The lungs Flashcards
What is the thorax?
Chest cavity
What separates the thorax from the abdomen?
Diaphragm
What are the lungs surrounded by?
Pleural membrane
Ribcage
Describe the path air takes into the lungs
Mouth Trachea Bronchi Bronchioles Alveoli
Where does gas exchange take place in the lungs?
Alveoli
What are the alveoli surrounded by?
Blood capillaries
Describe the movement of gases in and out of the blood
Oxygen diffuses into the blood from the alveoli down its concentration gradient
Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood into the alveoli down its concentration gradient
Where has the highest concentration of oxygen?
Alveoli
Where has the highest concentration of carbon dioxide?
Blood
What happens to the oxygen when the red blood cells reach body cells?
Oxygen is released from the red blood cell (high concentration) and diffuses into the body cells (low concentration)
What happens to the carbon dioxide when red blood cells reach body cells?
Carbon dioxide diffuses out of body cells (high concentration) and reaches the red blood cells (low concentration)
It is then carried back to the lungs
How do you calculate the number of breaths per minute/breathing rate?
Breathing rate = number of breaths / number of minutes
