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The respiratory system - Coggle Diagram
The respiratory system
Structure
Nasal cavity - hairs filter dust, pollen and other particles. Air warmed and moistened
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Functions
Pulmonary ventilation - process in which air transported into the lungs - 2 phases. Requires thorax to increase in size to allow air to be taken in, followed by decrease to allow air to be forced out
Inspiration - diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract. Diaphragm contracts it flattens and external intercostal muscles raise ribs up and outwards. Increases area of thoracic cavity. Increase in area reduces the pressure inside the lungs compared to outside. Allows air to enter lungs
Expiration - diaphragm and internal intercostal muscles relax and internal intercostal muscles contract. Diaphragm relaxes and muscles contract to lower the ribs down and inwards. Decreases the area of the thoracic cavity. Increases lung pressure inside lungs compared to outside. Allows air to leave lungs
Short term exercise
Increased breathing rate - demand for oxygen increases. Co2 levels increase. Breathing rate increases to fuel oxygen demand. Stop exercising the breathing rate slows. Prior to exercise and anticipatory rise in breathing rate may occur
Increased tidal volume - increases due to extra demand for oxygen. Allows more air to pass through lungs - pulmonary ventilation. Allows oxygen to be delivered to working muscles. Increases during aerobic and anaerobic exercise. During intense exercise minute volume can increase up to 15 times
Adaptations
Increased vital capacity - training increases vital capacity. An increase means there is a more sufficient supply of oxygen to working muscles
Increased strength - training increases the strength of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Will increase chest cavity as these are stronger allowing more oxygen to be taken into lungs
Increased oxygen and carbon dioxide diffusion rate - increase in capillaries, there is an increase in efficiency of the diffusion of gases. More oxygen can be delivered to working muscles. More carbon dioxide can be removed and exhaled
Additional factors
Asthma - airways become restricted, bands around the airways contract and tighten so air cannot move freely in or out of the body. Phlegm can also narrow airway further. Reduces performance as it restricts the oxygen to the working muscles
Partial pressure - tells us how much of a particular gas is present, Oxygen moves from high pressure to low pressure until gas is equal
Altitude - performance levels at altitude will reduce, over a period of time the respiratory system will adapt to the conditions. Elite athletes train so their body adapts, these include increasing red blood cells and capillaries which allow more oxygen to be carried and diffused into the muscles
Control of breathing
Overview - need more oxygen in the body for energy production when exercising. Breathing rate needs to increase. Breathing rate needs to be slow when not exercising. The medulla oblongata is responsible for involuntary breathing. Controlled by neural and chemical control
Neural - contraction of diaphragm and intercostal muscles are responsible for inspiration and expiration. Controlled by neurons. Neurons control breathing coming from the medulla oblongata which is located in the brain. When exercise the medulla oblongata will send impulses to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles to speed up breathing
Chemical - chemoreceptors are found in the heart. Chemoreceptors pick up changes in chemical fluxations - carbon dioxide. Co2 levels change when exercising, chemical changes are picked up by the chemoreceptors in the heart, sends signals to medulla oblongata which will speed up the heart through neural control
Gaseous exchange - process in which one type of gas is exchanged for another. Occurs by diffusion between air in the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries surrounding the wall.