Biology Chapter: Respiration Process

Questions and Answers

What are the two main requirements for respiration in animals?

The two main requirements are a large respiratory surface and a moist environment.

Explain the difference between external and internal respiration.

External respiration is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood, while internal respiration occurs between the blood and the body's tissue cells.

What role does the brain play in respiration control?

The brain acts as the respiratory control center, coordinating breathing movements and regulating the breathing rate.

Identify the two structures that control air pressure inside the lungs.

The diaphragm and the intercostal rib muscles control air pressure inside the lungs. Signup and view all the answers

Where is the respiratory center located, and what is its function?

The respiratory center is located in the medulla oblongata and is responsible for minute-to-minute control of breathing. Signup and view all the answers

How does the diaphragm contribute to breathing?

The diaphragm contracts and flattens, increasing the thoracic cavity volume, allowing air to flow into the lungs. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the significance of a moist environment for respiration.

A moist environment is essential for the dissolution of O2 and CO2, facilitating their exchange during respiration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of intercostal muscles during breathing?

Intercostal muscles assist in enlarging and shrinking the thoracic cavity, aiding in the inhalation and exhalation process. Signup and view all the answers

What physiological changes occur in the lungs due to changes in air pressure?

Changes in air pressure cause air to move into the lungs during inhalation and out during exhalation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Respiration Process

Breathing involves the exchange of air between the lungs and the environment.
There are two types of respiration: external (lungs and blood) and internal (blood and body tissue cells).

Requirements for Respiration

Two main requirements for respiration to occur:
- Respiratory Surface: the area of the body where gases are exchanged with the environment must be large enough for quick exchange of O2 and CO2.
- Moist environment: respiration must take place in a moist environment so that O2 and CO2 are dissolved in water.

Respiratory Control Centre

The brain acts as the respiratory control centre to:
- Co-ordinate breathing movements
- Regulate breathing rate
- Monitor the volume of air in the lungs and gas levels in the blood
The respiratory centre is located in the medulla oblongata and involved in minute-to-minute control of breathing.

Mechanism of Breathing

Changes in air pressure cause air to move into and out of the lungs.
Two structures control air pressure inside the lungs:
- Muscular diaphragm: a dome-shaped layer of muscle separating the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.
- Intercostal rib muscles: found between the ribs and along the inside surface of the rib cage.
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles work together, with signals from the brain, to move air into and out of the lungs.