Respiratory System Flashcards
Process of inspiration
- intercostal muscles between the ribs contract, pulling the ribs up and out
- diaphragm muscle contracts and flattens, increasing the size of the chest
- lungs increase in size causing the pressure inside to fall
- air enters through the nasal cavity or mouth
Components of the respiratory system
Trachea Lungs Bronchus Bronchioles Inter-costal muscles Diaphragm
Process of expiration
- inter costal muscles relax and so the chest walls fall in and down
- the diaphragm relaxes and bulges up
- lungs decrease in size causing an increase in pressure
- air is pushed up and out of the lungs
Describe gas exchange at the lungs
Is the process of exchanging CO2 in the body with O2 in the air
- air containing O2 enters the lungs and passes into the alveoli
- deoxygenated blood containing CO2 enters the capillaries surrounding the alveoli
- CO2 diffuses out of the blood stream into the alveoli and leaves the lungs
- simultaneously O2 diffuses into the blood stream and binds to the RBCs
- oxygenated blood leaves the lungs
Describe gas exchange at muscles/cells
- oxygenated blood leaving via the aorta travels along the arteries to the capillaries
- the O2 diffuses into the cell as CO2 diffuses out of there cell into the bloodstream
- the deoxygenated blood then returns via a network of venues and veins to the heart
Characteristics of alveoli
- very thin moist walls help diffusion of gases
- large surface are to maximise diffusion rate
Characteristics of capillaries (in the the case of gas exchange)
- thin walls to allow diffusion to happen easily
- very narrow to ensure every RBC goes through gas exchange (one cell wide)
- reaches to almost every cell for the transportation of nutrients, gases and products
Define respiratory rate
breaths / minute
Define tidal volume
The amount of air taken in or out with each breath during rest.
Define minute volume and how it’s calculated
Respiratory rate x tidal volume = minute volume
Amount of air breathed in, in a minute
Define residual volume
The amount of air left in the lungs that can’t be breathed out.
Define VO2 max
The maximum amount of O2 your body can take in and use in one minute (l/m)
Relates to an athletes aerobic capacity
Define total lung capacity and name the 4 sections
The total volume of air the lungs can hold
Inspiratory reserve volume
Tidal volume
Expiratory reserve volume
Residual volume
- sum of top three equal vital capacity
- sum of all equal total lung capacity
Define aerobic respiration
Using oxygen to break down glucose into water, carbon dioxide and energy
Define anaerobic respiration
Breaking down glucose to form lactic acid.
This creates less energy than aerobic respiration and an oxygen debt.
Define respiration
The process of breaking down glucose to release energy.
Describe the short term effects of exercise on the respiratory system
- increased minute volume
- increased rate of gas exchange
- increased respiratory rate
- increased tidal volume-> extends closer to vital capacity
- more oxygen used
- increased blood supply to the lungs
Describe the long term effects of exercise on the respiratory system
- intercostal muscles and diaphragm get stronger
- increase tidal volume/vital capacity
- number of alveoli and capillaries increase
- increased gas exchange- more oxygen into the blood
- increased VO2 max
Diaphragm
Sheet of muscle that contracts and relaxes to aid breathing
Define oxygen debt
The amount of oxygen consumed during recovery above what is normally consumed at rest. Occurs due to lack of oxygen during exercise.
Gas exchange
Process where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. Occurs at alveoli and at muscles.
