Unit 1
Life processes (MRS GREN H) need energy
e.g.
muscle contraction
nerve cell stimulation
growth and repair
We get this energy (ATP) by the process called respiration
Structures of human respiratory system (gas exchange system)
State, in the correct order, the structures that air must pass through from the atmosphere to the
alveoli.
Nose / Mouth
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchus / Bronchi
Bronchiole / Bronchioles
Alveolus / Alveoli
Respiration
is the release of energy by breaking down of glucose
- takes place in the mitochondria of all living cells
Breathing
is movement of air in and out of the lungs to allow gas exchange
Gas exchange takes place in the alveoli of the lungs
There are two types of respiration :
(i) Aerobic respiration - the release of energy by breaking down of glucose using oxygen
(ii) Anaerobic respiration
Respiration (Word equation)
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP) + heat energy
Respiration (Chemical equation)
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP) + heat energy
Respiratory system
is made up of organs that help to take O2 into the body and get rid of CO2.
It is also called the gas exchange system.
Respiratory system is like a tree because it forms a highly branching network.
- Larynx is the organ that makes sound because it contains vocal cords that vibrate.
Bones - ribs
Muscles - intercostal muscles, diaphragm muscles
Cartilages - rings of cartilage around the trachea and bronchi
Cells - ciliated cells, mucus secreting cells (goblet cells)
Functions
- Ribs protect the heart and the lungs
- Intercostal muscles contract and relax to move ribs
- Diaphragm muscles contract and relax to move diaphragm
Adaptive features of trachea / bronchi
The outer surface of the trachea has rings of cartilage that keep trachea / airway open during
breathing.
The inner surface is lined by mucus secreting cells and ciliated cells.
Mucus secreting cells secrete mucus that traps bacteria / dirt that are breathed in.
Ciliated cells contain cilia that sweep the mucus and trapped particles out towards the mouth.
Mechanism of breathing
Breathing in
• Intercostal muscles contract Ribs move upwards and outwards
• Diaphragm muscles contract Diaphragm flattens
• Volume of chest cavity increases
• Pressure inside chest cavity & lungs decreases
• Air will move into the lungs down the pressure gradient
Breathing out
• Intercostal muscles relax Ribs move downwards and inwards
• Diaphragm muscles relax Diaphragm becomes normal domed shape
• Volume of chest cavity decreases
• Pressure inside chest cavity & lungs increases
• Air will move out of the lungs down the pressure gradient
Demonstration
rubber sheet represent diaphragm
balloons represent lungs
glass tube represent trachea
What happens to the balloons?
the ballons inflate because pulling down the rubber sheet increases the volume inside the bell
jar; decreasing the pressure.
So, the air will move into the bell jar through the glass tube into the balloon.
Explain why the model does not fully show the mechanism of breathing in human.
the bell jar does not expand like the human chest does
there are no ribs and intercostal muscles
there are no alveoli
Vital capacity
Vital capacity of lungs is the maximum amount of air that can be expired from the lungs after
maximum inhalation.
Procedure
Breathe in as deeply as possible
Breathes out into the rubber tube
The air collected inside the bottle pushes the water down
The decrease in water level indicates the vital capacity
Pattern of breathing to get vital capacity
maximum inhalation followed by maximum exhalation
A normal healthy adult has a vital capacity between 3 and 5 litres.
Vital capacity changes with age, height, gender, body composition, ethnicity, lifestyle
The larger the vital capacity,
the more oxygen can get into the lungs
more respiration in the cells
more energy
muscles contraction can be carried out for more
Gas Exchange
Gas exchange = moving in of oxygen, moving out of carbon dioxide
Diffusion = movement of substances / particles
from higher to lower concentration / down the concentration gradient
• Oxygen diffuses
from the alveoli into the blood
down the concentration gradient
• CO2 diffuses
from the blood into the alveoli
down the concentration gradient
Adaptive features of alveoli that allow efficient gas exchange
large surface area for diffusion
thin wall / wall is one cell thick providing short diffusion distance
rich capillary supply maintaining the concentration gradient
moist lining for better diffusion
Oxygen
Oxygen from the atmospheric air is inhaled into the alveoli.
• Oxygen diffuses
from the alveoli into the blood
down the concentration gradient
• binds with haemoglobin forming oxyhaemoglobin
• and is transported to the body cells
• Oxygen diffuses
from the blood into body cells
down the concentration gradient
• and used for respiration
Carbon dioxide
Respiration of the cells release CO2
• CO2 diffuses
from the body cells into the blood
down the concentration gradient
• The plasma carries CO2 to the lungs
• CO2 diffuses
from the blood into the alveoli
down the concentration gradient
• It is exhaled
Inspired air and expired air
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP) + heat energy
Air that we breathe out (expired air)
contains less oxygen and more carbon dioxide
is moister and warmer
compared to air that we breathe in (inspired air).
