Year 11 Human Biology Repiratory System Flashcards
Alveoli
Air sacs in the lungs
Asthma
An allergic condition that causes narrowing of the airways and difficulty breathing.
Bronchiole
A very small air tube in the lung.
Concentration Gradient
A difference in concentration of a solution, often between the inside and outside of a cell; also called diffusion gradient.
Emphysema
A disease of the lungs that damages the alveoli; caused by long-term exposure to irritants.
Epiglottis
A cartilage flap at the base of the pharynx that covers the trachea during swallowing.
Expiration
Breathing out; exhalation.
Larynx
The structure at the top of the trachea that contains the vocal cords.
Inspiration
Breathing in; inhalation.
Lung Cancer
Growth of a tumour in the lungs.
Oesophagus
The tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.
Pharynx
The throat; the pharynx joins the mouth cavity to the oesophagus and larynx.
Pleura
A membrane covering the surface of the lungs.
Pleural Fluid
A thin layer of fluid within the pleura that allows the lungs to move during breathing.
Pneumonia
A lung infection that causes fluid and mucus to build up in the alveoli, causing difficulty breathing.
Primary Bronchi
The first branching from the trachea, entering the left and right lungs.
Pulmonary Arteries
The artery that takes blood from the heart to the lungs.
Respiratory System
The system specialized to facilitate the intake of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide.
Terminal Bronchioles
The end of the bronchioles before they form alveoli.
Secondary Bronchi
The division of the primary bronchi, taking air into each lobe of the lungs.
Tertiary Bronchi
The division of the secondary bronchi.
Trachea
The tube that takes air from the throat to the lungs; the windpipe.
Ventilation
The process of inhalation and exhalation; breathing.
Tuberculosis (TB)
A lung infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Vocal Cord
Membrane in the larynx that vibrates, producing sounds.
Inhalation (Inspiration)
Diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, lung volume increases, pressure decreases, air flows in.
Exhalation (Expiration)
Diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, lung volume decreases, pressure increases, air flows out.
Mucociliary Escalator
The process of mucus and trapped particles being moved up and out of the respiratory tract by cilia.
Pleural Fluid Function
Reduces friction and allows lungs to move smoothly during breathing.
Reduces friction and allows lungs to move smoothly during breathing.
