The Respiratory System

Question 1

What is Ventilation

Answer 1

Flow of air in and out of the alveoli

Question 2

Stages of Ventilation

Answer 2

Inspiration (inhaling)
Expiration (exhaling)

Question 3

Gas Exchange and it’s two sites

Answer 3

Diffusion of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of the blood)

Site 1 Alveoli: Oxygen diffuses into the blood. Carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli.
Site 2 Tissues: Oxygen diffuses from blood to cells. Carbon diffuses from cells to blood

Question 4

Cell respiration: Aerobic respiration

Answer 4

Uses oxygen from mitochondria and produces carbon dioxide.

Question 5

Cell respiration: Anaerobic respiration

Answer 5

Doesn’t use oxygen but still produces carbon dioxide.

Question 6

Nasal Cavity

Answer 6

Air is warmed and moistened as it moves inside the nose and mouth to prevent damage to the tissue of the membrane. Lined with tiny hairs and mucus to filter out dust and particles.

Question 7

Pharynx (throat)

Answer 7

Air travels through the pharynx.
Common in both the digestive and respiratory system.

Question 8

Larynx (voice box)

Answer 8

Made up of cartilage and produces sound.
At the top of your trachea.

Question 9

Treachea

Answer 9

Flexible tubes lined with mucus cells and cilia made of semicircular loops of cartilage that are about 10-12 cm in length.
Mucus traps dust and particles while the cilia sweeps the trap materials up and through so trachea where it is swallowed or expelled from the body through coughing or sneezing.

Question 10

Bronchi

Answer 10

Branches off from the trachea and enters each lung to conduct air into them.

Question 11

Bronchioles

Answer 11

Bronchioles are the smaller tubes that branch off from bronchi that lead to alveoli.

Question 12

Alveoli

Answer 12

-The site of gas exchange.
-Very thin epithelial layer minimizes diffusion distance for respiratory gases.
- surrounded by a capillary Network to increase capacity of gas exchange in the blood.
- a rough spherical shape in order to maximize the surface area for the gas exchange.
- internal surface is covered with a layer of fluid, it’s easier to diffuse gases into the bloodstream.

Question 13

Type 1 Pneumocytes

Answer 13

-95% of the epithelium cells are pneumocytes.
- involved in gas exchange

Question 14

Type ll Pneumocytes

Answer 14

• Make up 5% of the alveolar surface.
• Rounded cells that secrete fluid containing pulmonary surfactants, which cotes inner surface of the alveoli.
• The pulmonary surfactants form a layer on the surface of the moisture lining in the alveoli.
• Helps reduce surface tension and helps prevent lung collapse.

Question 15

Gas Exchange

Answer 15

-Air that enters the alveoli after inhalation has a higher concentration of O2 than the blood surrounding. Thus, the O2 diffuses out of the alveoli and into the blood.
-CO2 concentration is high in the bloodstream and low in alveoli. Thus, the CO2 travels from the blood into the alveoli or the concentration is lower.
One oxygenated blood reaches the tissues.
-Oxygen moves to the tissues and carbon dioxide moves from the tissue to the blood to be transported back to the lungs.

Question 16

Respiration Surface in other Animals: Gills

Answer 16

• Extensions of folds in the body, increase surface area
• Diffusion transports gases to blood and cells (O2 n and CO2 out)

Question 17

Mechanisms of Breathing

Answer 17

• Brain
• Co ordinates breathing movements
• Receptors in the brain motor the pH of the blood. (The more carbon dioxide, the more acidic the blood is)
• The more carbon dioxide in the blood, the faster breathing rate is in order to remove it.
• diaphragm and rib muscles control air pressure in lungs.

Question 18

What is Inspiration (inhaling)

Answer 18

• Diaphragm contrasts and moves downward.
• External intercoastal muscles contrast and internal intercoastal muscles relax. - Causing ribs to move upward and downward.
• Volume of the chest cavity increases and the air pressure and the thoracic cavity decreases.
• Air rushes into the lungs.

Question 19

What is Expiration (exhaling)

Answer 19

• Diaphragm relaxes and moves up.
• External intercoastal muscles relax and the internal intercoastal muscles contrast. - The thoracic cage moves upward and downward.
• Volume of the lungs decreases while the air pressure in the lungs increases.

Question 20

Asthma/Asthma Attacks

Answer 20

• Chronic inflammation of the lungs and overproduction of mucus in the lungs.
• Can be caused by pollen, aerosol sprays and exercise.
• Muscles around the Airways contract and the cells produce more mucus which blocks airflow.
• Causes narrowing of the air passages of the bronchi and bronchioles.
• A handheld inhaler is used to open up the airway and reduce inflammation.

Question 21

What is Lung Cancer

Answer 21

• Uncontrolled cell growth and division in lungs
• A mass of cells (tumor/carcinoma)
• Cancerous cells can spread to other organs (metastasis)

Question 22

Lung Cancer: Causes

Answer 22

Causes: Smoking (86% of the cases are from smoking), exposure to radioactive gas, air pollution, family history, past history with cancer, low immunity.

Question 23

Lung Cancer: Treatment

Answer 23

Treatment: Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, lung surgery, laser surgery.

Question 24

Severe Respiratory Acute syndrome (SARS)

Answer 24

• Caused by a virus infecting the lungs.
• SARS can develop pneumonia in someone, which makes the alveoli fill up with mucus and pus, making it difficult for gas exchange to occur.
• Diagnosed with an x-ray and can be treated with antiviral medication.