Respiratory System - A.A&P

Question 1

What is gaseous exchange?

Answer 1

The movement of O2 from the air into the blood and CO2 from the blood to the air.

Question 2

What is the pressure gradient?

Answer 2

The difference in pressure between the alveoli and capillary.
Bigger the gradient, faster the diffusion.

Question 3

What is partial pressure?

Answer 3

The pressure exerted by an individual gas when it exists within a mixture of gases.

Question 4

Define diffusion

Answer 4

Movement of gas molecules from an area of high concentration to low.

Question 5

Explain partial pressure in relation to alveoli and capillaries.

Answer 5

Partial pressure needs to be lower each time when it moves from the alveoli to the blood to the muscles.

Alveoli has a higher concentration than the capillaries = diffusion.

Question 6

Mechanics of breathing:
When inhaling what happens to…
Intercostal muscles
Diaphragm
Thoracic cavity

Answer 6

1. Intercostal muscles contract and pulls the rib cage up and out.
2. Diaphragm contracts so it flattens.
3. Thoracic cavity gets larger causing pressure in lungs to decrease.

Question 7

Mechanics of breathing:
When exhaling what happens to…
Intercostal muscles
Diaphragm
Thoracic cavity

Answer 7

1. Intercostal muscles relax and the rib cage falls down and in.
2. Diaphragm relaxes, returns to dome shape.
3. Thoracic cavity gets smaller, causing pressure in lungs to increase.

Question 8

What is minute ventilation?

Increase/Decrease/Same during exercise?

Answer 8

The volume of air inspired or expired per minute.

Big increase.

Question 9

What is tidal volume?

Increase/Decrease/Same during exercise?

Answer 9

The volume of air inspired or expired per breath.

Increase.

Question 10

What is inspiratory reserve volume?

Increase/Decrease/Same during exercise?

Answer 10

The volume of air that can be forcibly inspired after a normal breath.

Decrease.

Question 11

What is expiratory reserve volume?

Increase/Decrease/Same during exercise?

Answer 11

The volume of air that can be forcibly expired after a normal breath.

Slight decrease.

Question 12

What is residual volume?

Increase/Decrease/Same during exercise?

Answer 12

The volume of air that remains in the lungs after maximum expiration.

Remains the same.

Question 13

What is a spirometer?

Answer 13

A device used to measure the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs.

Question 14

What three factors controls the regulation of pulmonary ventilation (breathing)?

Answer 14

1. Neural control - brain and nervous system
2. Chemical control - blood acidity
3. Hormonal control - adrenaline

Question 15

What is the function of the respiratory centre? Where is it located?

Answer 15

Controls breathing by controlling respiratory muscles.
Located in the medulla oblongata.

Question 16

What are the 2 main areas of the respiratory centre? What is their function?

Answer 16

1. Inspiratory centre - responsible for inspiration and expiration.
2. Expiratory centre - stimulates the additional expiratory muscles during exercise.

Question 17

How does the respiratory system increase/decrease breathing rate?
Inspiration and expiration.
Similar to the cardiovascular system.

Answer 17

Inspiration:
Receptors –> medulla –> phrenic nerve –> diaphragm and external intercostals.

Expiration:
Receptors –> medulla –> intercostal nerve –> abdominals and internal intercostals.

Question 18

What are some negative effects of smoking?

4 - Hints

1. Scratchy
2. Functions
3. COPD
4. Cigarette chemical

Answer 18

1. Irritation - of the trachea and bronchi.
2. Lung functions - reduce and cause shortness of breath due to swelling/narrowing of airways.
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - reduces efficiency of gaseous exchange.
4. Carbon Monoxide - from cigarette reduces the O2 carrying capacity of the blood = less O2 = breathlessness.