Biology

The breathing system

What is breathing?
- The breathing system is used by the body to get the
oxygen needed for respiration. Also called ‘Ventilation’

- It is also used to get rid of one of the waste products of

respiration – carbon dioxide (CO2)

- Breathing in is called ‘Inhalation’. When you inhale, you

breathe in air, including oxygen (O2), into your lungs

- Breathing out is called ‘Exhalation’. When you exhale

you breathe out carbon dioxide (CO2)

What does our breathing system consist of?

Nose
Mouth
Trachea
Bronchus
Rib cage
Bronchiole
Muscle
Alveolus
Lung
Diaphragm
The respiratory system

Features of the alveoli:

- The alveoli are adapted to make gas exchange in the lungs easy and efficient
Important features:
- Large surface area
- Very thin
- Moist lining
- A good supply of blood
- Good ventilation

Describe the pathway of oxygen through our body:

- Air is taken into the body through the mouth and nose
- Air moves down the trachea towards the lungs
- Air moves down the bronchus
 - Air moves through bronchioles
- Air moves through the alveoli
- Air diffuses in the blood

Answer the following questions:

1. Name the waste product we breathe out
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)

2. What is the function of the alveoli?

Make a Gas exchange in the lungs easy and efficient

3. How is it adapted to carry out this function?

- Large surface area

- Very thing
- Moist lining
- A good supply of blood
- Good ventilation

Inhalation and exhalation

How does ventilation happen/occur?
Ventilation requires pressure
changes to occur in the lungs, so
that air can be forced in and out of
the alveoli.

The pressure changes are brought

about by the movement of two
sets of muscles…

The diaphragm, which is a sheet of

muscle that separates the thorax (chest)
from the abdomen.

The intercostal muscles which lie

between the ribs.
Ventilation flow diagram (inhalation)
Intercostal muscles contract pulling your ribs up and out. Diaphragm also moves down
3(vacum)

↓
The volume of the thorax increases

↓
Pressure in the thorax decreases

↓
Air enters the lungs

Ventilation flow diagram (exhalation)

Intercostal muscles relax and your ribs fall. Diaphragm also moves up.

↓
Volume of thorax decreases

↓
Pressure in thorax increases

↓
Air leaves the lungs

Fill in the table below:

Inhalation exhalation

Intercostal muscles Contract Relax

diaphragm Contracts - moves Relaxes - moves up

downwards

Air pressure in lungs decreases increases

Lung volume increases decreases

Respiration
Where does respiration take place in the cells?

In the mitochondria

Aerobic respiration word equation

Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water (energy)
{ reactants } { products } (in brackets because
it is not a substance)

Summarize aerobic respiration:

Aerobic respiration includes using oxygen and glucose so it can fully break down into Coշ and
water. The formula used for this respiration is glucose + Oշ → COշ + HշO. For this to happen the
glucose breaks down to carbon dioxide and water which then releases energy and a special
energy molecule is produced which is called ATP this is the energy that is stored in the body for
later use of aerobic respiration. This happens in the mitochondria of the cell.This could really
help when exercising etc.

Anaerobic respiration
1) During exercise your muscle cells respire more as they need more energy.

2) Sometimes there is not enough oxygen for respiring muscle cells during exercise. This is
called anaerobic respiration.

The word equation for anaerobic respiration is: Glucose 🡪 Lactic Acid + Energy

3) Anaerobic respiration does not breakdown glucose completely. It is broken down to a

substance called lactic acid instead of carbon dioxide. Lactic acid is toxic for cells and causes
muscles to become fatigued.

4) Anaerobic respiration also produces ‘oxygen debt’. This is the amount of oxygen needed to
turn lactic acid into carbon dioxide and water (like in aerobic respiration)

5) Blood flow in muscles carries away lactic acid. It is taken away to the liver to be broken
down.
Word equation for aerobic respiration
Glucose → lactic acid + Energy
{from dige- {waste pro- {useful}
Stive system} duct}

Answer the following questions:

Is he using aerobic or anaerobic respiration? Why?
He is using anaerobic respiration because he does not take in enough oxygen during the race to
carry out aerobic respiration.
Why is he breathing heavy at the end of the race?
The ‘oxygen debt’ explains why we continue to breathe deeply and quickly for a while after
exercise. Oxygen is needed to convert lactic acid into carbon dioxide and water.
What type of respiration do you think a marathon runner would use?
(Hint: this is lighter, long distance running). Aerobic respiration because the body can get

sufficient oxygen.

Complete the following table

Aerobic Anaerobic Both

Requires oxygen Produces lactic acid Requires glucose

Glucose + Oxygen 🡪 Water + Glucose 🡪 Lactic Acid + Produces energy

Carbon dioxide + Energy Energy

Produces (CO2) Happens for short period Happens in the cells

Creates oxygen debt

Requires glucose

Produces lactic acid

Produces energy
Happens in cells
Happens for short period
Creates an oxygen debt
Produces carbon dioxide
Requires oxygen
Glucose 🡪 Lactic Acid + Energy
Glucose + Oxygen 🡪 Water + Carbon dioxide + Energy

Fitness
Health:
A complete State of mental, physical and social of well being

Fitness:
Able to carry out activities with getting too tired

The main kinds of fitness are:

stamina – being able to continue the activity for a long time

suppleness – being able to keep the joints mobile and loose
cardiovascular – having a strong heart
respiratory – having strong lungs
strength – having strong muscles.

Why do we breathe harder during exercise?

Muscle cells require more energy
Meaning they need to respire more
Meaning they need more of the reactants for respiration Oxygen & Glucose.
AND they need to get rid of the waste products of respiration carbon dioxide & heat

Why does our pulse rate increase?

Our pulse rate increases to provide a better supply of blood carrying oxygen and glucose to our
muscle cells, AND to remove the excess heat and carbon dioxide faster.
Our breathing rate increases and the depth of our breath increases to provide more oxygen to
the blood and to remove carbon dioxide faster.
Variables and tables
What are the different variables:
- Independent variable- What you change in an investigation to see how it affects the
dependent variable.

- Dependent variable- What you measure or observe in an investigation when you change
the independent variable.

- Control variables- Things that remain unchanged or are held constant to stop it
affecting the dependent variable.

Collecting data checklist:

- Use a wide range of the independent variable to see the overall pattern
- Use small intervals of the independent variable, so that detail in the pattern can be
shown
- Control the other variables, if possible
- Select the most appropriate apparatus and measuring instruments
- Repeat any measurements that have been taken, if possible
- Record the data

Example

Using the table as a template, draw a table for the following experiment:

Abdullah conducts an experiment looking at which biscuit is the best for dunking. He uses three
different types of biscuit; digestive, shortbread and a cookie. All were of the same size and mass.
Abdullah timed how long it took for the biscuit to break in half when dunked in a cup of milk. He
repeated his experiment 3 times

Independent variable:

Dependent variable:

Control variable