The Respiratory System

Question 1

What is the respiratory system made up of?

Answer 1

• The air passages
• The lungs
• The diaphragm
• The alveoli

Question 2

What happens in the process of inspiration? (Breathing in)

Answer 2

• Intercostal muscles contract
• The diaphragm contracts and flatten, increasing the size of the chest
• The lungs increase in size, so pressure inside them falls

Question 3

What happens in the process of expiration? (Breathing out)

Answer 3

• Intercostal muscles relax
• The diaphragm relaxes, reducing the size of the chest
• The lungs decrease in size, so pressure inside them increase

Question 4

Describe the pathway of oxygen after it enters the body?

Answer 4

• Air passages
• Trachea
• Bronchus
• Bronchioles
• Alveoli

Question 5

What is the alveoli like?

Answer 5

• Walls are one cell thick for easier diffusion
• Large surface area
• Surrounded by capillaries

Question 6

What is gas exchange?

Answer 6

The process of exchanging oxygen in the air for carbon dioxide in the body

Question 7

What happens at gas exchange at the lungs?

Answer 7

• Air containing oxygen enters each lung
• De-oxygenated blood containing CO2 enters from the rest of the body
• Air containing CO2 leaves the lungs
• Oxygenated blood leaves the lungs and is transported round the body by the circulatory system

Question 8

What happens at gas exchange at the muscles?

Answer 8

Oxygenated blood leaving the heart via the aorta travels through a system of arteries and capillaries. Eventually it reaches the capillaries surrounding the muscles. The blood becomes deoxygenated and travels back to the heart via veins and venules.

Question 9

What is respiratory rate?

Answer 9

The number of breaths taken per minute.

Question 10

What is tidal volume?

Answer 10

The amount of air taken in or out with each breath

Question 11

What is residual volume?

Answer 11

The amount of air left in the lungs that can’t be breathed out

Question 12

What is VO2 max?

Answer 12

Maximum amount of oxygen your body can take in and use in one minute

Question 13

What are short term effects of exercise of the respiratory system?

Answer 13

• Breathing rate increases
• Tidal volume increases
• Blood supply to the lungs increases
• More oxygen is taken up and used by the body

Question 14

What are long term effects on exercise on the respiratory system?

Answer 14

• Intercostal muscles and diaphragm get stronger
• Tidal volume increase
• The number of capillaries around the alveoli increases so gas exchange increases
• VO2 max increases

Question 15

What is respiration?

Answer 15

The release of energy from food to fuel exercise

Question 16

What is meant by oxygen debt?

Answer 16

When someone has anaerobically repaired they need to take in oxygen to repay the oxygen debt. It breaks down lactic acid into water and carbon dioxide