Respiration in Humans Flashcards
What is the order in which air flows through the respiratory system?
Nostrils, nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
What is the pleural cavity?
Each lung lies in a pleural cavity. Each pleual cavity is lined by two transparent elastic membranes known as pleura
The inner pleura covers the lungs and the outer pleura touches the wall or the thorax and diaphragm.
Pleural fluid lies between the layers
What are the advantages of breathing through the nose?
- Dust and foreign particles, including bacteria are trapped by hairs in the nostril and mucus on the mucous membrane
- When air passes through the nasal passages, it is warmed and moistened before entering the lungs
- Harmful chemicals can also be detected by smell sensory cells in the mucous membrane
How are foreign particles removed from the respiratory system?
- The thinner walls of the trachea and bronchi are lined by epithelium bearing cilia
- Gland cells in the epithelium secrete mucus to trap dust and foreign particles
- Cilia help to sweep these particles up trachea and bronchi and into the pharynx
- From here they are swallowed into the oesophagus
Describe
The structure of the trachea
- In front of the oesophagus
- Suppoted by C shaped cartilages
- Branch into 2 bronchi
Describe
The structure of bronchi
- Divide into many fine bronchioles
- Each bronchiole leads to a cluster of alveoli
Describe the process of inspiration
- Diaphragm contracts and flattens
- Internal intercostal muscles relax , external intercostal muscles contract (RICE)
- Ribs move upwards and outwards
- Thoracic volume increases
- Air pressure in thorax decreases
- Air flows into lungs
Describe the process of expiration
- Diaphragm relaxes and arches upwards
- External intercostal muscles relax, internal intercostal muscles contract (ERIC)
- Ribs move downwards and inwards
- Thoracic volume decreases
- Air pressure in thorax increases
- Air flows out of lungs
How are the lungs adapted for gaseous exchange?
4 adaptations
- Numerous alveoli in the lungs give a large surface area for exchange
- Walls of alveoli are one cell thick; shorter distance –> greater rate of diffusion
- Thin layer of moisture covers the surface of alveolus; allows oxygen to dissolve in it
- Walls of alveoli are richly supplied with blood; flow of blood maintains steep concentration gradient
Describe
How gaseous exchange takes place in the alveoli
- Takes place by diffusion
- Blood entering the lungs have a higher conc. of CO2 but lower conc. of O2 compared to atmosphere
- A concentration gradient is set up between blood and alveolar air
- Oxygen diffuses from alveolar air into blood
- Carbon dioxide diffuses from blood into alveolus
- The concentration gradient is maintained by constant breathing and continuous flow of blood in capiliaries
How is oxygen absorbed in your lungs?
- One cell thick wall is permeable to O2 and CO2
- As alveolar air has a higher conc. of O2 than blood, O2 dissolves into moisture lining the walls of the alveoli and diffuses into the blood capiliaries
What is tidal air?
The volume of air entering and leaving the lungs (500cm3) in a normal, quiet breathing cycle
What is complemental air?
The extra volume of air (1500 cm3) that can be taken in during a deep breath
What is supplemental air?
The extra volume of air that can be forced out (1500 cm3) during a depp expiration
What is the vital capacity of the lungs?
Vital capacity= tidal air+complementary air+supplementary air