The Respiratory System By Billy O’Connor, Harrison Mintz, Hunter Field, and Kyle Shields

How does air get into the lungs? -Air travels into the two nasal cavities when one takes a breathe of air. Mucus secretions in the cavities moisten and warm the air as it travels through -The air is then positioned at the pharynx, which acts as the entrance to the larynx -The larynx is an airway with two folded pairs of mucus membrane -From there, the air travels down the windpipe, otherwise known as the trachea -The trachea branches off into two bronchi. One bronchus leads to the left lung, the other leads to the right lung -The bronchi then branch off into bronchioles. The bronchioles end in small air sacs called alveoli. Once the air reaches the alveoli gas exchange occurs (1)

Diagram of Respiratory System

What is the role of the diaphragm? -The diaphragm is a sheet of muscles that lies between the chest cavity and the abdomen (1) - The diaphragm's job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the lungs and pull the oxygen into the lungs -During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and pushes the lungs into a position of more surface area to maximize the efficiency at which it receives air -When exhaling, the diaphragm pushes upward, which forces the chest cavity to get smaller, thus pushing air out of the lungs

What are the main structures of the lungs that are involved in getting oxygen to the rest of the body? -Nasal Cavity: The chamber where air is warmed, moistened, and filter -Pharynx: Airway that connects the nasal cavity and mouth to the larynx - Larynx: The airway where sound is produced Trachea: Airway that connects the larynx with the two bronchi that lead to the lungs -Diaphragm: A sheet of muscle, between the chest cavity and abdominal cavity, that helps facilitate breathing -Alveoli: Tiny air sacs that aid gas exchange (1)

How does gas exchange take place in the lungs at the alveolar level? -In the lungs, blood is transported through tiny blood vessels called capillaries -Capillaries are located in the walls of the alveoli. In fact, capillaries and alveoli share a membrane which allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to easily diffuse. (2) -The oxygen molecules diffuse across the membrane, leaving the alveoli and attaching to the red blood cells. -The carbon dioxide molecules diffuse across the membrane, leaving the blood cells and entering the alveoli. The carbon dioxide molecules are then blown out of the body with the next exhalation (2) -After the gas exchange occurs, the blood is oxygen rich and ready to be transported throughout the body

Gas exchange in the lungs

Concentration gradients in relation to gas exchange -Before the gas exchange occurs the blood is depleted of oxygen and rich with carbon dioxide. On the other hand, the alveoli have large amounts of oxygen and no carbon dioxide, since with each exhalation the carbon dioxide is blown out of the body -Molecules want to move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. They want to move down the concentration gradient. -Thus, the oxygen molecules leave the alveoli and enter the red blood cells and the carbon dioxide leaves the blood cells and enters the alveoli (2)

How is the respiratory system connected to the circulatory system? -The job of the circulatory system is to circulate/transport nutrients, oxygen and water throughout the entire body -The respiratory system is connected to the circulatory system because through gas exchange the blood becomes oxygen rich. It can then be sent to the heart and circulated throughout the body. -Without the respiratory system and gas exchange, the blood would be deficient of oxygen. The circulatory system would be unable to transport oxygen to muscles and other tissues in the body, since the blood would not have enough oxygen. This would lead to these muscles being unable function. (3) -After the oxygen is given to the muscles and body cells, it is depleted of oxygen and transported back to the capillaries to go through the gas exchange again. (3) -This repeating cycle of replenishing oxygen is the blood, sending it throughout the body, and replenishing the oxygen once more, demonstrates how the circulatory system and respiratory system are interdependent on each other

What are the main components of blood? Which components specifically relate to gas exchange? -The four main components of blood are red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets (4) -The main function of red blood cells is oxygen transportation -The main function of platelets is to stop bleeding and to help heal wounds -The main function of white blood cells is to defend the body from infections and foreign materials -Platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells are all suspended in the yellow liquid plasma. Plasma carries an array of proteins that regulate clotting and bleeding -Red blood cells relate to gas exchange because of their role as an oxygen carrier. Each red blood cell contains around 300 million hemoglobin molecules. When the red blood cells pass through the capillaries in the lungs, the hemoglobin latches onto the oxygen molecules and does not release them until the destination, such as muscle tissues, is reached. (4) -Without red blood cells and hemoglobin, gas exchange could not happen because the oxygen would not be able to be transported throughout the body

References 1) "Partsof the Respiratory System." THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. Leaving Bio, n.d. Web. 03 Nov ) "Alveolar Gas Exchange." Alveolar Gas Exchange. STCC Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Nov ) Fox, C.B., and Susan Barwick. "What Is the Connection Between the Circulatory System and Respiratory System?" WiseGeek. Conjecture, 21 Oct Web. 04 Nov ) "Human Blood: Blood Components." Human Blood: Blood Components. Blood Components, n.d. Web. 04 Nov