete breakdown of glucose to release a relatively large amount of energy for use in cell proceses.
What is the energy in aerobic respiration for?
- TO KEEP WARM IN COLD
- TO BUILD LARGE MOLECULES USING SMALL ONES
- ACTIVE TRANSPORT - move materials against concentration gradient.
- TO MAKE MUSCLES CONTRACT
Differences between aerobic + anaerobic respiration
AEROBIC: O2 needed Glucose breakdown complete Products -> CO2 + H2O Energy released is a lot
ANAEROBIC: O2 not needed Glucose breakdown is incomplete Products --> animal cells(lactic acid) , plant cells + yeast(CO2 + ETHANOL) energy released is a little
What are the products of anaerobic respiration in animals?
Lactic acid
What are the products of anaerobic respiration in plant cells + yeast?
CO2 + ETHANOL
What are the effects of anaerobic respiration on the body?
-during anaerobic respiration, muscle cells use sugar to make ATP but dont use oxygen
(this process produces lactate, quickly converted to lactic acid, making muscles burn)
What effect can lactic acid have on the body
makes muscles burn
makes it harder to exercise
Word equation for anaerobic respiration in ANIMALS
GLUCOSE –> LACTIC ACID
Word equation for anaerobic respiration in PLANTS + YEAST
GLUCOSE –> ETHANOL + CARBON DIOXIDE
