3: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Flashcards
What is the TRACHEA
Windpipe. A rigid cartilaginous tube, lined with thin hairs that filter air as it comes through. Divides into 2 main bronchi, left and right.
What is the BRONCHUS
Left and right. Enters the lungs from the trachea where it then divides into smaller tubes called bronchioles
What are BRONCHIOLES
Smaller tubes that leave into air sacs called alveoli
What are ALVEOLI
Located in clusters at the end of bronchioles. Air sacs are surrounded by pulmonary capillaries which expand in size depending on breathing levels. Where gaseous exchange takes place
What is the Diaphragm
One of the main muscles used in breathing. Muscles positioned below rib cage, separating chest cavity from abdominal cavity
When contracts volume of chest cavity increases and air is drawn into the lungs
What is the Intercostals muscles
One of the main muscles used in breathing. During exercise the lungs needs to expand more than they do at rest to take in larger volume of air - achieved by these muscles
What is gaseous exchange
The process where molecules of gas pass from an area of greater concentration (high pressure) to an area of lower concentration (low pressure)
What is diffusion
Diffusion takes place where oxygen and carbon dioxide move across a membrane both in the lungs and muscle tissue
Describe the process of gaseous exchange via diffusion
- Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli (high concentration) through the capillary walls into the bloodstream (low concentration)
-Carbon dioxide travels in the opposite direction, from higher concentration within the blood to lower concentration in the alveoli
Describe the process of gaseous exchange via diffusion in the muscles
Gasses travel in the opposite direction. Oxygen diffuses from the blood (high concentration) into the muscle tissues (lower concentration) where it is used for metabolism. Carbon dioxide diffuses from muscle tissue (high) to the blood (low) where it is transported to the lungs to be expelled
Describe the passage of air through the respiratory system
Air taken through nose and mouth. If through the nose is it warm, moistened and filtered. Passes through the PHARYNX (throat) which is behind the mouth and nose. Passes through the LARYNX (voice box) where warm and moistened again.
Air then travels down the TRACHEA into the lungs, the bronchi and then the bronchioles. Finally enters ALVEOLI (air sac) where gaseous exchange takes place
what is tidal volume
the amount of air moved in and out of the lungs in one breathe. measured by spirometer
short term effects on tidal volume from exercise
tidal volume increases when exercise begins to meet the increased o2 demands of the activity and to remove increased levels of co2
long term effects on tidal volume from exercise
breathing muscles become more efficient and breathing rate decreases while tidal volume increases
what is residual volume
the dead space that is left in the lungs, the amount of air left in the lungs after exhalation. needed to allow gaseous exchange to continue between breathes and keep the lungs inflated. as an inverse relationship with tidal volume
