respiratory system

Question 1

structure of the respiratory system

1-trachea

Answer 1

air passes through the nose or mouth and then on to the trachea

Question 2

structure of the respiratory system

2-bronchi

Answer 2

the trachea splits into two tubes called bronchi (each one is a ‘bronchus’)
the bronchi go to each lung

Question 3

structure of the respiratory system

3-bronchioles

Answer 3

the bronchi split into progressively smaller tubes called bronchioles

Question 4

structure of the respiratory system

4- alveoli

Answer 4

the bronchioles finally end at small bags called alveoli (each one is an ‘alveolus’) where gases are exchanged

Question 5

structure of the respiratory system

Answer 5

nose/mouth 
trachea 
bronchi 
bronchioles 
alveoli (gas exchange)

Question 6

the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles help the air to move in and out

breathing in

Answer 6

when you breathe in, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract to move the rib cage upwards and expand the chest cavity. this decreases the air pressure in the lungs, drawing air in

Question 7

the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles help the air to move in and out

breathing out

Answer 7

when you breathe out, the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax, moving the rib cage down and shrinking the chest cavity. air pressure in the lungs increases, forcing air out of the lungs the same way it came in.

Question 8

gas exchange in the alveoli

where is gas exchanged and what do they look like

Answer 8

the respiratory system and cardiovascular system work together to get oxygen to the muscles and carbon dioxide away.
they do this by exchanging gases between the ALVEOLI and CAPILLARIES surrounding them

the alveoli look like little trees/broccoli coming off of the bronchioles

Question 9

gas exchange in the alveoli

why are alveoli surrounded by lots of capillaries?

Answer 9

the alveoli are surrounded by lots of capillaries, giving them a large blood sholky to exchange gases with

Question 10

gas exchange in the alveoli

properties of the alveoli

Answer 10

large surface area

most thin walls (so gases can easily pass through them)

Question 11

gas exchange in the alveoli

what is diffusion

Answer 11

the exchange of gases happens through a process called diffusion

this means the gases move down a concentration gradient- from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration

Question 12

what does oxygenated blood do?

Answer 12

delivers oxygen and collects carbon dioxide as it circulates around the body

Question 13

how does deoxygenated blood become oxygenated?

Answer 13

deoxygenated blood returns to the heart and is pumped to the lungs
in the lungs carbon dioxide moves from the blood in the capillaries into the alveoli so it can be breathed out
oxygen from the air you breathe into the lungs moves across the alveoli to the red blood cells in the capillaries
the oxygenated blood returns to the heart and is pumped to the rest of the body.
the red blood cells carry oxygen around the body and deliver it where it’s needed (muscles)

Question 14

deoxygenated blood to oxygenated blood

first step

Answer 14

deoxygenated blood returns to the heart and is then pumped to the lungs

Question 15

deoxygenated blood to oxygenated blood

second step

Answer 15

in the lungs, carbon dioxide moves from the blood in the capillaries into the alveoli so it can be breathed out

Question 16

deoxygenated blood to oxygenated blood

third step

Answer 16

oxygen from the air you breathe into the lungs moves across from the alveoli to the red blood cells in the capillaries

Question 17

deoxygenated blood to oxygenated blood

fourth step

Answer 17

the oxygenated blood returns to the heat and is pumped to the rest of the body.

Question 18

what do red blood cells do

Answer 18

red blood cells carry the oxygen around the body and deliver it where it’s needed e.g. the muscles.

Question 19

what is tidal volume

Answer 19

tidal volume is the amount of air you breathe in or out during one breath

Question 20

does tidal volume increase or decrease during exercise?

Answer 20

increase- you take bigger breaths when you exercise

Question 21

what is inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)

Answer 21

IRV is the extra volume of air you can breathe in after taking a normal breath in

after a normal breath in, you can still breathe in more air.

Question 22

what is the expiratory reserve volume (ERV)

Answer 22

ERV is the extra volume of air you can breathe out after a normal breath out

after a normal breath out you can still exhale more air.

Question 23

why does your IRV and ERV decrease during exercise?

Answer 23

during exercise your tidal volume increases meaning your breathing in and out more air than usual. this means you can’t breathe in or out as much extra air therefore resulting in a lower IRV and ERV

Question 24

why does your tidal volume increase during exercise?

Answer 24

to bring in more oxygen. this helps release extra energy in the muscles (during aerobic activity) and remove lactic acid from them which is produced during anaerobic activity

to breathe out the extra carbon dioxide produced during aerobic activity

Question 25

what is vital capacity

Answer 25

the most air you can breathe in

tidal volume is only a fraction of your vital capacity

Question 26

definition of vital capacity

Answer 26

vital capacity is the most air you could possibly breathe in after breathing out the largest volume of air you can

Question 27

why is it beneficial to have a larger vital capacity

Answer 27

so with each breath you can take in more oxygen which gets absorbed into your blood stream and gets supplied to your muscles

Question 28

vital capacity and residual volume

Answer 28

your vital capacity isn’t the total volume of air in your lungs (lung capacity). after you’ve breathed out as much as you can, there’s still some are left in the lungs. this is called the residual volume