Respiratory System Flashcards
what is the purpose of the respiratory system?
to exchange gases. In aerobic organisms oxygen needs to be brought to the cells and carbon dioxide has to be removed
how many parts is the human respiratory system split into
2; the upper and lower respiratory system
what parts make up the upper respiratory system
- nose and nasal cavity
- pharynx
- oral cavity
- epiglottis
- trachea
- larynx
nose and nasal cavity
- a hollow area inside the nose where air enters
- hairs line the nose and trap dirt
- air is warmed and moistened
mucus is secreted to trap dirt
Pharynx
- common tube that connects and oral cavity to the trachea and esophagus
- carries food and air
Oral cavity
also allows air to enter the body going to lungs
Epiglottis
- a flap of cartilage that covers the glottis when food is swallowed
- the glottis is the hole that is opening from the pharynx to the trachea
Larynx
Voice box makes sounds as air passes
what parts make up the lower respiratory system
- Bronchi
- Bronchiole
- Alveoli
- Diaphragm
- Intercostal Muscles
- Pleura
Bronchi
- the trachea divides into the right bronchus and left bronchus
- like the trachea bronchi are held open with rings of cartilage
Bronchiole
- many bronchioles branch off from the bronchi
- bronchioles are not held open with cartilage rings
Alveoli
- tiny damp hollow sacs covered outside with capillaries
- gas exchange occurs across the alveoli membrane by diffusion
carbon dioxide goes from the blood into the alveoli and oxygen enters the blood from alveoli - the singular is alveolus
- flattening all your alveoli would cover a tennis court
- this huge surface area increases the amount of gas exchange possible
Diaphragm
- strong muscle separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity
- contracts along with intercostal muscles to produce breathing movement
Intercostal Muscles
- intercostal muscles are attached to the ribs
Pleura
- each lung is covered in tissue called pleuron (singular)
- pleurisy is an infection of the pleura (plural)
How many breathes do we take a day
17 000 to 29 000
3-4 L of air is captured in your lungs when you take a deep breath
what are the 4 components of respiration?
- ventilation or breathing
- external respiration
- internal respiration
- cellular respiration
What does ventilation or breathing consist of
- involves both inhalation and exhalation
- gas exchange between the lungs and the external environment
what does external respiration consist of
- has exchange between alveoli and blood at the respiratory membrane
what is the respiratory membrane
the space between the wall of alveoli and the capillaries
what does internal respiration consist of
gas exchange between blood in capillaries and cells or tissues of the body
what does cellular respiration consist of
- process happens inside the cells of all tissues
- energy = ATP - energy currency of cell
Glucose + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + ATP - 36 Atp molecules are made per glucose
reactions take place in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of all living cells
Functions of the respiratory system
- defending the body against micro-organisms
- produces sounds for speaking
- regulating pH
- maintains homeostasis through a negative feedback loop
- respiratory, circulatory and nervous system works to maintain homeostasis
Nasal cavity and oral cavity locations
where air enters the body
Nasal cavity function
- has lots of blood capillaries to warm the air to body temp when entering
- lined with mucus- secreting cells
- mucus helps moisten and filter air
- mucus, nose hair and cilia filter out large particles and debris
- sinuses help warm and moisten nasal passages
Oral cavity function
most filtering/ warming of air doesn’t happen in the mouth
Pharynx 2
- common path for air and food
- branches into esophagus (eating) and trachea (breathing)
- epiglottis flaps down when swallowing to prevent food from entering lungs
where is the epiglottis located
in the Pharynx
above the larynx closeby
what happens when air and food go down the wrong tubes
it causes coughing, choking and burping