unit 4 - Respiratory System Flashcards
What does the respiratory system do?
Takes in air contains oxygen and enables carbon dioxide to be removed from the body.
How is air moved in and out of the lungs?
The brain sends nerve messages to the external intercostal muscles and the diaphragm to trigger inhalation and nerve message stops for expiration.
What do the ribs do when breathing in?
The muscles between the ribs contract which pulls rib cage upwards and outward.
What are the two types of intercostal muscles?
Internal and external intercostal muscles.
What did the intercostal muscles do when we breath in?
The external intercostal muscles assist the lungs by raising the ribs and expanding the chest cavity.
What are the external intercostal muscles?
Small muscles that are located in between each rib.
What does the diaphragm do when breathing in?
Contracts and moves downwards.
What is the role of the alveoli?
The site of oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal.
What is the role of the epiglottis?
Closes when we swallow to prevent food particles entering the trachea.
What is the role of the trachea?
Classed as the wind pipe where its opening is protected from food particles by a flap called the epiglottis.
What is the role of the larynx?
It’s at the top of the trachea and contains the vocal cords. It connects the back of the nose and the trachea, forming an air passage to the lungs.
What is mucus?
A sticky fluid that traps dirt particles and bacteria.
What’s cilia?
Microscopic hairs that move back and forwards which move mucus back up the throat where we swallow them.
What does your diaphram do when breathing out?
Relaxes and moves upwards to reduce the space in chest cavity. Therefore decreases the size of chest to push air out of the lungs.
What do the intercostal muscles do when breathing out?
Relax so the ribs move inwards and downwards under their own weight. Decreases size of chest so air is forced out of lungs.
What makes the alveoli efficient?
Large surface area
Thins walls- one cell think to allow for diffusion to capillaries.
Inner surfaces coated with water to allow oxygen to dissolve.
What is the equation for respiration?
Glucose + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water
What is the purpose of respiration?
To convert glucose into ATP.
What is ATP?
A chemical which is a useable form of energy. It is formed from the molecule called ADP.
ATP is quickly bonded so easily broken down so enables the release of energy quickly.
What is stage 1 of respiration?
This is the breakdown of glucose into pyruvic acid. It occurs in the cytoplasm of a cell. Pyruvic acid is then transported into the mitochondria.
What’s stage 2 of respiration?
The citric acid cycle. This is where ATP is generated and takes place in mitochondria.
What’s stage 3 of respiration?
Takes place in the wall of the mitochondria and requires oxygen. It’s called the electron transport chain and causes aerobic respiration. produces more ATP as well as carbon dioxide as a waste product.
Where is the site for gas exchange in the lungs?
Alveoli
What’s the function of the alveoli?
Site of gas exchange
What are the adaptations of the alveoli for effective diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide?
Large surface area
Walls of alveoli are very thin
Inner surfaces are coated with a thin layer of water that allows oxygen to dissolve before travelling through walls of alveoli.
Why do alveoli have a large surface area?
Large amounts of gas exchange can occur.
Why do alveoli have thin walls?
Minimal distance for gases to pass through.
What happens when oxygen enters the blood and combines with haemoglobin?
Creates oxyhaemoglobin
What are the respiratory malfunctions that can occur in our respiratory system?
Asthma
Emphysema
Cystic Fibrosis
What is the cause of asthma?
Individuals have certain triggers which will cause the bronchi of the lungs to to become inflamed and narrow as the muscles contract.
Also a production of mucus.
Whatis the result of an individual having their bronchi inflammed?
Can cause them to start wheezing giving a shortness of breath and a tight chest.
What causes an asthma attack?
When symptoms of asthma become severe, it creates a prolonged episode.
What are the symptoms of an asthma attack?
There will be a reduced amount of air reaching the lungs.
Their lips and fingers might turn blue.
What are the risk factors that increase an individual’s chance of developing an asthma attack?
cigarette smoke
atmospheric pollution
exercise
stress
What type of respiratory illnesses group is emphysema in?
called COPD
known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
What does COPD stand for?
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
What respiratory illness is grouped into the COPD group?
Emphysema
What is emphysema caused by?
By long-term smoking
How does long term smoking affect developing emphysema short term?
chemicals in the smoke paralyses the lung cleaning cilia and eventually kills them, leading to a build up in mucus. This increased infections as there’s more pathogens in the lungs.
How does long term smoking affect developing emphysema longer term?
Continued exposure also inflames the alveoli which decreases the efficiency of the lungs as these tissues collapse.
It becomes difficult therefore to obtain any oxygen.
What is emphysema?
damage to the air sacs in the lungs
What are the symptoms of emphysema?
Shortness of breath
Persistent chesty cough and wheezing
What are the treatments for emphysema?
Stop smoking
inhalers
medicines
surgery or lung transplant
What is cystic fibrosis?
A rare inherited genetic condition that causes breathing and digestive problems.
What is cystic fibrosis caused by?
A defective gene on one of our chromosomes as they come in pairs.
This means that individuals parents carried a copy of the defected gene and passed it on.
What is the chance of a parent passing on the defected gene
What cystic fibrosis produce?
Produces really thick and sticky mucus which blocks the bronchioles and prevents efficient movement of gases.
What are the symptoms of cystic fibrosis?
coughing
Repeated chest infections
Increased salt in sweat
