science
grade 7
PLATINUM BUSINESS
ACADEMY
-SARAH RIZWAN-
Respiration
The human respiratory system
Why We Need Oxygen
1. Cellular Respiration
Definition:
● Cellular respiration is a process that occurs in the cells of our body to produce energy.
Process:
● Oxygen’s Role: Oxygen is essential for cellular respiration. It combines with glucose (a
type of sugar) to produce energy, carbon dioxide, and water.
2. Removal of Carbon Dioxide
Definition:
● Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a waste product of cellular respiration.
Importance:
● Removal: Oxygen helps to remove carbon dioxide from the body. If CO₂ accumulates, it
can lower the pH of the blood and make it more acidic, which can disrupt normal cellular
functions.
● Respiratory System: The respiratory system takes in oxygen and expels carbon
dioxide. This exchange happens in the alveoli of the lungs.
3. Supporting Organ Function
Definition:
● Organs and tissues require a constant supply of oxygen to function properly.
Importance:
● Brain Function: The brain is highly sensitive to changes in oxygen levels. Even a short
period of oxygen deprivation can affect mental clarity and consciousness.
● Muscle Function: Muscles need oxygen to perform prolonged activities. During intense
exercise, the body may rely on anaerobic respiration temporarily, leading to the buildup
of lactic acid and muscle fatigue.
4. Growth and Repair
Definition:
● Growth and repair involve the synthesis of new cells and tissues.
Importance:
● Cell Division: Oxygen is necessary for cell division and the creation of new cells, which
is vital for growth and repair.
● Wound Healing: Adequate oxygen levels are crucial for wound healing and tissue
repair.
1. Overview of the Respiratory System
Function:
● The respiratory system is responsible for taking in oxygen from the air and expelling
carbon dioxide from the body. This process is essential for cellular respiration, which
provides energy for the body’s cells.
2. Key Structures of the Respiratory System
**1. Nose and Nasal Cavity
● Function: Air enters the respiratory system through the nose. The nasal cavity filters,
warms, and moistens the air. It also contains olfactory receptors for the sense of smell.
**2. Pharynx (Throat)
● Function: The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal cavity to the larynx
and esophagus. It serves as a passageway for air and food.
**3. Larynx (Voice Box)
● Function: The larynx houses the vocal cords and is responsible for producing sound. It
also acts as a passageway for air between the pharynx and trachea.
**4. Trachea (Windpipe)
● Function: The trachea is a tube that carries air from the larynx to the bronchi. It is lined
with cilia and mucus to trap and remove particles and pathogens.
**5. Bronchi
● Function: The trachea divides into two main bronchi (left and right), each leading to one
lung. The bronchi further branch into smaller bronchioles within the lungs.
**6. Lungs
● Function: The primary organs of the respiratory system where gas exchange occurs.
Each lung is divided into lobes (three in the right lung and two in the left lung).
**7. Bronchioles
● Function: Smaller branches of the bronchi that lead to the alveoli. They regulate airflow
and distribute air throughout the lungs.
**8. Alveoli
● Function: Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles where gas exchange occurs. They
are surrounded by a network of capillaries where oxygen diffuses into the blood and
carbon dioxide diffuses out.
**9. Diaphragm
● Function: A dome-shaped muscle located below the lungs. It contracts and relaxes to
help move air in and out of the lungs.
3. Process of Breathing
Inhalation (Inspiration):
1. Diaphragm Contracts: The diaphragm moves downward, and the rib cage expands.
2. Chest Cavity Expands: This expansion creates a vacuum that pulls air into the lungs.
3. Air Travels: Air enters through the nose or mouth, travels through the trachea, bronchi,
bronchioles, and finally reaches the alveoli.
Exhalation (Expiration):
1. Diaphragm Relaxes: The diaphragm moves upward, and the rib cage contracts.
2. Chest Cavity Reduces: This reduction in space increases the pressure in the chest
cavity.
3. Air Expels: Air is pushed out of the lungs, traveling back through the bronchioles,
bronchi, trachea, and out through the nose or mouth.
4. Gas Exchange
Location: Occurs in the alveoli of the lungs.
Process:
● Oxygen Diffusion: Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses across the thin walls of the
alveoli into the surrounding capillaries.
● Carbon Dioxide Diffusion: Carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration,
diffuses from the blood in the capillaries into the alveoli to be exhaled.
5. Regulation of Breathing
Controlled By:
● Medulla Oblongata: Part of the brainstem that monitors blood levels of carbon dioxide
and oxygen. It sends signals to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles to adjust the rate
and depth of breathing as needed.
6. Common Respiratory Conditions
Asthma:
● Description: A condition where the airways become inflamed and narrow, making it
difficult to breathe.
● Symptoms: Wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):
● Description: A group of diseases (including chronic bronchitis and emphysema) that
cause airflow blockage and breathing problems.
● Symptoms: Persistent cough, mucus production, and difficulty breathing.
Pneumonia:
● Description: An infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs, which may fill with fluid.
● Symptoms: Cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
Using energy to stay alive
When we eat food containing carbohydrates, our digestive system breaks the carbohydrates
down to a kind of sugar called glucose. The glucose goes into our blood. The blood delivers
glucose to every cell in the body. The cells use the glucose to get the energy that they need.
