Ryan Genis

100469132
Bio 1700
Karen Founk
Assignment #2 Study Tool

Ventilation: A Poem

The respiratory system has four main functions for you to know:
To help you follow along we can take it nice and slow
One is to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide
Second is smell and speech, third is homeostasis to help keep you alive
Last is filtration, warming and moistening of air
Done in part thanks to your gross little nose hairs

This system is divided into two regions – Upper and lower

We will cover them both, no need to go slower
Upper is made of the nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx
Lower consists of a few more so don’t lose your bearings
Trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, lungs
diaphragm and intercostal muscles, unfortunately doesn’t easily roll off your tongues

Ventilation itself is the process of breathing

Inspiration and expiration – I don’t want to hear any wheezing
When you take a breath in, diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract
Causing the diaphragm to move down, and rib cage up and out in fact
Thoracic cavity volume increase, meaning the pressure will decrease
This means air is pulled in – now for sigh of relief
 Opposingly, you must of course breathe out
Relaxation of the same muscles will happen without a doubt
The diaphragm will then move up and rib cage moves down and in
Thoracic cavity volume decreases – is your head in a spin?
Air pressure in the cavity increases as the lungs push out air
Keep up the good work, we’re over half way there

Various terms are used to describe volumes of air moved when a breath is taken
Five main ones in total, I’ll show you how to name them
Tidal volume is a normal breath in OR out, at rest
The next three volumes might put your lungs to the test
Inspiratory reserve volume is after a normal breath when you try to inhale even more
Expiratory reserve volume is the same except you exhale even more
Vital capacity is the maximum air exhaled after taking the deepest breath possible
If you attempt this and pass out on the floor, it would be quite comical
Finally, residual volume is the air remaining in lung after expiration
One topic to go! Almost time for celebration

Now that we finally found a good rhythm

Let’s look at how breathing is controlled by the nervous system
Two brain structures – pons and medulla oblongotta
Ensure that your breathing is under control, they really help a lotta
To help with inspiration the phrenic nerve causes the diaphragm to contract
And the intercostal nerve causes the intercostal muscles to do the same in fact
To cause expiration these muscles must simply just relax
To learn and understand ventilation, you must stay on track
 Chemoreceptors in the medulla oblongotta and blood vessels
Help to keep the pH in check, which is quite special
Respiration and ventilation are quite complex through and through
If the pH is low the rate of breathing becomes increased, expelling CO2
(Too much CO2 is what causes the pH to be low)
Alas, homeostasis is achieved - and for ventilation, you can now say you’re in the know