Breathing and Exchange of Gases Exercise 17

Question:

State the volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal breathing.

Answer:

Answer: The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal breathing is approximately 500 mL.

Question:

Distinguish between vital capacity and total lung capacity.

Answer:

Step 1: Understand the definitions of vital capacity and total lung capacity. Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs after a maximum inhalation. Total lung capacity is the total volume of air that the lungs can hold.

Step 2: Compare the two terms. Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs after a maximum inhalation, while total lung capacity is the total volume of air that the lungs can hold. The difference between the two is that vital capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be expelled, while total lung capacity is the total volume of air that the lungs can hold, including both the air that can be exhaled and the air that remains in the lungs.

Question:

Define vital capacity. What is its significance?

Answer:

  1. Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs after a maximum inhalation.

  2. Its significance is that it is an important measure of pulmonary function that can indicate the health of the lungs and respiratory system. It can also be used to detect any respiratory diseases or conditions, such as asthma or COPD.

Question:

What will be the pO2​ and pCO2​ in the atmospheric air compared to those in the alveolar air? (i) pO2​ lesser, pCO2​ higher (ii) pO2​ higher, pCO2​ lesser (iii) pO2​ higher, pCO2​ higher (iv) pO2​ lesser, pCO2​ lesser.

Answer:

Answer: (i) pO2​ lesser, pCO2​ higher

Question:

What happens to the respiratory process in a man going up a hill?

Answer:

  1. When a man goes up a hill, his body has to work harder to supply the muscles with oxygen.

  2. This causes the body to increase the rate and depth of respiration to meet the increased demand for oxygen.

  3. The heart rate also increases to pump more oxygen-rich blood to the muscles.

  4. As a result, the lungs must work harder to take in more oxygen and expel more carbon dioxide.

Question:

What is the site of gaseous exchange in an insect?

Answer:

Answer: The site of gaseous exchange in an insect is the spiracles, which are small holes on the body surface that allow air to enter and exit the body.

Question:

Have you heard about hypoxia? Try to gather information about it, and discuss with your friends.

Answer:

  1. Research hypoxia online to learn more about it.
  2. Make a list of facts and questions about hypoxia.
  3. Ask your friends if they have heard of hypoxia and what they know about it.
  4. Share your list of facts and questions with your friends and discuss the topic.
  5. Research any additional information that your friends suggest.
  6. Revisit the discussion with your friends to share new information and discuss any disagreements.

Question:

What are the major transport mechanisms for CO2​? Explain.

Answer:

Answer: The major transport mechanisms for CO2 are diffusion, convection, and advection.

Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the case of CO2, this means that molecules of CO2 will move from an area with a higher concentration of CO2 (such as the atmosphere) to an area with a lower concentration of CO2 (such as the ocean).

Convection is the movement of air or water due to differences in temperature. In the case of CO2, warm air or water containing CO2 will rise, and cooler air or water containing less CO2 will sink.

Advection is the movement of air or water due to the force of the wind or ocean currents. In the case of CO2, air or water containing CO2 will be moved from one area to another by the wind or ocean currents.

Question:

Explain the process of inspiration under normal conditions.

Answer:

  1. During normal conditions, inspiration begins when the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract.

  2. This contraction causes the thoracic cavity to expand, creating a negative pressure inside the lungs.

  3. This negative pressure causes air to be drawn into the lungs, filling the alveoli with oxygen.

  4. The oxygen then diffuses across the alveolar wall into the capillaries and is transported to the rest of the body.

  5. At the same time, carbon dioxide is released from the capillaries into the alveoli and is exhaled.

Question:

How is respiration regulated?

Answer:

  1. Respiration is regulated by the autonomic nervous system.
  2. The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
  3. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates increased respiration rate and depth, while the parasympathetic nervous system slows respiration rate and depth.
  4. Additionally, respiration is regulated by the brainstem, which contains neurons that control the rate and depth of respiration.
  5. The brainstem also receives inputs from the body’s carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, which can affect the rate and depth of respiration.
  6. Lastly, respiration can be regulated by hormones, such as epinephrine, which can increase respiration rate and depth.

Question:

What is a tidal volume? Find out the tidal volume (approximate value) for a healthy human in an hour.

Answer:

Answer:

  1. Tidal volume is the amount of air that is inhaled and exhaled in a single breath.
  2. The approximate tidal volume for a healthy human in an hour is 500-700 mL.

Question:

Define oxygen dissociation curve. Can you suggest any reason for its sigmoidal pattern?

Answer:

  1. Oxygen dissociation curve is a graph that shows how the oxygen saturation of a solution changes with the partial pressure of oxygen in the solution.

  2. The sigmoidal pattern of the oxygen dissociation curve is due to the cooperative binding of oxygen molecules to hemoglobin, which causes the oxygen saturation to increase more rapidly at higher partial pressures of oxygen. This cooperative binding is caused by the allosteric interactions between hemoglobin molecules, which cause the hemoglobin to form a high-affinity state when oxygen is bound to multiple sites.

Question:

Distinguish between (a) IRV and ERV (b) Inspiratory capacity and Expiratory capacity (c) Vital capacity and total lung capacity

Answer:

(a) IRV (Inspiratory Reserve Volume) is the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled in addition to the tidal volume. ERV (Expiratory Reserve Volume) is the maximum amount of air that can be exhaled in addition to the tidal volume.

(b) Inspiratory capacity is the total amount of air that can be inhaled during a single breath. Expiratory capacity is the total amount of air that can be exhaled during a single breath.

(c) Vital capacity is the total amount of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation. Total lung capacity is the sum of all air volumes that can be held in the lungs, which includes vital capacity, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume, and residual volume.

Question:

Diffusion of gases occurs in the alveolar region only and not in the other part of respiratory system. Why?

Answer:

Answer:

  1. Diffusion of gases occurs in the alveolar region because it is the only part of the respiratory system that is filled with air.
  2. The alveoli are small, thin-walled sacs that are surrounded by a large surface area of capillaries. This allows for the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide to occur between the alveoli and the capillaries.
  3. The other parts of the respiratory system, such as the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, are not filled with air and therefore do not provide the necessary surface area for diffusion of gases to occur.