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Questions and Answers
What is the main function of the respiratory system in animals?
What is the process by which air is pulled in and pushed out of the lungs?
What is the name of the muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity?
What is the waste product produced during metabolism?
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What are the tiny sacs located at the end of the bronchioles where gas exchange occurs?
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What is the path by which air enters the lungs?
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What is the function of hemoglobin in red blood cells?
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What happens to oxygen after it diffuses from the blood into the body cells?
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What is the term for the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration?
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What is the waste product produced during cellular respiration?
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What is the term for the process of absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide?
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What is the term for the exchange of gases between the environment and respiratory organs?
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What is the result of a deficiency of iron in the diet?
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How many stages are involved in the process of respiration in larger species?
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Study Notes
Respiratory System
- All animals need oxygen from the environment for metabolism and to transform nutrients to energy.
- Respiration is the exchange of gases, and metabolism is the process of combining food with oxygen to produce energy.
Human Respiratory System
- The human respiratory system begins at the trachea, a stiff tube reinforced by rings in cartilage.
- The trachea splits into bronchi, which further split into bronchioles, forming a complex network of millions of little tubes that lead to alveoli.
- Alveoli form the lungs, located in the chest or thorax, protected by a frame of bones - the rib cage.
Breathing and Ventilation
- Breathing is the process of bringing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, starting in the mouth and nostrils.
- Ventilation is the process by which air is pulled in and pushed out of the lungs.
- The main muscle responsible for ventilation is the diaphragm, helped by the intercostal muscles.
Gas Exchange Pathway
- The gas exchange pathway consists of:
- Mouth or nose
- Trachea
- Bronchi
- Bronchioles
- Alveoli
- Circulatory system
Red Blood Cells and Hemoglobin
- Red blood cells are specialized cells that carry gases in the blood using hemoglobin.
- Hemoglobin binds with oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules, relying on iron molecules.
- A deficiency of iron can lead to anemia, causing fatigue and other serious health problems.
Gas Exchange
- Oxygenated blood is sent from the lungs to the heart, which pumps it to the rest of the body through arteries.
- Oxygen diffuses from the blood to the body cells that need it through capillaries.
- Inside the body cells, oxygen is taken up by mitochondria, producing energy, with a waste product of carbon dioxide.
- Carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood, increasing its concentration, and is carried by red blood cells through the veins to the lungs.
External and Internal Respiration
- In small animals, gas exchange occurs directly from air to water through membranes to tissue cells.
- In larger species, gas exchange occurs in two stages:
- External Respiration: the exchange between the environment and respiratory organs.
- Internal Respiration: the exchange between body fluids and tissue cells.
Cellular Respiration
- Cellular respiration is the utilization of oxygen in the cells and release of carbon dioxide.
- It involves the breakdown of organic molecules to produce ATP.
- There is exchange of gases if carbon dioxide leaves the cell and oxygen enters.
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Description
Learn about the importance of oxygen in metabolism, the process of respiration, and the role of the respiratory system in bringing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.
