Bio quiz #2 - Respiratory system Flashcards
Explain the importance of respiration with regards to cellular respiration.
- Respiration is important because it brings oxygen into the body, which cells need to make energy.
- In cellular respiration, oxygen helps break down food (like sugar) inside the mitochondria of cells to produce energy. This energy powers everything the body does, like moving, thinking, and growing.
- Without respiration, cells wouldn’t get oxygen and couldn’t make the energy they need to survive.
- Oxygen is essential for the efficient release of energy, while carbon dioxide is a waste product that must be removed.
How insects breathe and the importance of surface area in each case.
- Use a tracheal system with tubes that deliver air directly to cells through openings called spiracles.
- Surface area: Many tiny branches increase internal surface area for gas exchange.
How frogs breathe and the importance of surface area in each case.
- Have gas absorption from skin and lungs (balloon like structures allow exchange of gases between air and blood)
- Surface area: Thin, moist skin provides extra area for gas exchange, especially in water.
How fish breathe and the importance of surface area in each case.
- Use gills to extract oxygen from water.
- Water flows over gill membranes, where oxygen diffuses into blood.
- Surface area: Gills have many folds and filaments for more gas exchange.
How humans and land vertebrates breathe and the importance of surface area in each case.
- Use lungs with millions of alveoli for breathing.
- Surface area: Alveoli provide a huge surface area for efficient oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.
requirements for respiratory surfaces
-They must be large enough for gas exchange to occur quickly enough to meet the body’s needs. (efficiency)
-They must be moist so gases can dissolve and diffuse
-plus: Thin, allowing gases to pass easily between the environment and the bloodstream.
Explain the difference between inspiration and expiration.
-Inspiration (inhalation): Drawing air into the lungs.
-Expiration (exhalation): Pushing air out of the lungs.
Identify all the organs of the respiratory system.
Upper respiratory tract:
-Nasal cavity
-Pharynx
-Epiglottis
-Larynx
Lower respiratory tract:
-Trachea
-Bronchi
-Bronchioles
-Lungs
-Alveoli
nasal cavity
Filters, warms, and moistens air; lined with cilia and mucus.
Pharynx
Passageway for air; connects nasal cavity to trachea.
Epiglottis
Flap that prevents food from entering the trachea.
Larynx
Contains vocal cords; produces sound.
Trachea
Air passage to lungs; held open by cartilage rings.
Bronchi
Two main airways that direct air into lungs.
Bronchioles
Smaller branches leading to alveoli.
Lungs
Organs for gas exchange; right lung has 3 lobes, left has 2.
Alveoli
Tiny sacs for gas exchange; surrounded by capillaries.
Describe the mechanics of breathing
Breathing Mechanics (Shortened):
- Inhalation: The diaphragm contracts (moves down) and intercostal muscles lift the rib cage. This increases chest cavity volume and lowers air pressure inside the lungs. Air flows in from outside (higher pressure).
- Exhalation: The diaphragm and muscles relax, decreasing chest volume and raising air pressure in the lungs. Air flows out to the lower-pressure environment.
Key Idea: Air moves from high to low pressure, driven by chest volume changes controlled by muscles.
Describe the pathway that oxygen and carbon dioxide take from the atmosphere to the cells of your body and back again.
OXYGEN Pathway (How oxygen gets into your body and to your cells):
- You breathe in air through your nose or mouth.
- Air goes into your lungs and reaches the alveoli (tiny air sacs).
- Oxygen moves from the alveoli into the blood in nearby capillaries.
- Oxygen-rich blood travels to the heart.
- The heart pumps the blood to the body’s cells.
- Oxygen leaves the blood and enters the cells, where it is used for energy.
CARBON DIOXIDE Pathway (How waste gas leaves your body):
Cells produce carbon dioxide as a waste product.
1. Carbon dioxide moves from the cells into the blood.
2. This blood goes back to the heart, then to the lungs.
3. In the lungs, carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli.
4. You breathe out the carbon dioxide through your nose or mouth.
Summary:
Oxygen goes from the air → lungs → blood → cells, while carbon dioxide travels cells → blood → lungs → air.
Explain how bronchitis affect the organs of the respiratory system.
Inflammation of bronchi; narrows passages and causes persistent coughing bringing up mucus.
Explain how pneumonia affect the organs of the respiratory system.
Pneumonia is a lung disease where the alveoli become inflamed and fill with fluid, making it hard for the body to get enough oxygen (reduces gas exchange). It is usually caused by bacterial or viral infections.
Explain how emphysema affect the organs of the respiratory system.
Alveoli rupture due to pressure; decreases surface area for gas exchange.
Alveoli burst and fuse into enlarged air spaces. Surface area for gas exchange is reduced.
A respiratory disorder in which the walls of the alveoli lose their elasticity is known as
emphysema. Th is loss of elasticity reduces the respiratory surface for gas exchange and
causes an oxygen shortage in the tissues. Exhaling becomes diffi cult because the small
airways collapse during exhalation, trapping air in the lungs and blocking the airfl ow.
Th e most common cause of this condition is smoking.
Explain how COPD affect the organs of the respiratory system.
Chronic bronchitis is referred
to as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is one of a few lung diseases that is usually caused by smoking. COPD cannot be cured, but it can be
treated by quitting smoking, taking medications, and participating in specialized
exercise programs.
Explain how lung cancer affect the organs of the respiratory system.
Tumors block bronchioles and reduce alveolar surface area
Lung cancer happens when cells in the lungs grow out of control, forming a tumour (carcinoma). This tumour can grow large and reduce the area in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.
Because lungs are deep inside the chest, lung cancer is hard to find early. Symptoms include constant coughing, chest pain, trouble breathing, and loss of appetite.
Most lung cancer is caused by smoking, but it can also come from second-hand smoke, air pollution, radon gas, or asbestos.
