Respiratory System Flashcards
Our respiratory system takes in air containing oxygen, what is this needed by
All cells and body tissues
What does our respiratory system enable
The removal of carbon dioxide
The lungs consist of millions of tiny elasticated cavities called…
Alveoli
What are the alveoli surrounded by and are the site of oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal
Capillaries
What tube leads from the throat
The trachea / windpipe
What is the flap that protects the trachea and prevents food particles passing through
The epiglottis
When should the epiglottis close
Whenever we swallow
What is the enlarged area at the top of the trachea that contains muscles and ligaments
The larynx
What is our larynx
Vocal cords
What tubes does the trachea branch into (two large tubes)
The bronchii
Where does each bronchus lead in to
One of our lungs
What is between each bronchii and the alveoli (thousands of smaller branching tubes
Brochioles
What are the trachea, bronchii and larger bronchioles kept open by
Incomplete rings of cartilage
The tubes have muscles in their walls that allow them to what
Widen (dilate) or narrow (constrict)
-they vary the amount of air that enters or leaves the lungs
Glandular linings of the tubes…
Produce and release mucus that traps dirt particles and bacteria breathed in
What do the cilia do
Move trapped particles back up to the throat where we swallow them
What is the cavity that the lungs are in
The thorax
Where are the intercostal muscles
Along the side and at the top of the ribcage
How are the lungs separated from the digestive system
A domed sheet of muscles - the diaphragm
Around each lung is a double set of coverings, what are these called
The pleural membranes
What fills the narrow space between the pleural membranes
Pleural fluid
What does the pleural fluid do
Causes the membranes to stick together
Where are the pleural membranes attached
- The lung directly
2. The rib cage and the diaphragm
What refers to the movement of air in and out of the lungs
Breathing
What is breathing in known as
Inspiration
What is breathing out known as
Expiration
What do we not use that most air consists of
Nitrogen
What particle passes harmlessly in and out of our lungs
Nitrogen
What does the brain do to draw air in and out of the lungs
Sends nerve messages to the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm
What happens because of the ribcage being hinged to the spine
The contraction of intercostal muscles causes the ribcage to swing up and out
What happens as a result movement (due to the pleural membranes attaching the lungs to the ribcage and diaphragm)
The lungs are stretched which opens up the alveoli and the internal volume of the lungs so the pressure of the air in the lungs decreases below that of the atmosphere and so air rushes into the lungs, inflating the alveoli
-INSPIRATION
What happens to carry out expiration
The brain stops sending nerve messages to the ribs and diaphragm and so they stop contracting
When the diaphragm recoils upwards into its domed position and gravity causes the ribcage to move, what is this movement
The ribcage drops back and downwards
What happens to the volume of the air after the ribcage drops
It decreases
What are crucial to the lungs inflating and deflating as well as preventing friction as the lungs move
Pleural membranes
What happens if the space between the pleural membranes is punctured
The lung on that side will not inflate
What is the site of gaseous exchange
The alveoli
Oxygen enters the blood, but what is removed from it
Carbon dioxide
The alveoli have adaptations - what does having a large surface area mean for them
A large amount of gaseous exchange can happen
The alveoli have adaptations - what does having thin walls do for them
There is a minimal distance for gases to pass through
The alveoli have adaptations - what does being coated with a thin layer of water do for them
It allows oxygen to dissolve before travelling thorough the walls of the alveoli
Oxygen diffuses into the blood and combines with the haemoglobin in the erythrocytes, what does this form
Oxyhaemoglobin
Carbon dioxide in the blood diffuses in what direction compared to the oxyhaemoglobin
The opposite direction
Why does carbon dioxide diffuse in the opposite direction
There are higher levels of this gas in the blood than there is in the alveoli
Does inhaled or exhaled air have a higher level of carbon dioxide
Exhaled air
Asthma
- bronchii of the lungs become inflamed
- increase of production of mucus
- individual wheezes, has shortness of breath, has tight chest
- severe attacks reduce amount of air reaching the lungs
- factors affecting=cigarette smoke, atmosphere pollution, cold air, dust, animal fur, pollen, exercise, stress and laughter