Comparing the carbon dioxide content of inspired air and expired air
(a) indicator solution used limewater
(b) tube A short tube connected to mouthpiece inspired air passes through
(c) tube B long tube connected to mouthpiece expired air passes through
Changes that will happen in the limewater in tube A and in tube B and why?
Limewater in tube B turns cloudy first than tube A because
this is the limewater that expired air passes through and
the expired air contains more carbon dioxide than inspired air.
State one safety precaution.
Do not share the mouthpiece with other person /
Sterilize the mouthpiece before use
Respiration and heat production
Temperature of live, germinating peas >> Temperature of dead peas
independent variable
dependent variable
1. condition of the peas (alive or dead)
2. size of the flasks
quantity of peas
temperature the flasks were kept at
position of the thermometer bulb in the flask
3. temperature
4. The live, germinating peas respire and release heat.
The dead peas do not respire.
* how to put the data into the table
* how to plot the results on the graph
Put the results in the table.
Y – axis (Vertical axis)
The variable that is measured dependent variable
The body temperature of the human body is kept around 37° C
providing optimal temperature for chemical reactions to take place
Circulatory system
Heart muscular organ acting as a pump
Blood vessels artery, vein, capillary
Blood transport medium
Heart
4 chambers
Right side and left side
Upper chamber Atrium (plural – Atria)
Lower chamber Ventricle (plural – Ventricles)
Between two atria septum
Between two ventricles septum
Between atria and ventricles valves
Between ventricles and corresponding arteries valves
(right ventricle and pulmonary artery, left ventricle and aorta)
Blood vessels
artery carry blood away from the heart towards other organs
vein carry blood towards the heart away from other organs
capillary carry blood through organs, linking the arteries and veins
Artery
aorta largest artery
pulmonary artery towards the lungs
Vein
vena cava largest vein
pulmonary vein towards the heart away from the lungs
Capillary (plural – capillaries)
- smallest type of blood vessel
suitable for exchange of substances
Pathway of blood circulation
From cells of the body deoxygenated blood
vein
vena cava
Right atrium
Right ventricle
pulmonary artery
Lungs oxygenated blood
pulmonary vein
Left atrium
Left ventricle
aorta
artery
to cells of the body
All arteries carry oxygenated blood except pulmonary artery and umbilical artery
All veins carry deoxygenated blood except pulmonary vein and umbilical vein.
Composition of blood
1. red blood cells
2. white blood cells
3. platelets
4. plasma
Adaptive features of red blood cells
biconcave shape gives greater surface area for oxygen diffusion
thin membrane for short diffusion distance
contains haemoglobin to combine with oxygen
no nucleus to allow more space for haemoglobin
no mitochondria prevents the red blood cells from using up all the oxygen for
themselves, (instead of delivering it elsewhere)
flexible cell membrane to squeeze through capillaries
Function of red blood cells
To transport oxygen from the lungs to the body cells
At high altitudes, there is less oxygen in the air.
What might happen to the number of red blood cells when a person travels to high altitude and
why?
The number of red blood cells might increase.
to transport enough oxygen to the body cells.
When a person has reduced number of red blood cells, he might
feels weak, gets tired easily
because less oxygen is transported, less respiration and less energy produced
Phagocyte Lymphocyte
White blood cells
• irregular shape and contain nucleus
• include phagocytes and lymphocytes
Function of white blood cells
They protect the body against pathogens by
- phagocytosis
- producing antibodies
Phagocytes
- engulf the pathogens by changing their shape and producing pseudopodia (extensions
of their cytoplasm)
- secrete enzymes to digest them
The process is called phagocytosis.
Lymphocytes produce antibodies that are specific to pathogens / antigens
Antibodies
- directly kill / destroy the pathogens
- clump the pathogens;
- label the pathogens; help phagocyte killing
What might happen to the number of white blood cells when a person has a bacterial infection
and why?
The number of white blood cells (phagocytes and lymphocytes) might increase
to kill the bacteria by phagocytosis and antibody production.
What happens when a person has low white blood cells count?
increased risk of infection / susceptible to infection / prone to infection
because of less phagocytosis and less antibody production
Platelets
fragment of cells
Function
help in blood clotting - prevent further blood loss
- prevent entry of pathogens
What happens when a person has a low platelet count?
increased risk of bleeding
because blood is unable to clot
Plasma
transport
red blood cells & white blood cells around the body
glucose from the intestine to the body cells
carbon dioxide from the body cells to the lungs
urea from the liver to the kidneys
hormones from endocrine glandsto target organs
