Physiology 1.1

Question 1

Describe the main functions of the respiratory system.

Answer 1

The main functions of the respiratory system include gas exchange, maintaining acid-base balance, protecting from infection, and enabling communication via speech.

Question 2

What is the role of the respiratory system in maintaining acid-base balance?

Answer 2

The respiratory system, together with the renal system, works to maintain the pH of extracellular fluid at a value of 7.4, with 50% of acid-base balance achieved through changes in the respiratory system.

Question 3

How does the respiratory epithelia protect from infection?

Answer 3

The respiratory epithelia has a dense concentration of immune tissue that scans the air for potential pathogens and sets up an immune response against them. It also contains a dense cilia network that beats larger inhaled particles away from the delicate lung tissue.

Question 4

Define the role of the cilia in the respiratory system.

Answer 4

The cilia in the respiratory system are responsible for beating larger inhaled particles up the respiratory tract, away from the delicate lung tissue, and trapping them in mucus to be removed from the body.

Question 5

What is the respiratory system’s involvement in communication?

Answer 5

The respiratory system enables communication via speech by allowing air to move through the vocal cords in the larynx, causing them to vibrate and produce sounds that we recognize as speech.

Question 6

Do the respiratory and renal systems work together to maintain acid-base balance?

Answer 6

Yes, the respiratory system, together with the renal system, collaborates to maintain the pH of extracellular fluid at a value of 7.4, with the respiratory system contributing to 50% of the acid-base balance.

Question 7

Describe the relationship between aerobic respiration and its need for oxygen.

Answer 7

Aerobic respiration requires oxygen to produce energy for the body’s resting energy demands.

Question 8

What is the role of the respiratory system in relation to carbon dioxide?

Answer 8

The respiratory system is responsible for getting carbon dioxide out of the body.

Question 9

Define the integration of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Answer 9

The integration of these systems is crucial for delivering fuel to active cells and removing waste products.

Question 10

How does the cardiovascular system support gas exchange?

Answer 10

It transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and waste products, such as carbon dioxide, from the tissues to the lungs for expiration.

Question 11

Do dysfunction in the respiratory system and cardiovascular system have consequences?

Answer 11

Yes, dysfunction in one system tends to lead to dysfunction in the other, resulting in knock-on consequences.

Question 12

Describe the process of gas exchange between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Answer 12

Gas exchange involves oxygen being carried to peripheral tissues, used in cellular respiration, and the resulting carbon dioxide being transported back to the lungs for expiration.

Question 13

Describe the process of cellular respiration.

Answer 13

Cellular respiration is the biochemical process that energy from glucose, either via glycolysisanaerobic respiration) or oxidative phosphorylation (which requires oxygen and produces more ATP than glycolysis).

Question 14

What is the role of external respiration in the body?

Answer 14

External respiration is the movement of gases between the air and the body’s cells, and it depends on both the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Question 15

Define systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation.

Answer 15

Systemic circulation is the circulatory system that goes all around the body, delivering oxygen to peripheral tissues and collecting carbon dioxide. Pulmonary circulation is specialized, traveling between the heart and lungs, delivering carbon dioxide to the lungs and collecting oxygen.

Question 16

How does the pulmonary circulation differ from the systemic circulation?

Answer 16

Pulmonary circulation delivers carbon dioxide to the lungs and collects oxygen, while systemic circulation delivers oxygen to peripheral tissues and collects carbon dioxide.

Question 17

What is the primary responsibility of the respiratory system in the body?

Answer 17

The respiratory system is responsible for getting oxygen into the blood and lungs, as well as removing carbon dioxide from the blood and body.

Question 18

Describe the relationship between cellular respiration, oxidative phosphorylation, and the need for oxygen.

Answer 18

Oxidative phosphorylation, which requires oxygen, produces much more ATP than glycolysis. We need oxidative phosphorylation to produce enough energy to sustain our resting metabolic demands.

Question 19

What is the role of the cardiovascular system in the process of external respiration?

Answer 19

The cardiovascular system works closely with the respiratory system to transport oxygen to peripheral tissues and remove carbon dioxide from those tissues.

Question 20

Do the pulmonary and systemic circulations have opposite functions?

Answer 20

Yes, the pulmonary circulation delivers carbon dioxide to the lungs and collects oxygen, while the systemic circulation delivers oxygen to peripheral tissues and collects carbon dioxide.

Question 21

Describe the terminology used to differentiate between the blood vessels of the pulmonary and systemic circulations.

Answer 21

The terminology used for the blood vessels of the pulmonary circulation is opposite to that used for the systemic circulation, reflecting their opposite functions.

Question 22

Describe the difference between systemic arteries and veins in terms of the oxygenation of the blood they carry.

