Respiratory System Flashcards
what is the respiratory system?
the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe.
The respiratory system is responsible for getting oxygen into the body and carbon dioxide out of the body.
-When we breathe in air enters the lungs, oxygen from the air is absorbed into the blood and transported to all the cells of the body.
-Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and into the lungs, when we breathe out it leaves our body.
trachea (windpipe) …
tube that air travels through to get to and from the lungs.
The trachea is held open by rings of cartilage.
bronchus …
(plural = bronchi)
trachea branches into two bronchi – one is connected to each lung.
Just like the trachea they are held open by rings of cartilage
bronchioles
smaller branches that lead from the bronchi into different parts of the lungs
alveolus …
(plural = alveoli) (adaptions to gas exchange)
Alveoli are the millions of tiny air sacs found in the lungs.
Gas exchange takes place in the alveoli. Air enters and leaves the alveoli via a bronchiole.
The alveoli have very thin walls and are surrounded by lots of capillaries (that also have very thin wall). This makes it easy for oxygen to diffuse from the air in the alveolus to the blood in the capillary and carbon dioxide can diffuse from the blood into the alveolus to be exhaled.
This is called gas exchange.
Thin walls - alveolar walls are one cell thick providing gases with a short diffusion distance. Moist walls - gases dissolve in the moisture helping them to pass across the gas exchange surface. Permeable walls - allow gases to pass through.
gas exchange…
happens in the alveoli (in the lungs).
Oxygen diffuses from the air in the alveolus to the blood in the capillary.
Carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the alveolus to be exhaled.
blood capillary …
(plural = capillaries)
tiny blood vessels that are found in every part of the body.
They have very thin walls so that substances can diffuse in and out of the blood easily.
intercostal muscle…
muscles found between the ribs
diaphragm…
a large sheet of muscle found under the lungs which contracts and relaxes when inhaling and exhaling
what is respiration and where does it take place?
respiration is the chemical reaction that releases energy from glucose (from our food) so that the cells can use it and takes place in the mitochondria of the cells
happening in every cell of our body all the time
Aerobic respiration…
Aerobic respiration happens when the cell has plenty oxygen. The glucose and oxygen react together. Energy is released and carbon dioxide and water are produced as waste products.
The equation for aerobic respiration is:
glucose + oxygen ——-> carbon dioxide + water (+ energy)
Anaerobic respiration…
When someone is exercising, the muscle cells may not get enough oxygen to do aerobic respiration, but they still need energy, so they do anaerobic respiration instead.
Anaerobic means without oxygen. The glucose is only partially broken down so less energy is released. The waste product is lactic acid.
The equation for anaerobic respiration is:
glucose ——> lactic acid (+ little energy)
The lactic acid is removed by the blood. If we exercise a lot, the lactic acid can build up in the muscle cells making them feel tired and sore.
Pulse rate…
How fast the heart is beating (bpm)
When we exercise our heart beats faster because the cells of our body need more oxygen and glucose to release energy by respiration, so our pulse rate increases.
Athletes have a lower bpm as exercise strengthens the heart muscle, enabling it to pump a greater volume of blood with each heartbeat, therefore producing less bpm but with greater volume of blood with each beat.
