Functions
What is the main function of the Respiratory System?
To bring oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide.
What happens in the alveoli during gas exchange?
Oxygen diffuses into the blood, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the alveoli to be exhaled.
How does high altitude affect the lungs?
How does smoking damage the lungs over time?
There is less oxygen in higher altitudes, so breathing and heart rate increase.
Smoking destorys cilia and alveoli, making breathing harder
Gas Exchange and Alveoli (define both)
swapping oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli
tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs between air and blood
Pharynx and Larynx (define both)
a passageway for both air and food before they split to trachea and esophagus
located above the trachea and used for speaking
Describe the role of the diaphragm in breathing
The diaphragm contracts and flattens to allow the lungs to expand during inhalation and relaxes during exhalation.
Why is it beneficial to breathe through the nose instead of the mouth?
Nasal breathing filters, warms, and humidifies the air before it reaches the lungs.
A person is experiencing an asthma attack. What is happening inside their airways, and how do inhalers help?
If the diaphragm stopped functioning, how would that impact breathing?
During an asthma attack, airways tighten and inflame, and inhalers open airways and reduce swelling.
Without the diaphragm, breathing would be very difficult or stop completely.
Oxygen Diffusion and Hemoglobin (define both)
the movement of oxygen from alveoli into capillaries due to concentration differences
a protein in the RBCs that binds to and carries oxygen throughout the body
Epiglottis and Cilia (define both)
a flap that covers the trachea when swallowing to prevent food from entering the airway
tiny hair-like structures lining the airways trap and move particles out of the lungs.
What is the difference between external and internal respiration?
External: exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood
Internal: exchange of gases between the blood and body tissues
What happens to oxygen once it enters the bloodstream?
Oxygen binds to hemoglobin in RBCs and is transported to body tissues.
Imagine a patient has pneumonia. How would this illness affect their ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide?
How does physical exercise affect your breathing rate, and why does this happen?
Pneumonia fills the alveoli with fluid, making gas exchange harder.
Physical exercise speeds up breathing to get more oxygen for the working muscles.
Diaphragm and Pulmonary Ventilation (define both)
main breathing muscle that contracts to pull air into the lungs and relaxes to push air out
the process of breathing in and out
Respiration vs. Breathing
External vs Internal Respiration
Respiration: cellular process where oxygen is used to produce energy
Breathing: physical act of inhaling and exhaling
External: gas exchange from the lungs into the blood
Internal: gas exchange from the blood to body tissues
How do cilia in the respiratory tract help protect the lungs?
Cilia trap and move particles and pathogens out of the airways to protect the lungs.
How does the respiratory system work with the circulatory system to maintain homeostasis?
They collaborate to deliver oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide, maintaining internal balance.
Why is carbon dioxide removal just as important as oxygen intake?
What are some environmental factors that can negatively impact lung health?
Too much carbon dioxide harms body cells and balance.
Pollution, smoke, chemicals, and allergens can impact lung health
Tidal Volume and Vital Capacity (define both)
the amount of air inhaled or exhaled in a normal breath
the maximum amount of air you can exhale after taking the deepest breath possible
Lung Capacity and Spirometer (define both)
the total amount of air the lungs can hold
a tool that measures how much air you inhale and exhale
Explain the function of the epiglottis and why it is important.
The epiglottis prevents food and liquids from entering the trachea during swallowing, protecting the airway.
Why does holding your breath for a long time cause discomfort?
Carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood, triggering the urge to breathe.
Why do doctors use a spirometer to test lung function?
How do the nasal cavity and sinuses help maintain respiratory health?
Spirometers measure how much air you can inhale and exhale.
The nasal cavity and sinuses warm, moisten, and filter air before it hits the lungs.
Trachea and Bronchi (define both)
also known as the "windpipe," carries air from the throat to the bronchi
large tubes branching from the trachea that direct air into each lung
Medulla Oblongata and Pleural Fluid (define both)
part of the brainstem that controls autonomic functions and processes, such as breathing
liquid between lung membranes that allows smooth lung movement and reduces friction