Respiratory System Flashcards
What is the main function of the respiratory system?
to take in oxygen as we breath in and release the carbon dioxide as we breath out.
What are the 3 components of the respiratory system?
The conditioning system - the air passages
The lungs
The diaphragm
List the parts of the conduction system
Nasal cavity Pharynx Larynx Trachea Bronchi Bronchioles Terminal bronchioles
What does the Nasal cavity do
Warms and filter air
What does the pharynx do
The ‘throat’, which allows food and air to pass
What does the Larynx do
The ‘voice box’ air passes through the larynx on its way to the trachea.
The vocal cards are in the larynx, they make noise
What does the trachea do?
The air ways in which the air passes through to the bronchi
What does the bronchi do?
The trachea branches to two bronchi, one for each lung
What are alveoli?
They are microscopic air sacs to the end of the respiratory bronchioles. There are millions surrounded by capillaries. This is where oxygen is exchanged from carbon dioxide in the blood
What is the diaphragm made of?
It is an involuntary smooth muscle which expands and contracts while breaching. It is made
What is the job of the diaphragm?
The diaphragm expands and contracts which decreases or increases the chest cavity this cause breathing
Increases= breathing
Decreases= exhale
Explain in detail breathing in
When the diaphragm contracts it moves down wards enlarging the chest cavity. Deeper inspiration occurs when intercostal muscles moves the ribs up and out, expanding the chest further. air always moves from a high pressure to a lower pressure, when it expands the pressure inside decreases and so the under higher pressure outside the lungs is sucked in.
Explain in detail breathing out
Occurs when the diaphragm relaxes and the chest cavity returns to its ‘at rest’ state. This is further enhanced by the intercostal muscles which allows the ribs to return to their normal at rest position.
How does oxygen and carbon dioxide move between the lungs and the blood
Air enters the lungs and travels into the alveoli. The alveoli are surrounded but capillaries. They have very thin walls which allows oxygen to diffuse from the higher pressure area in the alveoli to the lower pressure area in the capillaries. Once inside the capillaries the oxygen attaches to the haemoglobin in the red blood cells. During exhaling the carbon dioxide in the capillaries in under higher pressure than the air in the alveoli so the carbon dioxide diffuse into the alveoli and is expelled as we breath
What effects does the medical condition of asthma have on the structure of the respiratory systems?
Asthma is caused by breathing difficulty because of sudden or progressive narrowing of the airways caused by spasms in the muscles of the bronchial walls, swelling and inflammation of the lining of the airways and excessive production of mucus
