Science Grade 9

The Respiratory System

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 Learning objectives

What we will learn in this presentation:

Learning objectives

The structures of the respiratory system and their

functions
The mechanisms of breathing
How gases are exchanged during breathing
The composition of inhaled and exhaled air
The different measurements of lung capacity and
breathing
The effects of exercise on the respiratory system
What is meant by aerobic and anaerobic respiration
The oxygen debt.

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The respiratory system

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The respiratory system

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The nasal passages and lungs

Air is drawn into the body via the nose or mouth.

There are advantages to breathing through your nose:
the air is warmed so that it is closer to
body temperature
tiny hairs and mucus in the nose filter
the air, preventing larger dust and
pollen particles reaching the alveoli
mucus moistens the air, making it
easier for the alveoli to absorb.

Air then travels through the larynx, trachea (windpipe),

bronchi (one bronchus to each lung) and bronchioles to
the alveoli, where oxygen passes into the bloodstream.

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Mechanisms of breathing – inspiration

When you breathe in:

Intercostal
intercostal muscles between muscles pull ribs
the ribs contract, pulling the up and out
chest walls up and out
the diaphragm muscle
below the lungs contracts and
flattens, increasing the size of
the chest
the lungs increase in size,
so the pressure inside them
falls. This causes air to rush in Diaphragm
through the nose or mouth. contracts and
moves down

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Mechanisms of breathing – inspiration

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Mechanisms of breathing – expiration

When you breathe out:

Ribs move in Intercostal muscles between
and down the ribs relax so that the chest
walls move in and down.
The diaphragm muscle below
the lungs relaxes and bulges up,
reducing the size of the chest.
The lungs decrease in size, so
the pressure inside increases
and air is pushed up the trachea
Diaphragm and out through the nose or
relaxes and mouth.
bulges up

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Mechanisms of breathing – expiration

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Gas exchange at the alveoli

The alveoli are bunches

of tiny air sacks inside
the lungs.
Each individual sack is
called an alveolus.
When you breathe in,
they fill with air.

The alveoli are covered in tiny capillaries (blood vessels).

Gases can pass through the thin walls of each alveolus and
capillary, and into the blood stream.
Gases can also pass from the blood stream, into the alveolus.

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Gas exchange at the alveoli

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Composition of inhaled and exhaled air

Amount in Amount in
Gas
inhaled air exhaled air
Oxygen 21% 17%
Carbon dioxide Very small amount 3%
Nitrogen 79% 79%
Water vapour Small amount Large amount

What are the main differences between

inhaled and exhaled air?

Why does mouth-to-mouth resuscitation work?

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Measuring breathing

Tidal volume is the amount you breathe

in and out in one normal breath.

Respiratory rate is how many

breaths you take per minute.

Minute volume is the volume of air

you breathe in one minute.

Vital capacity is the maximum volume of air you can

breathe out after breathing in as much as you can.

Residual volume is the amount of air left in your lungs

after you have breathed out as hard as you can.

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Measuring breathing

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Measuring breathing

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Calculating minute volume

Remember:
Minute volume is the volume of air
you breathe in one minute.
You can calculate a person’s minute volume by multiplying
the volume of air they breathe in one breath, by their
respiratory (breathing) rate.
Question
If you breathe 14 times in one minute (respiratory rate)
and you breathe 0.5 litres in each breath, what is your
minute volume?
Answer:
Minute volume = 14 × 0.5 litres
= 7.0 litres
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Breathing during exercise

During exercise the muscle cells

use up more oxygen and
produce increased amounts of
carbon dioxide.
Your lungs and heart have to
work harder to supply the extra
oxygen and remove the carbon
dioxide.
Your breathing rate increases and
you breathe more deeply.
Heart rate also increases in order
to transport the oxygenated blood
to the muscles.

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Breathing during exercise

Muscle cell respiration increases – more

oxygen is used up and levels of CO2 rise.

The brain detects increasing levels of CO2 – a

signal is sent to the lungs to increase breathing.

Breathing rate and the volume of air in

each breath increase. This means that
more gaseous exchange takes place.

The brain also tells the heart to beat

faster so that more blood is pumped
to the lungs for gaseous exchange.

More oxygenated blood gets to the

muscles and more CO2 is removed.
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Breathing changes during exercise

Look at these statistics for a 16 year-old athlete:

During rest During exercise

Respiratory rate 14 breaths/ minute 32 breaths/ minute

Volume per
0.4 litres 2.4 litres
breath
Minute volume ? ?

Calculate the athlete’s minute volumes

during rest and exercise.

Rest minute volume = 5.6 litres

Exercise minute volume = 76.8 litres
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The effects of exercise on lung structures

In the long-term, regular exercise strengthens

the respiratory system.
The respiratory muscles (the
diaphragm and intercostals) get
stronger, so they can make the
chest cavity larger.
This larger chest cavity means
more air can be inspired, therefore
increasing your vital capacity.
More capillaries form around the alveoli,
so more gaseous exchange can take place.
Gas exchange can now take place more
quickly meaning exercise can be maintained
at a higher intensity for longer.
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Respiration

Respiration is the process that takes place in living

cells which releases energy from food molecules.
Glucose from food is used to fuel exercise.
Oxygen is required to ‘break down’
the glucose to produce energy.
This energy is used to make
respiration
muscles contract.
glucose energy
Waste products,
including carbon dioxide, oxygen
are produced as a result of
the chemical reactions. These
must be removed and excreted.

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Aerobic respiration

There are two different types of respiration.

When you exercise at a steady, comfortable rate, the
cardiovascular system is able to supply the muscles with
all the oxygen they need.
Under these conditions, aerobic respiration takes place.

carbon
glucose + oxygen energy + + water
dioxide

Aerobic exercise can be maintained for long periods

without the performer getting breathless or suffering
muscle cramps. Moderate activities like walking,
jogging, cycling and swimming use aerobic respiration.

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Aerobic respiration

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Anaerobic respiration

When you exercise at a high intensity, the cardiovascular

system cannot supply enough oxygen to the muscles.
Under these conditions, anaerobic respiration takes place.

glucose energy + lactic acid

With no oxygen available, glucose is burned to produce

energy and lactic acid.
Lactic acid is a mild poison. As it builds up, it causes muscle
pain and eventually cramp.
Short, intense activities like sprinting, weightlifting, jumping
and throwing use anaerobic respiration.

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Oxygen debt

After anaerobic activity, oxygen is

needed to neutralize the lactic acid.
This is called an oxygen debt. It is
repaid after exercise.
The oxygen reacts with the lactic
acid to form CO2 and water.
Rapid and deep breathing is needed
for a short period after high intensity
exercise in order to repay the debt.
This also helps to remove the
carbon dioxide which accumulates
in the blood during intense exercise.

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Anaerobic exercise

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Exam-style questions

1. Describe the passage of oxygen from the nasal passages

to the bloodstream.

2. David goes jogging once a week for 45 minutes.

a) List two differences between the air that David
inhales and the air that he exhales while jogging.
b) What two substances are used by David’s body
cells to produce energy? What are the products of
this reaction?
David tries to increase his pace. He finds that he is forced
to stop running and breathe hard for several minutes.
c) Explain why David had to stop.
d) How did breathing hard help him to recover?

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Can you remember all these keywords?

Larynx Minute volume

Trachea Vital capacity
Bronchus / Bronchi Residual volume
Bronchioles Aerobic respiration
Alveoli Anaerobic respiration
Diaphragm Oxygen debt
Intercostal muscles Lactic acid
Oxygen uptake
Tidal volume
Respiratory rate

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