Preview

Four Events That Occur In The Respiratory System

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
844 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Four Events That Occur In The Respiratory System
Air enters the nose by passing through the external nares or nostrils. The mucosa lining the nasal cavity, called the respiratory mucosa, warms the air as it flows pa

Respiratory physiology

The major function of the respiratory system is to supply the body with oxygen and to dispose of carbon dioxide. To do this, at least four distinct events, collectively called respiration, must occur:

1. Pulmonary ventilation

Air must move into and out of the lungs so that the gases in the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs are continuously changed and refreshed.

This is commonly called breathing.

2. External respiration

Gas exchange (oxygen loading and carbon dioxide unloading) between the pulmonary
…show more content…
The air is ingested into the body and travels to the lungs, filling them up and causing them to expand. When the lungs expand, the diaphragm contracts and goes down, building pressure in the chest. This is what causes the rise and fall of the chest while a person is inhaling and exhaling air. The oxygen passes through the lungs, then enters the arteries in the body's circulatory system. Red blood cells carry the oxygen throughout the body. As the oxygen travels through the body, it becomes a form of heat and energy on which the body's tissue feeds. This enables the body to perform various functions, such as sending oxygen to the brain, and pumping blood to the heart. The energy and heat burn into fuel, turning into carbon dioxide that is carried back to the lungs through the …show more content…
The lungs then eject the carbon dioxide, causing the exhalation process. As the lungs deflate, the carbon dioxide passes from the body through the nose and mouth. This entire process, inhaling and exhaling, is repeated, all occurring within a matter of seconds. In this brief span, the entire body is given the oxygen, fuel and energy it needs in order to function. (show video or pictures bibee. ü)

B. Nonrespiratory air movements

Nonrespiratory air movements are voluntary or reflex activities that move air into or out of the lungs. These include coughing, sneezing, laughing, crying, hiccupping, and yawning.

C. Respiratory volumes and capacities

Air volumes exchanges during air breathing are:

• tidal volume - amount of air inhaled or exhaled with a normal breath

• inspiratory reserve volume – amount of air that can be taken in forcibly over the tidal volume

• expiratory reserve volume – amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a tidal expiration

• vital capacity –total amount of exchangeable air or the respiratory

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The main function of the respiratory system is to inhale oxygen and exhale the waste product carbon dioxide. Oxygen is breathed through the mouth and nostrils into the lungs. The gas then diffuses through the alveolar walls and into red blood cells (erythrocytes). Carbon dioxide carried back within red blood cells diffuses back through the alveolar walls and is exhaled out through the mouth.…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A & P Patho Copd

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Physiology of the lungs: The lungs working properly will result in the successful exchange of gases. During inhalation the diaphragm contracts, which draws air into the lungs. All the muscle groups act together expanding the lungs. The trachea pulls air into the lungs via the bronchi. The bronchioles then are a functional branch of the bronchi. The tiny pockets of alveoli store air briefly in order for oxygen to be absorbed in the bloodstream. Through the alveoli the gas exchange into the lungs occurs.…

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Respiratory System involves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The body requires a constant amount of oxygen to function properly, though the body can survive for a short time without food or water we need oxygen to survive and it is required for all cells to survive, a lack of it can result in death. We as human beings taken in oxygen from air and release carbon dioxide (which is waste) and water through exhaling; the continual intake of oxygen (O2) and the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) is what’s necessary to sustain life.…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Complete the following statement using the choices below. Air moves out of the lungs when the pressure inside the lungs is…

    • 1215 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The main function of the respiratory system is gaseous exchange. This refers to the process of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide moving between the lungs and blood. This occurs during gaseous exchange as the blood in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli has a lower oxygen concentration of Oxygen than the air in the alveoli which…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Physioex Exercise 7

    • 1362 Words
    • 6 Pages

    1. During normal quiet breathing, about ______ ml of air moves into and out of the lungs with each breath. a.…

    • 1362 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    chapter 9 and 10 study guide

    • 2337 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The organs of the respiratory system ensure that oxygen enters the body and carbon dioxide leaves the body. Ventilation is another term for breathing that includes both…

    • 2337 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The respiratory system takes away the oxygen needed for the body from the outside of the body and brings it into the lungs where it is pushed around the lungs into the blood stream. The circulatory system brings and carries the…

    • 2369 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The heart in the circulatory system pumps blood into the lungs where the blood is oxygenated. The blood is then returned to the heart and the newly oxygenated blood is circulated to the rest of the body. The respiratory system performs a process known as gas exchange that releases carbon dioxide from the body and brings in oxygen.…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Glandular Epithelial Tissue

    • 7418 Words
    • 30 Pages

    All the body cells metabolically consume oxygen, and discharge carbon dioxide. To cover this need, respiration takes place internally (at the cellular level) and externally (ventilation/breathing). Ventilation involves the inhalation of atmospheric air into the lungs via the nose and mouth through branching passageways, and the exhalation of carbon dioxide.…

    • 7418 Words
    • 30 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Expiration is the largely passive process of breathing out, (it requires little energy). The process begins with the contraction of the internal intercostal muscles, whilst the external intercostal muscles relax. The ribs move down and inwards, which decreases the thorax volume. The diaphragm muscles then relax allowing a decrease in the volume of the thorax. The decreased volume increases the pressure in the lungs, so the pulmonary pressure is now greater than the atmospheric pressure, thus is forced out of the lungs.…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Respiratory Assignment

    • 643 Words
    • 2 Pages

    the lungs. Exhaling is the process of moving air out of the lungs. When both processes take place…

    • 643 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The carbon dioxide is taken back to the lungs. The carbon dioxide is diffused from the blood into the lungs and is then released into the atmosphere through exhalation. These systems are then interrelated because the digestive system breaks down food by muscles contracting. The smooth muscle present in the stomach churns the…

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The expandation of your lungs causes the air to be breathed in through your nose or mouth. The air goes down your windpipe and into lungs. Through your bronchial tubes it helps the air to reach and enter the alveoli or air sacs.…

    • 273 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Air travels down your windpipe and into your lungs through two large tubes. Inside your lungs, these tubes divide many times into many smaller tubes that end in clusters of tiny air sacs. The air sacs have very thin walls full of tiny…

    • 1299 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays