Saint Mary’s University

School of Health and Natural Sciences

BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700

Ej R. Agsalda General Zoology

BS BIO-1 BIO 5037

Answer the following questions:

1. Why does the respiratory system need the cardiovascular system and the nervous system
to help it perform its main function of gas exchange?
Homeostasis
For the survival of the body, the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood must
be preserved within a small range. Without oxygen, cells cannot live for long, and if too much
carbon dioxide is in the blood, the blood becomes dangerously acidic (the pH is too low).
Conversely, the blood becomes too basic (pH is too high) if there is too little carbon dioxide in the
blood. To preserve homeostasis, the respiratory system also works closely with the cardiovascular
system. Gases are shared between the blood and the outside environment by the respiratory system,
so the cardiovascular system requires them to be transported to and from body cells. The blood in
the lungs consumes oxygen and then transports it to cells throughout the body via a large network
of blood vessels where it is required for aerobic cellular respiration. The same scheme extracts and
carries carbon dioxide from cells and carries it to the respiratory system for removal from the body.
2. Explain why premature infants have respiratory distress syndrome and how the problem
is treated by watching this interesting and touching video: https://youtu.be/QgFinYq8bYU
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
A common breathing disorder affecting newborns is respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
RDS occurs most commonly in preterm infants, affecting almost all newborns born before 28
weeks of pregnancy. RDS may affect full-term newborns less often.
In premature newborns, RDS is more likely because their lungs are unable to make
adequate surfactants. Surfactant is a foamy compound that keeps the lungs completely inflated so
that once they are born, newborns can breathe in oxygen.
Treatment
As soon as a baby is born, care for RDS usually starts, often in the delivery room. RDS
therapies include surfactant replacement therapy, ventilator or nasal continuous positive airway
pressure (NCPAP) system breathing support, or other supportive treatments.
 Saint Mary’s University
School of Health and Natural Sciences
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700

Surfactant replacement therapy

Surfactant helps hold the lungs open so that once it is born, a baby can breathe in oxygen.
Babies who have RDS get surfactant before they can start making the material on their own in
their lungs. Usually, surfactants are given via a breathing tube. The tube helps the surfactant to go
straight into the lungs of the infant. Once the surfactant is given, the breathing tube is connected
to a ventilator that helps the infant to breathe.
3. Check out this video link and explain how the voice changes in boys during puberty:
https://youtu.be/6iFPs6JlSzY
During puberty, both boys and girls experience growth of the vocal folds, leading to lower
voices. But the male hormone testosterone, which is released by the testicles during puberty,
typically causes boys vocal folds to grow longer and thicker than girls. Until a boy hits puberty,
his larynx is small and his vocal cords are small and thin. This is why his voice is higher than that
of a grown-up. But the larynx gets bigger as he goes through puberty and the vocal cords lengthen
and thicken, so his voice gets deeper. The vocal cords grow progressively larger, along with the
larynx, and become thicker. Furthermore, facial bones are beginning to expand. Cavities in the
sinuses, the nose, and the back of the throat grow wider, creating more space in the face giving the
voice more room to echo.
As puberty continues, his body adjusts to the new size of the larynx, and the croaks and
squeaks begin to taper off. After that, the new and deeper voice becomes much more stable and
easier to control.