Structure And Function Of The Gas Exchange System Flashcards
(18 cards)
What are the three main gases in air that are taken in and removed from the body?
The three main gases are oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
What is gas exchange?
Gas exchange is the ‘swapping’ of gases - absorbing oxygen into the blood and removing carbon dioxide from the blood.
How does diffusion relate to gas exchange?
Diffusion moves oxygen out of the alveoli and into the blood.
Is respiration the same as breathing?
No, respiration is a chemical process which occurs in all of your cells
What is the function of the gas exchange system?
Gas exchange allows oxygen to travel into your cells for respiration while removing carbon dioxide, a waste substance made by respiration.
What is respiration?
Respiration is a vital process that involves releasing energy from glucose.
Why is respiration important?
All living things perform respiration to stay alive.
What is the trachea?
The trachea, also called the windpipe, is a tube that runs from the mouth down the throat towards the lungs. It is lined with rings of cartilage which keep it open at all times.
What is the function of the bronchus?
The trachea splits into a left and right bronchus, each leading to a lung.
What are bronchioles?
Bronchioles are thousands of smaller tubes that the bronchus splits into, taking air deeper into the lungs.
What are alveoli?
Alveoli are tiny air sacs at the ends of bronchioles where oxygen moves into the blood and carbon dioxide moves out.
What are intercostal muscles?
Intercostal muscles run between the ribs and form the chest wall. They contract and relax with the diaphragm when a person breathes.
What is the diaphragm?
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped, flat sheet of muscle under the lungs. It contracts and relaxes with the intercostal muscles during breathing.
Gas exchange happens in the air sacs (alveoli). Which two gases are exchanged?
Oxygen and carbon dioxide
Describe the movement of the diaphragm when we breathe out
Moves down and relaxes, reduces the volume within the ribcage
Describe the movement of the rib cage when we breathe in
Moves up and out, it contracts and creates more volume within the ribcage
What does respiration do?
Respiration converts glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water
Where does respiration occur?
Occurs in organelles called mitochondria
