Topic 2a - Tissues, organs and organ systems ( 2. the lungs)

Question 1

what is the purpose of the lungs?

Answer 1

our bloodstream needs oxygen so it can get to our cells for respiration. we also need to get rid of co2 in the blood. this exchange of gases all happens inside your lungs. air is forced in and out of your lungs by breathing.

Question 2

where are the lungs

Answer 2

in the thorax

Question 3

where is the thorax

Answer 3

in the top part of your body. separated from the lower part of the body (the abdomen) by a muscle called the diaphragm.

Question 4

what are lungs

Answer 4

lungs are like big pink sponges and are protected by the ribcage. They are surrounded by pleural membranes.

Question 5

explain our breathing through the body

Answer 5

the air that you breathe in goes through the trachea. It then splits into 2 tubes called bronchi, one goes into each lung. The branch split in to progressively smaller tubes called bronchioles. the bronchioles finally end at small bags called alveoli where gas exchange takes place by diffusion.

Question 6

what are alveoli

Answer 6

the lungs contain millions of little air sacs called alveoli, which are surrounded by a network of blood capillaries. This is where gas exchange happens.