Systems: Respiratory Flashcards
What is the function of the respiratory system?
Brings oxygen into the body and puts it in the bloodstream so it can be distributed by the circulatory system to the cells
What is the chemical composition of air?
78% N2, 21% O2, 1% other. (Ar, CO2, etc.)
Define respiration
All the processes in the body involved in bringing O2 into the blood, making it available to each cell, and eliminating CO2 as waste
What are the four stages of respiration?
Breathing, external respiration, internal respiration, cellular respiration
What is the inhalation and exhalation stage of respiration called?
Breathing
What is external respiration?
Where gases (O2 and CO2) are exchanged between the lungs and bloodstream
What is internal respiration
Where gases (O2 and CO2) are exchanged between the blood and body cells
What is cellular respiration? Give the reaction equation
Chemical reaction used to make energy for the body. Glucose + O2 —> CO2 + H2O + ATP
What is the order in which air travels through the body?
Outside the body, lungs, blood, body cells
What is the order in which CO2 exits the body?
Body cells, blood, lungs, outside the body
What is the area where gas exchange occurs known as?
Respiratory surface
What are the two requirements for respiratory surfaces?
Must have enough surface area for gas exchange to occur quickly for the body’s needs. Must be moist so that O2 and CO2 can be dissolved in water
Why do larger animals need a larger respiratory surface area?
Greater demand for O2
Describe the respiratory surface of worms
Use the outer skin of their bodies. Diffusion of gases occurs across skin. Must live in moist environments
Describe the respiratory surface of fish
Use gills. Water flows over the gills and blood vessels exchange their waste CO2 for the O2 in the water. Use a counter current where water flows over the gills in one direction and blood flows perpendicular to it
What are gills in fish?
Extensions/folds in the body with blood vessels right at the surface for gas exchange
Describe the respiratory surface of insects
Use a tracheal system which is an internal branching of respiratory tracheae (air tubes). The air tubes connect directly to the environment for oxygen and blood is not needed. Spiracles are holes on the body where air can enter the tubes. This method limits body size
Describe the respiratory surface of most larger animals
Use lungs which are sacs lined with a moist epithelium where gas exchange occurs
Which organ regulates breathing?
Brain
What causes air to flow in and out of the lungs?
Changes in pressure
What is a dome-shaped layer of muscle that separates the thoracic cavity (area of the body with the lungs) from the abdominal cavity (area of the body with the stomach and liver)
Diaphragm
What are the intercostal muscles?
Muscles found between the ribs and on the inside surface of the rib cage
Describe the process of inhalation
The intercostal muscles contract, lifting the rib cage up and out. Diaphragm contracts and pulls downwards. Volume of chest cavity increases which in turn decreases the air pressure inside the chest cavity. Air rushes in from the outside to balance the pressure
Describe the process of exhalation
Intercostal muscles relax allowing the rib cage to move down and in. Diaphragm relaxes and moves upward. Volume of chest cavity decreases, increasing the air pressure in the chest cavity causing air to rush out
Define respiratory volume
Refers to the capacity of the lungs to hold in air. Normal breathing does not use full capacity of the lungs
What is a device used to measure data about a person’s breathing and a graphical representation of that data, known as?
Spirometer, Spirograph
What are the five types of respiratory measurements?
Tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume, vital capacity, residual volume
What is the volume of air that is inhaled and exhaled in a normal breathing movement (body is at rest) known as?
Tidal volume
What is the additional volume of air that can be taken into the lungs beyond a regular tidal inhalation known as?
Inspiratory reserve volume
What is the additional volume of air that can be forced out of the lungs beyond a regular tidal exhalation known as?
Expiratory reserve volume
What is the total lung volume of gas that can be moved into and out of the lungs known as?
Vital capacity
What is the amount of air that remains in the lungs and passageways even after a full exhalation known as?
Residual volume
Tidal volume + inspiratory reserve volume + expiratory reserve volume = ?
Vital capacity
How does the diaphragm move during inhalation?
Contracts and pulls downwards
How does the diaphragm move during exhalation?
Relaxes and moves upwards