The energy in glucose is locked up inside it. Glucose is an energy store. Before your cells can
use the energy, it has to be released from the glucose. This is done by tiny structures called
mitochondria that are found inside cells. Most cells have many mitochondria inside them.
Mitochondria release energy from glucose, so that the cells can use the energy.
The mitochondria carry out a chemical reaction called aerobic respiration. Aerobic means that is
uses oxygen, from the air. Here is the word equation for aerobic respiration:
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + water + energy
What is blood and the contents of it.
What is Blood?
Definition:
● Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that circulates through the heart, arteries, veins, and
capillaries. It is essential for transporting nutrients, oxygen, and waste products
throughout the body.
Functions:
● Transport: Moves oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products.
● Regulation: Helps maintain body temperature and pH balance.
● Protection: Defends against infections and helps with clotting to prevent excessive
bleeding.
Contents of Blood
Blood is made up of several key components:
1. Plasma
Description:
● Plasma is the liquid part of the blood.
Composition:
● Water: Makes up about 90% of plasma. It acts as a solvent for carrying other
components.
● Dissolved Substances: Includes nutrients (like glucose and amino acids), hormones,
and waste products (like urea).
● Proteins: Such as:
○ Albumin: Helps maintain blood volume and pressure.
○ Globulins: Include antibodies that fight infections.
○ Fibrinogen: Plays a role in blood clotting.
Function:
● Plasma transports blood cells, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the
body.
2. Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)
Description:
● Red blood cells are disc-shaped cells with a central indentation.
Composition:
● Hemoglobin: A protein that binds to oxygen and carries it from the lungs to the tissues.
Function:
● Oxygen Transport: Carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and return carbon
dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
3. White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)
Description:
● White blood cells are larger than red blood cells and have a nucleus.
Types:
● Neutrophils: Fight bacterial infections.
● Lymphocytes: Include T-cells and B-cells that are part of the immune system and fight
viruses and bacteria.
● Monocytes: Consume pathogens and dead cells.
● Eosinophils: Combat parasites and are involved in allergic reactions.
● Basophils: Release chemicals like histamine during allergic reactions.
Function:
● Immune Response: Defend the body against infections and foreign substances.
4. Platelets (Thrombocytes)
Description:
● Platelets are small, irregularly shaped cell fragments.
Function:
● Blood Clotting: Help in the process of blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding
when blood vessels are injured.
Summary
● Plasma: The liquid component of blood that carries cells, nutrients, hormones, and
waste products.
● Red Blood Cells: Carry oxygen to the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs.
● White Blood Cells: Protect the body from infections and diseases.
● Platelets: Aid in blood clotting to prevent bleeding.
Uses of blood
1. Transporting Oxygen
Role:
● Blood carries oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body.
How It Works:
● Oxygen Uptake: When you breathe in, oxygen enters the lungs and reaches tiny air
sacs called alveoli.
● Oxygen Transfer: In the alveoli, oxygen diffuses across thin walls into the surrounding
capillaries (tiny blood vessels).
● Oxygen Transport: Red blood cells in the capillaries pick up the oxygen and transport it
through the bloodstream to cells throughout the body.
2. Removing Carbon Dioxide
Role:
● Blood also carries carbon dioxide (a waste product of metabolism) from the cells back to
the lungs.
How It Works:
● Carbon Dioxide Pickup: Cells produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct of using oxygen
to produce energy. This carbon dioxide enters the bloodstream and binds to red blood
cells or dissolves in plasma (the liquid part of blood).
● Transport to Lungs: Blood transports carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
● Exhalation: In the lungs, carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the alveoli and is
then exhaled out of the body.
3. Maintaining pH Balance
Role:
● Blood helps to maintain the pH balance of the body by regulating carbon dioxide levels.
How It Works:
● Buffer System: Blood contains buffer systems (like bicarbonate) that help neutralize
excess acids or bases. Carbon dioxide in the blood affects the pH level.
● Respiratory Regulation: By adjusting the rate of breathing, the body can control the
levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, which in turn helps to keep the blood pH within a
healthy range.
4. Supporting Gas Exchange
Role:
● Blood supports the process of gas exchange in the lungs and tissues.
How It Works:
● In the Lungs: Oxygen from the air you breathe diffuses into the blood, while carbon
dioxide in the blood diffuses into the air to be exhaled.
● In the Tissues: Oxygen from the blood diffuses into the body’s cells, while carbon
dioxide produced by the cells diffuses into the blood to be carried back to the lungs.
5. Circulatory System Coordination
Role:
● Blood works with the circulatory system to ensure that oxygen and carbon dioxide are
efficiently transported and exchanged.
How It Works:
● Heart Pumping: The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest of the
body and returns carbon dioxide-rich blood from the body to the lungs.
● Circulation Pathways: Blood travels through arteries, veins, and capillaries to ensure
that all cells receive oxygen and that waste products are removed.
Summary
● Oxygen Transport: Blood carries oxygen from the lungs to body cells.
● Carbon Dioxide Removal: Blood transports carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs
for exhalation.
● pH Balance: Blood helps maintain the body’s pH balance by regulating carbon dioxide
levels.
● Gas Exchange: Blood supports gas exchange in the lungs and tissues.
● Circulatory Coordination: Blood and the circulatory system work together to deliver
oxygen and remove carbon dioxide.
