Gas Exchange Flashcards
(14 cards)
What are the ribs?
Bone structure that protects internal organs such as the lungs.
What are the intercostal muscles?
Muscles between the ribs which control their movement, casing inhalation and exhalation.
What is the diaphragm?
A sheet of connective tissue and muscle at the bottom of the thorax that helps change the volume of the thorax to allow inhalation and exhalation.
What is the trachea?
Windpipe that connects the mouth and nose to the lungs.
What is the larynx?
When are passes across it we are able to make sounds.
What are the bronchi?
Large tubes branching off the trachea with one bronchus for each lung.
What are the bronchioles?
Bronchi split to form smaller tubes called bronchioles in the lungs connected to alveoli.
What are the alveoli?
Tiny air sacs where gas exchange takes place.
What is the pleural cavity?
The fluid filled space between the pleural membranes which reduces friction and allows the lungs to move freely.
What happens during inhalation?
Intercostal muscles & diaphragm contract
Volume increases & pressure decreases
Air is drawn into the lungs to balance the pressure
What happens during exhalation?
Intercostal muscles & diaphragm relax
Volume decreases & pressure increases
Air is forced out of the lungs
How is emphysema caused?
Cigarette smoke causes damage to the cells in the alveoli.
This makes the walls of the alveoli brake down.
This reduces surface area for gas exchange.
This causes shortness of breath - emphysema.
What is Fick’s law?
Rate of diffusion is proportional to
(Surface area x Concentration gradient) / Diffusion distance
How does smoking cause cancer?
Carcinogens in tobacco smoke can cause DNA mutations.
