Unit 11 Gas Exchange in Humans Flashcards
Describe the features of gas exchange surfaces
in humans, limited to:
large surface area, thin
surface, good blood supply and good ventilation
with air
How does ventilation happen?
The diaphragm, a sheet of muscle that separates the thorax (chest) from abdomen
The intercostal muscles that lie between the ribs
Explain: role of the ribs, the internal and
external intercostal muscles & the diaphragm
in
producing volume and pressure changes in the thorax leading to the ventilation of the lungs
Explain INHALATION
Internal intercostal muscles [RELAX] and external intercostal muscles [CONTRACT], pulling your ribs [UP AND OUT].
Diaphragm also [CONTRACTS] and [FLATTENS]
Volume of thorax [INCREASES].
Air pressure in thorax [DECREASES, CREATING A NEGATIVE PRESSURE]
Air [ENTERS] the lungs to equilibrate pressure
EXHALATION
INTERNAL intercostal muscles → CONTRACT
EXTERNAL → RELAX
Pulling ribs → DOWN AND IN
Diaphragm → RELAXES AND MOVES UP
Volume of thorax DECREASES
Air pressure in thorax INCREASES, creating a POSITIVE PRESSURE
Air EXITS the lungs to equilibrate pressures
- muscles contracting/relaxing
- how it affects thorax volume (increase/decrease)
- how it affects air pressure in thorax compared to atmosphere (larger = lower pressure)
- if air moves in/out of lungs to equilibrate pressures
so
contract/relax?
thorax volume?
air pressure?
in/out?
Identify in diagrams and images the following
parts of the breathing system: lungs, diaphragm,
ribs, intercostal muscles, larynx, trachea, bronchi,
bronchioles, alveoli and associated capillaries, internal and external intercostal muscles
Explain the link between physical activity and
the rate and depth of breathing in terms of:
an increased carbon dioxide concentration in the
blood,
which is detected by the brain, leading to an increased rate and greater depth of breathing
Exercise increases …
➡ the frequency & depth of breathing
because?
because muscles are working harder and aerobically respiring more and they need more oxygen to be delivered to them (and carbon dioxide removed)
to keep up with the energy demand
If they cannot meet the energy demand…
What happens then?
then they will also respire anaerobically, producing lactic acid
After exercise has finished, the lactic acid that has built up in muscles needs to be removed as it lowers the pH of cells and can denature enzymes catalysing cell reactions
can only be removed by…
combining it with oxygen - this is known as ‘repaying the oxygen debt’
can be tested by…
seeing how long it takes after exercise for the breathing rate and depth to return to normal -
the longer it takes, the more lactic acid produced during exercise and the greater the oxygen debt that needs to be repaid
Investigating the Effects of Physical Activity on Breathing
How?
investigated by counting the breaths taken during one minute at rest and measuring average chest expansion over 5 breaths using a tape measure held around the chest
Exercise for a set time (at least 3 minutes)
Immediately after exercising, count the breaths taken in one minute and measure the average chest expansion over 5 breaths
Following exercise, the number of breaths per minute will have increased and the chest expansion will also have increased
Mechanism for increasing breathing during exercise
rate of respiration increases in _____ cells when __________
rate of respiration increases in muscle cells, when exercising heavily
In terms of respiration, what is CO2?
___ levels increase in muscle cells?
CO2 is a product of aerobic respiration, so CO2 levels increase in the muscle cells
What does CO2 then do?
Blood becomes more ____
This CO2 diffuses out of the cells into the blood plasma
CO2 in solution causes a slight drop in pH so the blood becomes slightly more acidic
blood flows around the circulatory system and passes to the brain where the increased carbon dioxide levels are detected by chemoreceptors in the brain,
which are?
Chemoreceptors: cells that detect chemical changes in the body
They can detect changes in blood gas levels, as well as changes in pH
The chemoreceptors are located in the medulla oblongata of the brain
brain sends nerve impulses to the ______ to _____ the rate and depth of muscle contraction
diaphragm and the intercostal muscles
increase
conclusion
rate of inspiration increases, along with the the volume of air moved in and out with each breath
result overall
which support?
result is greater absorption of oxygen and removal rate of carbon dioxide
This supports the increased rate of respiration in the exercising muscle cells
role of goblet cells, mucus and
ciliated cells in protecting the breathing system
from pathogens and particles
- goblet cells (look like goblet cups)
Goblet cells in the lung epithelium
- produce and secrete MUCUS. They are named such as they look a bit like cups