Respiratory System

Question 1

What is the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Takes oxygen from the air and supplies it to the blood, as well as removing carbon dioxide.

Question 2

What is the role of the respiratory system?

Answer 2

Takes oxygen from the atmosphere and positions it where it can diffuse into the blood, as every cell in the body requires oxygen.

Question 3

Why is there such a thing as the cardio-respiratory system?

Answer 3

Due to the close interplay that exists between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Question 4

Order of organs in the respiratory system:

Answer 4

1. Pharynx
2. Larynx
3. Trachea
4. Lungs
5. Bronchi
6. Bronchioles
7. Alveoli

Question 5

What is the structure of the lungs?

Answer 5

A pair of organs in the chest. Each lung has an upper, middle & lower lobe and they are protected by the ribs.

Question 6

What is the function of the lungs?

Answer 6

Lungs expand and contract to supply oxygen and rid the body of carbon dioxide through gas exchange.

Question 7

What is the structure of the trachea?

Answer 7

Made up of about 20 C-shaped rings of cartilage that keep the windpipe open, even if the neck is turned.

Question 8

What is the function of the trachea?

Answer 8

To provide a structure that enables air to be transported from the larynx to the bronchi.

Question 9

What is the structure of the pharynx?

Answer 9

Part of the throat, starting at the nose and finishing at the voice box (larynx).
- It’s part of the respiratory and digestive systems.

Question 10

What is the function of the pharynx?

Answer 10

For digestion, the muscular walls of the pharynx enable swallowing and transportation of food. This provides the link for air to travel to the trachea.

Question 11

What is the structure of the larynx?

Answer 11

The larynx is made up of cartilage, muscles, membranes, mucous membranes, and ligaments.
- It contains vocal chords.

Question 12

What is the function of the larynx?

Answer 12

Keep food and drinks out of the airways during swallowing, preventing choking. It also manages airflow when breathing, and coughing and manages the tone and pitch of the voice.

Question 13

What is the structure of the bronchi?

Answer 13

The 2 bronchi, branch off from the trachea. The cartilage rings in the walls of the bronchi keep it open, just like the trachea.

Question 14

What is the function of the bronchi?

Answer 14

To carry air from the trachea to the bronchioles in both lungs.

Question 15

What is the structure of the bronchioles?

Answer 15

The bronchioles are the smaller passages that divide off from the bronchi.

Question 16

What is the function of the bronchioles?

Answer 16

Provides smaller, divided air passages that connect the bronchi to the millions of alveoli.

Question 17

What is the structure of the alveoli?

Answer 17

Millions of microscopic air sacs which are located in the lungs.

Question 18

What is the function of the alveoli?

Answer 18

The alveoli allow for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood supply.

Question 19

What is the structure of the mouth, nose and naval cavities?

Answer 19

Bone and cartilage that leads to the pharynx.

Question 20

What are the functions of the mouth, nose and naval cavities?

Answer 20

The function is to warm, filter and moisten the incoming air.

Question 21

What is the structure of the cilia?

Answer 21

Hair-like structures found in the respiratory tract?

Question 22

What is the function of the cilia?

Answer 22

Helps to keep airways clean of dirt and mucous.

Question 23

On its route to the lungs, the air passes down several conducting passages. List these passages in order:

Answer 23

Nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli.

Question 24

What happens to the air in their journey to the lungs, and why is this important?

Answer 24

It is warmed, moistened and filtered to provide the optimum conditions for gaseous exchange.

Question 25

How does the function of air passing through the body to the lungs, reduce the amount of dust entering the lungs?

Answer 25

The hairs trap dust in the nose, which is then sneezed out. The hairs trap dust in the throat, which is coughed out.

Question 26

When the air reaches the end of the conducting tubes it arrives at the alveoli. These are tiny air sacs and there are millions of them. It has been estimated that the surface area of the alveoli is equivalent to the size of a tennis court. Why do we need to have such a large surface area of alveoli?

Answer 26

The greater the surface area, the more oxygen that can be passed into the blood and the more carbon dioxide that can be passed to the alveoli.

Question 27

Carbon dioxide is delivered back to the alveoli by the blood. List the route that the carbon dioxide takes on its way back to the atmosphere:

Answer 27

Alveoli, bronchiole, bronchi, trachea, larynx, pharynx, nasal passages.

Question 28

How does the structure of the nose relate to its function?

Answer 28

Hairs to filter, blood supply to warm.

Question 29

How does the structure of the pharynx relate to its function?

Answer 29

Conducting tube, hairs to filter.

Question 30

How does the structure of the larynx relate to its function?

Answer 30

The voice box.

Question 31

How does the structure of the trachea relate to its function?

Answer 31

Lined with mucous-secreting cells with hairs that push foreign particles out of the lungs.

Question 32

How does the structure of the bronchi + bronchioles relate to its function?

Answer 32

Carry air deep into the lungs.

Question 33

How does the structure of the alveoli relate to its function?

Answer 33

Very thin walls and very close to capillaries, making the occurrence of gas exchange easier.

Question 34

What is inspiration?

Answer 34

Breathing in. Occurs because of the difference in air pressure in the lungs and outside the body. During inspiration, the air pressure in the lungs decreases. To negate this difference in pressure, air from outside the body rushes into and fills the lungs.

Question 35

What is expiration?

Answer 35

Breathing out. Occurs because of the imbalance of air pressure in the lungs. When the air pressure inside the lungs increases, the air is forced out in the process of expiration to again balance air pressure.

Question 36

What is gaseous exchange?

Answer 36

During inspiration, the alveoli receive air containing high amounts of oxygen and low amounts of carbon dioxide. At the same time, blood (in the capillaries) arrives at the alveoli, which is the opposite (low amounts of oxygen and high amounts of carbon dioxide). These different percentages of oxygen and carbon dioxide create a pressure difference. This allows oxygen to move from the alveoli into the blood and carbon dioxide to move from the blood to the alveoli, where it is breathed out.

Question 37

How many steps are in the cycle of breathing?

Answer 37

5

Question 38

What is the first step of the cycle of breathing?

Answer 38

The respiratory system brings in air from the atmosphere.

Question 39

What is the second step of the cycle of breathing?

Answer 39

The air is taken into the lungs.

Question 40

What is the third step of the cycle of breathing?

Answer 40

Inside the lungs the oxygen is transferred to the blood and CO2 is removed from the blood.

Question 41

What is the fourth step of the cycle of breathing?

Answer 41

CO2 (waste product) is breathed out along with heat and water vapour.

Question 42

What is the fifth step of the cycle of breathing?

Answer 42

The cycle starts again.

Question 43

What is the immediate effect of exercise on respiration?

Answer 43

• Rate and depth of breathing increase rapidly to meet the increased demands placed on the body.
• Following exercise, respiratory levels will remain elevated for a period of time to help rid the body of waste products.
• An increase in breathing rate, leads to an increase of inspiration of oxygen and expiration of carbon dioxide.

Question 44

What happened to the rate and depth of breathing during each activity?

Answer 44

The rate and depth of breathing both increased.

Question 45

What happened to the rate and depth of breathing when exercise ceased?

Answer 45

After a period of time, both will return to their normal pre-exercise state.

Question 46

What factors influenced how quickly your breathing rate returned to normal?

Answer 46

Levels of fitness, breathing rate before starting exercise, intensity of exercise, smoking and gender.

Question 47

What effect would an aerobic training program have on respiration?

Answer 47

Resting breathing rate would decrease, lung capacity would increase, resting breathing rates would return to normal faster after exercise, oxygen uptake would increase and the body would use oxygen more efficiently.