RESPIRATION AND THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
YEAR 8 SCIENCE
• LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Identify the site of aerobic respiration
• Write the word equation for aerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration
• Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and is defined as the
chemical reactions in cells that use oxygen to break down
nutrient molecules to release energy
• It is the complete breakdown of glucose to release a
relatively large amount of energy for use in cell processes
• It produces carbon dioxide and water as well as releasing
useful cellular energy
WORD EQUATION FOR AEROBIC RESPIRATION
Anaerobic Respiration in Animals
• Anaerobic respiration mainly takes place in muscle cells during vigorous
exercise
• When we exercise vigorously, our muscles have a higher demand for
energy than when we are resting or exercising normally. Our bodies can
only deliver so much oxygen to our muscle cells for aerobic respiration
• In this instance, as much glucose as possible is broken down with
oxygen, and some glucose is broken down without it, producing lactic
acid instead
• There is still energy stored within the bonds of lactic acid molecules
that the cell could use; for this reason, less energy is released when
glucose is broken down anaerobically
PRODUCTION OF LACTIC DURING EXERCISE

• LESSON OBJECTIVES
• 1. State and explain how lactic acid is produced during
anaerobic respiration
• 2. Differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic respiration
• 3. Explain the parts of the respiratory system
LACTIC ACID
• Lactic acid builds up in muscle cells and lowers the pH of the
cells (making them more acidic)
• This could denature the enzymes in cells so it needs to be
removed
• Cells excrete lactic acid into the blood. When blood passes
through the liver, lactic acid is taken up into liver cells
where it is oxidised, producing carbon dioxide and water
(Lactic acid reacts with oxygen - this is actually aerobic
respiration with lactic acid as the nutrient molecule instead
of glucose)
• So the waste products of lactic acid oxidation are carbon
dioxide and water
• This is the reason we continue to breath heavily and our
heart rate remains high even after finishing exercise - we
need to transport the lactic acid from our muscles to the
liver, and continue getting larger amounts of oxygen into the
blood to oxidise the lactic acid
• This is known as ‘repaying the oxygen debt’
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC
RESPIRATION
Class work
DIAGRAM OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
HOW WE BREATH
The gaseous exchange system
• The human thorax is made up of the following:

• Trachea
• Alveoli
• Bronchi (Left & right bronchus)
• Ribs
• Intercostal muscles
• Pleural membranes
• Diaphragm
 FUNCTION OF THE PARTS OF THE GAS
EXCHANGE SYSTEM
•
• Trachea This is also called the windpipe. This tube runs from the mouth,
down the throat towards the lungs. It is lined with rings of cartilage
which keep it open at all times.
• BronchusThe trachea splits into a left and right bronchus (plural:
bronchi), each leads to a lung.
• Bronchiole Each bronchus splits again and again into thousands of
smaller tubes called bronchioles which take the air deeper into the lungs.
• Alveoli At the ends of bronchioles are tiny air sacs called alveoli.
Here oxygen moves into the blood and carbon dioxide moves out.
• Intercostal muscles These muscles run between the ribs and form
the chest wall. They contract and relax with the diaphragm when a
person breathes.
• Diaphragm The diaphragm is a dome-shaped, flat sheet of muscle
under the lungs. It contracts and relaxes with the intercostal muscles
during breathing.
The alveoli in details

• Alveoli are the tiny air sacs found at the end of bronchioles
in your lungs. Gas exchange occurs here. Oxygen moves into
the blood and carbon dioxide is removed. This oxygen is
needed for respiration to release energy from glucose which
has been obtained from food. Carbon dioxide is a waste
product in this process and must be removed.
• Some water vapour is also lost from the surface of the
alveoli into the lungs - we can see this condensing when we
breathe out on cold days
IN AND OUT OF THE ALVEOLI
SPECIALIZATION OF THE ALVEOLI

• Alveoli have the following key features to maximise gas

exchange:
1. A huge combined surface area
2. Moist, thin walls to maximise diffusion.
3. Millions of tiny blood vessels called capillaries just behind
these walls.
• Smoking damages the tiny hairs that line the gas exchange system;
these hairs are called ciliated cells. These move mucus up that has
trapped dust and pathogens out of the airways. This can result in
smokers developing a cough to remove this mucus. Smoking also
irritates the bronchi which can lead to bronchitis.
CLASS WORK
Inhalation & Exhalation

• The diaphragm is a thin sheet of muscle that separates the

chest cavity from the abdomen; it is ultimately responsible
for controlling ventilation in the lungs
• When the diaphragm contracts it flattens and this increases
the volume of the chest cavity (thorax), which consequently
leads to a decrease in air pressure inside the lungs relative
to outside the body, drawing air in.
• When the diaphragm relaxes it moves upwards back into its
domed shape and this decreases the volume of the chest
cavity (thorax), which consequently leads to an increase in
air pressure inside the lungs relative to outside the body,
forcing air out
• The external and internal intercostal muscles work as
antagonistic pairs (meaning they work in different directions
to each other)
• During inhalation the external set of intercostal muscles
contract to pull the ribs up and out:
• This also increases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax),
decreasing air pressure, drawing air in
• During exhalation, the external set of intercostal muscles relax so the
ribs drop down and in:
• This decreases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax) increasing air
pressure, forcing air out
• When we need to increase the rate of gas exchange (for
example during strenuous activity) the internal intercostal
muscles will also work to pull the ribs down and in to
decrease the volume of the thorax more, forcing air out
more forcefully and quickly – this is called forced exhalation
• There is actually a greater need to rid the body of
increased levels of carbon dioxide produced during
strenuous activity!
• This allows a greater volume of gases to be exchanged
INHALATION
MECHANISM OF BREATHING
DURING BREATHING IN INTO THE LUNGS
EXHALATION
DURING BREATHING OUT OF THE LUNGS
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INSPRED AND EXPIRED AIR
 Explaining the Effect of Exercise on
Breathing
• Frequency and depth of breathing increase when exercising
• This is because muscles are working harder and aerobically respiring more
and they need more oxygen to be delivered to them (and carbon dioxide
removed) to keep up with the energy demand
• If they cannot meet the energy demand they will also respire anaerobically,
producing lactic acid
• After exercise has finished, the lactic acid that has built up in muscles
needs to be removed as it lowers the pH of cells and can denature enzymes
catalysing cell reactions
• It can only be removed by combining it with oxygen - this is known as
‘repaying the oxygen debt’
Exercise, asthma and smoking

• Regular exercise strengthens the intercostal muscles and diaphragm

which make breathing more efficient.

• Asthma is a medical condition in which the lining of the airways from

the mouth to the lungs become irritated and swell up. This reduces
the air that can move in and out from the lungs. It is often treated by
inhaling medication from an inhaler.
• Smoking also breaks down the lining of the alveoli, which
means less gas exchange can occur and can lead to chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke also
contains carcinogen chemicals like tar, which can cause
mouth, throat and lung cancer.
Worked Examples

• Describe the process of ventilation.

• Inhaling in breathing in and exhaling is breathing out. When inhaling,

the diaphragm muscle contacts and moves downwards. The
intercostal muscles contract and move the ribs upwards and
outwards. This increases the volume of the lungs, which reduces the
pressure and so air moves into the lungs to equalise it.
• When exhaling, the diaphragm muscle relaxes and moves upwards.
The intercostal muscles relax and move downwards and inwards. This
reduces the volume of the lungs, which forces air outwards.
Class work 1
CLASS WORK 2