The Respiratory System

Question 1

What does the respiratory system do?

Answer 1

Allows the body to extract oxygen from the air into the blood, while offloading carbon dioxide from the blood into the air.

Question 2

What is the main function of the nasal cavity?

Answer 2

Acts as a filter to prevent larger objects that we inhale from reaching the lungs

Question 3

What other system is the pharynx a passageway?

Answer 3

Digestive and respiratory systems

Question 4

What is the main function of the larynx in the respiratory system? What else does it do?

Answer 4

Contains vocal cords which produce sound

Question 5

True or False: The trachea extends into the lungs

Answer 5

False - the primary bronchi do

Question 6

What are the parts of the bronchial tree? (8)

Answer 6

Primary bronchi, secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi, bronchioles, terminal bronchioles, respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli

Question 7

What do the pleura do?

Answer 7

Surrounds the lungs (double layered membrane) they provide a smooth and friction-less space which the lungs can expand and recoil during breathing

Question 8

The thorax and abdomen are separated by what muscle?

Answer 8

The diaphragm

Question 9

What do the alveoli do?

Answer 9

Thin walled sacs that contain air which diffuse air into the capillaries

Question 10

How thick are the alveoli walls? Why is this important?

Answer 10

1 cell. Enables optimal gas exchange via diffusion

Question 11

Breathing in is also called?

Answer 11

Inspiration

Question 12

Breathing out is also called?

Answer 12

Expiration

Question 13

What is the main goal of breathing?

Answer 13

Allows the body to extract oxygen from the air into the blood, while offloading carbon dioxide from the blood into the air

Question 14

Where does external respiration occur?

Answer 14

In the lungs, between the blood and the air

Question 15

Where does internal respiration occur?

Answer 15

Throughout the body between the blood and other cells

Question 16

What is the term used to describe the relationship between the pressure inside and outside the lungs?

Answer 16

Pressure gradient

Question 17

Inspiration increases or decreases the volume in the lungs?

Answer 17

Increases - the intercostal muscles contract while the diaphragm contracts downward

Question 18

What happens to the pressure inside the lungs during inspiration?

Answer 18

Creates negative pressure which draws air into the lungs like a vacuum

Question 19

Expiration results from the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contracting/relaxing?

Answer 19

Relaxing

Question 20

What happens to the pressure and volume inside the lungs during expiration?

Answer 20

The lungs are compressed and volume decreases

Question 21

What are chemoreceptors?

Answer 21

They monitor the oxygen content of the blood when oxygen is low

Question 22

Where are the chemoreceptors located?

Answer 22

In the carotid arteries and aortic arch

Question 23

What happens when chemoreceptors detect low oxygen levels?

Answer 23

They signal to the respiratory control centre which increases the rate and depth of breathing

Question 24

Is the respiratory system voluntary or involuntary?

Answer 24

Involuntary with an exception, can be partially overridden by input from the cerebral cortex eg. Holding breath

Question 25

What factors can influence respiration?

Answer 25

Exercise, external factors eg high altitudes, ageing, nervous factors eg fight or. Flight and temperature

Question 26

What is an example of airway resistance?

Answer 26

Asthma (inflamed airways and mucous is produced)

Question 27

How is airway resistance typically determined?

Answer 27

Friction or drag that air encounters (diameter of airway, mucus, foreign particles)

Question 28

Pressure gradient moves from:

Answer 28

High partial pressure to areas of low partial pressure