Respiratory System Flashcards
primary function of the respiratory system
- exchange gases with the environment to obtain O2 and to excrete sufficient CO2
why do we need O2
- perform oxidative phosphorylation for cellular respiration to produce ATP
why do we need to excrete CO2 (2)
- excess CO2 in blood will cause the blood to become acidic
- lead to protein denaturing and malfunction
what are the major processes necessary for gas exchange with the environment
- ventilation
- perfusion
ventilation
- moving air/water across the gas exchange surface (breathing)
perfusion
- pumping blood through the capillaries of an organ; pumping blood through the capillaries of the gas exchange surface
diffusion
- spontaneous movement of molecules/atoms from a region of high [ ] to a region of low [ ]
what are the 3 important structural adaptations that increase diffusion rate
- large surface area
- thin tissue
- highly vascularized
fick’s equation
- used to calculate the diffusion rate of a gas
dV/dt
- diffusion rate: volume of gas (O2, CO2) moving through a given area (epithelium of the alveoli) in a given amount of time
A (2)
- surface area of the gas exchange surface
- the total SA of all the alveoli in the lung that is being ventilated and perfused
D
- diffusion coefficient, a constant that represents how easily a specific gas can diffuse through a certain medium (epithelium of alveoli and capillaries)
dx
- thickness of the tissue separating the blood from the air inside the alveoli
(P1 - P2)
- partial pressure gradient across the gas exchange surface
- P1: partial pressure of O2 in the air inside the alveoli
- P2: partial pressure of the O2 passing through the capillaries
gill structure - chondrichthyes (4)
- gill rays project from pharyngeal arches III - VII and support the interbranchial chambers
- complete interbranchial septae separate the parabranchial chambers
- distal ends of each septum forms a flap valve that covers the parabranchial chamber
- gill rakers project into the pharynx, forming a screen across openings to parabranchial chambers, preventing food from entering and damaging delicate gills
respiratory gill structure
- primary lamellae project from sides of interbranchial septum
- fragile secondary lamellae on both sides of primary lamellae form tiny vertical ridges and are the site for gas exchange
gill structure - actinopterygii
- gill rays project from pharyngeal arches III - VII and support the interbranchial chambers
- complete interbranchial septae separate the parabranchial chambers
- distal ends of each septum forms a flap valve that covers the parabranchial chamber
- gill rakers project into the pharynx, forming a screen across openings to parabranchial chambers, preventing food from entering and damaging delicate gills
structure of gills - amphibians (2)
- many larval amphibians have external gills that project into the surrounding water
- most lose these gills during transition from larval to adult form; however, some salamanders retain their gills as adults
disadvantages of external gills (2)
- more exposed to the environment and susceptible to damage
- if taken out of H2O, gills will collapse and SA will decrease = decreased in diffusion rate
suction phase
- chamber is expanded, increasing its volume and decreasing its pressure
pressure phase
- chamber is compression, decreasing its volume and increasing its pressure