Answer 22

Systemic arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, while systemic veins carry deoxygenated blood towards the heart.

Question 23

Define the anatomical definition of an artery and a vein.

Answer 23

An artery is defined anatomically as a vessel carrying blood away from the heart, while a vein is described anatomically as a vessel carrying blood to the heart.

Question 24

How does the function of pulmonary arteries differ from systemic arteries in terms of the blood they carry?

Answer 24

Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart, while systemic arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.

Question 25

Describe the function of pulmonary veins in contrast to systemic veins.

Answer 25

Pulmonary veins carry richly oxygenated blood towards the heart, while systemic veins carry deoxygenated blood towards the heart.

Question 26

Do systemic arteries and pulmonary arteries carry the same type of blood?

Answer 26

No, systemic arteries carry oxygenated blood, while pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood.

Question 27

How does exercise impact the relationship between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems?

Answer 27

Exercise increases the energy demand of working skeletal muscles, leading to an increase in the rate and depth of breathing to speed up the acquisition of oxygen as a substrate for metabolism.

Question 28

Describe the relationship between breathing rate and substrate acquisition during exercise.

Answer 28

An increase in breathing rate and depth during exercise is aimed at speeding up the acquisition of oxygen, which is a vital substrate for cellular metabolism.

Question 29

What is the primary substrate that the body seeks to acquire through increased breathing during exercise?

Answer 29

The primary substrate sought through increased breathing during exercise is oxygen, which is essential for cellular metabolism and energy production.

Question 30

Describe the role oxygen and nutrients in energy during exercise.

Answer 30

Oxygen and nutrients are essential for producing energy during exercise, with oxygen necessary for energy production and nutrients, such as glucose stored in muscle glycogen, providing the necessary fuel for the process.

Question 31

What are the effects of speeding up the rate and depth of breathing during exercise?

Answer 31

Speeding up the rate and depth of breathing during exercise helps in getting more oxygen in and removing more carbon dioxide out of the body.

Question 32

How does the cardiovascular system contribute to exercise?

Answer 32

The cardiovascular system extracts carbon dioxide from peripheral tissues and transports it to the lungs, while also increasing blood flow to deliver oxygen to working muscles and remove waste products.

Question 33

Define the steady state in the context of gas exchange during exercise.

Answer 33

The steady state refers to the balance where the volume of gas exchanged in the lungs per unit time equals the volume of gas being exchanged at the tissues, preventing gas build-up in the circulation.

Question 34

What is the significance of maintaining concentration gradient differences during exercise?

Answer 34

Maintaining concentration gradient differences is crucial for extracting oxygen from the blood and transferring it to the tissues, as well as extracting carbon dioxide from the tissues and transferring it to the blood.

Question 35

Describe the potential consequences of disrupting concentration gradients during exercise.

Answer 35

Disrupting concentration gradients during exercise can lead to the inability to access oxygen or extract carbon dioxide, impacting the efficiency of gas exchange and energy production.

Question 36

What is the role of the partial pressure in the context of concentration gradients for carbon dioxide?

Answer 36

The partial pressure plays a crucial role in the concentration gradient for carbon dioxide, with a very small difference between the partial pressures impacting the exchange of carbon dioxide during exercise.

Question 37

Describe the importance of maintaining balance between oxygen intake carbon dioxide removal in body.

Answer 37

It is important to maintain a balance between the amount of oxygen coming in and being consumed, and the amount of carbon dioxide being produced and exhaled to prevent a build-up of gases in the circulation.

Question 38

Do respiratory rates vary with activity levels? If so, provide an example.

Answer 38

Yes, the normal respiratory rate at rest is between 12 and 18 breaths per minute, but it can increase significantly during exercise, reaching up to about 40 to 45 breaths per minute at maximum exercising capacity in adults.

Question 39

Define external respiration and its main function in the respiratory system.

Answer 39

External respiration is the process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide at the level of the lungs and peripheral tissues. Its main function is to get oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of the blood and ultimately out of the body.

Question 40

How is the process of internal respiration, or cellular respiration, summarized?

Answer 40

The process of internal respiration, or cellular respiration, is summarized by the equation that describes how nutrients and oxygen are used to produce energy in the form of ATP in cells, while also producing waste products including carbon dioxide.

Question 41

Describe the role of the respiratory system in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.

Answer 41

The respiratory system is responsible for ensuring that the supply of oxygen equals the demand and that the removal of carbon dioxide equals its production, preventing a build-up of gases in the circulation.

Question 42

What is the normal range for respiratory rate at rest, and how does it change during exercise?

Answer 42

The normal respiratory rate at rest is between 12 and 18 breaths per minute, but it can increase significantly during exercise, reaching up to about 40 to 45 breaths per minute at maximum exercising capacity in adults.