Science Test: Respiratory System

Question 1

What function(s) do the nasal cavities have?

Answer 1

• Air goes through the nostrils and enters the nasal cavities which are the two chambers in the nose
• Air is filtered by little hairs (cilia) in the nasal cavity.
• Air is warmed by blood capillaries (small blood vessels) and moistened by the mucous.

Question 2

What is diffusion?

Answer 2

It is the movement of gas through a thin membrane of alveoli. Gas travels from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Question 3

Describe the process of diffusion in inhalation.

Answer 3

When we inhale, the alveoli fill with oxygen. The blood in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli is low in oxygen. So the oxygen diffuses into the blood and travels on the red blood cells.

Question 4

Describe the process of diffusion in exhalation.

Answer 4

When we exhale, the blood is filled with carbon dioxide (waste from cellular respiration). The alveoli are low in carbon dioxide. So the carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli (and exhaled out of the lungs).

Question 5

What function(s) does the Pharynx have?

Answer 5

Both food and air pass through this area.

Question 6

What function(s) does the Larynx have?

Answer 6

• Connects the pharynx to the trachea.
• “voice box” (Adam’s apple in men) is home for the vocal
  chords which vibrate when we exhale to produce sound.

Question 7

What function(s) does the Trachea have?

Answer 7

• “Wind pipe”
• Contains mucous glands (to filter air )
• Contains cilia (hair-like structures) which move dust
  particles trapped in mucous back up so they can be expelled.

Question 8

What function(s) does the Bronchi have?

Answer 8

• The trachea splits into two bronchi; one tube towards
  the left lung and the other towards the right lung.
• They are made of cartilage, cilia and mucous.

Question 9

What function(s) do the Bronchioles have?

Answer 9

• The bronchi divide into progressively smaller tubes called bronchioles.
• Each branch ends in a cluster of alveoli.

Question 10

What function(s) do the Alveoli have?

Answer 10

• Are millions of small bags surrounded by capillaries which are the site for gas exchange (O 2 exchanged for CO 2 ) between the respiratory system and the circulatory system.

Question 11

What are fluids?

Answer 11

Fluids are substances that have no form and can flow in all directions. All liquids and gases are fluids.

The particles that make up a liquid or a gas (fluids) spread out until they reach a more rigid object that exerts pressure in the opposite direction.

Question 12

What is pressure?

Answer 12

Pressure is the measurement of force exerted on a surface and is measured in Pascals (Pa). It is obtained by dividing the value of the force (F) measured in Newtons (N) by the surface area (A) measured in meters squared (m2).

Small surface area = high pressure
Big force = high pressure

Question 13

What will happen to the pressure when the force is constant?

Answer 13

When the force is constant, the pressure will change depending on how big the surface area is.

Question 14

What will happen to the pressure when the size of the surface area is the same?

Answer 14

When the size of the surface area is the same, the pressure will be high if the force applied is high and vise versa.

Question 15

What is the relation between gas particles and pressure?

Answer 15

The more gas particles there are, the more pressure.
Few particles = low pressure
Many particles = high pressure

Ex. Air particles in the lungs exert pressure on the walls of the alveoli, giving them their shapes.

Question 16

What is a compressible fluid?

Answer 16

A fluid that can be squished into a smaller space -> GAS

Ex. Oxygen can be compressed into a smaller space (an oxygen tank).

Question 17

What is an incompressible fluid?

Answer 17

A fluid that cannot be squished into a smaller space -> Liquid

Ex. Mild in a carton cannot fit into a small shot glass.

Question 18

What will happen to the pressure when the volume increases?

Answer 18

An increase in volume will result in a decrease in pressure since there is more space to move and therefore fewer collisions between the particles.

Question 19

What will happen to the pressure when the volume decreases?

Answer 19

A decrease in volume will result in an increase in pressure since there is less space for particles to move and more collisions between them.

Question 20

What do ribs and sternum do during inhalation?

Answer 20

They lift when the intercostal muscles contract.

Question 21

What do ribs and sternum do during exhalation?

Answer 21

They lower when the intercostal muscles relax.

Question 22

What does the diaphragm do during inhalation?

Answer 22

It lowers by contracting.

Question 23

What does the diaphragm do during exhalation?

Answer 23

It lifts as it relaxes.

Question 24

What does the volume of ribcage and lungs do during inhalation?

Answer 24

It increases.

Question 25

What does the volume of ribcage and lungs do during exhalation?

Answer 25

It decreases.

Question 26

What does the air pressure inside lungs do during inhalation?

Answer 26

It decreases.

Question 27

What does the air pressure inside lungs do during exhalation?

Answer 27

It increases.

Question 28

What does the movement of air do during inhalation?

Answer 28

The air enters.

Question 29

What does the movement of air do during exhalation?

Answer 29

The air exists.

Question 30

What does the diffusion of gas do during inhalation?

Answer 30

High pressure of oxygen goes into the body.

Question 31

What does the diffusion of gas do during exhalation?

Answer 31

High pressure of carbon dioxide goes into the lungs and out of the body.

Question 32

What function(s) do the Lungs have?

Answer 32

Site for bronchioles, alveoli and location for gas exchange.

Question 33

What function(s) does the Diaphram have?

Answer 33

• Dome-shaped muscle under the rib cage, just below the lungs.
• Its motion assists with inhalation and exhalation.

Question 34

Why do we need oxygen to live?

Answer 34

Oxygen is an oxidizing agent, which is a substance that combines with fuel to cause its combustion. The fuel may be wood, oil, fossil fuels, or, in the human body, nutrients. The oxygen obtained from the respiratory system allows nutrients to be burned, which results in the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The energy released allows us to perform daily tasks.

Question 35

What is an oxidizing agent?

Answer 35

A substance that combines with a fuel to cause it’s combustion.

Ex: Oxygen

Question 36

What is Diffusion?

Answer 36

Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Question 37

What is the gas exchange that the human body?

Answer 37

• Oxygen is needed for cellular respiration and must travel through the blood and get delivered to the cells.
• Carbon dioxide is the waste byproduct of cellular respiration and needs to get out of the blood and out of the body.
• Oxygen entering the blood from the alveoli and carbon dioxide leaving the blood occurs via a process called DIFFUSION.

Question 38

Where does Carbon Dioxide we exhale come from?

Answer 38

It is a byproduct of cellular respiration.