Respiratory System

Question 1

Aortic bodies

Answer 1

collections of nerve receptors in the aortic arch that enable the medulla oblongata to maintain homeostasis by making adjustments to breathing and heart rate

Question 2

Alveoli

Answer 2

microscopic sac-like endings of bronchioles that form the lungs; through its surface, gas exchange occurs

Question 3

Bronchi

Answer 3

branches of the trachea which conduct air to and from the lungs, have cartilage and mucus

Question 4

Bronchioles

Answer 4

branches of the bronchi, which eventually divide further into alveoli; as they get smaller, they lose their cartilage and rely instead on elastic fibres

Question 5

Carbon dioxide

Answer 5

toxic byproduct of cellular respiration remove from the body by the respiratory system

Question 6

Carotid bodies

Answer 6

nerve receptors in the carotid arteries that are sensitive to chemical composition and pressure of blood— help maintain homeostasis

Question 7

Cilia (sing. cilium)

Answer 7

short hair-light structures that line the major air passageways and propel mucus towards the epiglottis –> mucus traps particles in the air and cilia moves it to be disposed of

Question 8

Diaphragm

Answer 8

sheet-like muscle dividing the body cavity, located between liver and lungs; when it contracts, stimulates inhalation

Question 9

Exhalation

Answer 9

breathing out –> signaled by strech receptors on the surface of alveoli to send an impulse to the medulla oblongata to stop impulses to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles; as a result, air is forced out of the lungs
note: is a passive process and does not require energy

Question 10

External respiration

Answer 10

gas exchange (diffusion) across alveoli surfaces –> intake of O2, decrease in CO2, produces oxygenated blood

Question 11

Inhalation

Answer 11

breathing in –> medulla oblongata registers a high concentraion of CO2 and H+ in blood, sends impulse to contract the diaphragm and intercostal muscles

Question 12

Intercostal (rib) muscles

Answer 12

smooth muscle tissue between the ribs whose contraction contributes to inhalation (causes ribcage to pivot out and up, increasing the volume of the cavity)

Question 13

Internal respiration

Answer 13

gas exchange at systemic capillary beds, increases O2 concentration in extracellular fluids so it can diffuse into cells; where CO2 enters into the plasma, produces deoxygenated blood

Question 14

Larynx

Answer 14

voice box, first structure of the trachea under the epiglottis which contains the vocal cords

Question 15

Lungs

Answer 15

organs of gas exchange, comprised of five lobes at the ending of the bronchioles and made up of alveoli and associated with pulmonary capillaries

Question 16

Oxyhemoglobin

Answer 16

combination of O2 and Hb (HbO2) which forms in pulmonary capillaries; each molecule has four bonding sites for oxygen

Question 17

Pharynx

Answer 17

region at the back of the mouth where both food and air travel; base has both openings to esophagus (food) and trachea (air)

Question 18

Pleural membrane

Answer 18

inner/outer membranes surrounding the lungs; during breathing, the surfaces slide in a frictionless manner

Question 19

Respiratory centre

Answer 19

portion of the brain that monitors the blood and signals the contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles causing inhalation; located in the medulla oblongata

Question 20

Medulla oblongata

Answer 20

aka the brain stem –> controls reflexive, homeostatic actions involving non-skeletal muscle coordination (ie. heart and breathing rate, swallowing, vomiting)

Question 21

Respiratory tract

Answer 21

organs involved in breathing (nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs)

Question 22

Ribs

Answer 22

12 ribs make up the ribcage, which is the attachment for respiratory muscles and aids in breathing; also serves as a shield for the vital organs (heart, lungs, etc.)

Question 23

Stretch receptors

Answer 23

type of nerve receptor sensitive to stretching, located on the surface of alveoli –> trigger impulses to the medulla oblongata to induce exhalation (stops sending of signal to diaphragm and intercostal muscles)

Question 24

Trachea

Answer 24

windpipe –> cartilaginous ringed tube that conducts air up and down the neck; top contains larynx and epiglottis while the bottom splits into two bronchi leading to the lungs