Science Department

Grade 7
Student’s Name ………………………………………..
Class :-……..

Block 3 unit 5
Breathing
Study Sheet

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 Structure and function of the Breathing
system
The following structures can be found in the human thorax:

• Trachea
• Bronchi (left and right bronchus)
• Alveoli
• Ribs
• Intercostal muscles
• Diaphragm

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 Structure Function

Air is warmed ( by blood capillaries ) and filtered as it enters the body as

Nasal cavity (The nose has internal hairs, which act as a filter and Cells in the nose
produce mucus.)

Brings air into the lungs. Supported by rings of cartilage that prevent it
collapsing.

• The cells that line the trachea also have hairs called cilia, which are much
Trachea smaller than those in the nose. These are called ciliated cells. The ciliated
cells waft their hairs and move mucus and pathogens upwards towards the
throat
• Other cells called goblet cells create mucus in order to trap pathogens. The
production of mucus in the airways is a physical barrier.

Branches off the trachea to bring air into the lungs. Also supported by rings of
Bronchus
cartilage.

Bronchiole Branch off the bronchi.

Small air sacs that are the site of gas exchange.

Features of the alveoli which make them suited to their function:

• They provide a large surface area for gas exchange since they are so
numerous.
Alveoli • Their surface is moist to allow oxygen to dissolve.
• They have a very thin lining to allow oxygen to diffuse into the blood
easily.
• Surrounded by a network of blood capillaries to pick up and transport
oxygen.
• There is an exchange of gases between the air sacs and their
surrounding capillary blood vessels. Oxygen diffuses from the air sac
into the blood. Carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the air sac.
Lung Organ where gas exchange occurs.

Ribs Protect internal organs of the thorax.

Thorax Part of the body between the neck and abdomen.

Intercostal
Muscles between the ribs that aid breathing.
muscles

Diaphragm Sheet of muscle below the ribs that aids breathing.

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 Passage of air into the lungs

1. Air enters the body and is warmed as it travels through the mouth and nose.
2. It then enters the trachea.
3. The trachea divides into two bronchi. One bronchus enters each lung.
4. Each bronchus branches out into smaller tubes called bronchioles. Air travels through these
bronchioles.
5. At the end of the bronchioles, the air enters one of the many millions of alveoli where
gaseous exchange takes place.

Breathing
Ventilation or breathing involves movements of the ribs, intercostal
muscles and diaphragm to move air into and out of the lungs:

• when we breathe in, we inhale

• when we breathe out, we exhale

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 A lung model can be used to demonstrate the process of breathing.

The balloons represent the lungs, the glass jar represents the thorax and a rubber
sheet represents the diaphragm.
The lung model shows inhalation:

• When the diaphragm (rubber sheet) moves down, the volume inside the glass jar
(thorax) increases.
• This increase in volume causes a decrease in pressure.
• The lungs (balloons) inflate as air enters until the pressures inside and outside
are equal.
The lung model shows exhalation:

• When the diaphragm (rubber sheet) moves up, the volume inside the glass jar
(thorax) decreases.
• This decrease in volume causes an increase in pressure.
• The lungs (balloons) deflate as air exits until the pressures inside and outside are
equal.
There are a few differences between the lung model and the actual process of
breathing:

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 The table describes the changes involved:

Inhaling Exhaling

Diaphragm Contracts and moves downwards Relaxes and moves upwards

Contract, moving the ribs upwards and Relax, letting the ribs move downwards
Intercostal muscles
outwards and inwards

Volume of ribcage Increases Decreases

Pressure inside the

Decreases below atmospheric pressure Increases above atmospheric pressure
chest

Movement of air Moves into the lungs Moves out of the lungs

Inhaled and exhaled air

Inhaled air contains:

• more oxygen used to create energy

• less carbon dioxide than…
Exhaled air which contains:

• more carbon dioxide produced as a waste product of energy production

• less oxygen as it has been used in respiration
Gas exchange takes place by diffusion in the alveoli within the lungs. As a result the composition
of inhaled and exhaled air is different.

Percentage of gas present in inhaled and exhaled air:

Gas % in inhaled air % in exhaled air

Oxygen 21 16

Carbon dioxide 0.04 4

Nitrogen 79 79

NB These figures are approximate.

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 Gas exchange
Gas exchange occurs at the alveoli in the lungs and takes place by diffusion. The
alveoli are surrounded by capillaries so oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse between
the air in the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries.

Diffusion is the movement of gas from an area of high concentration to an area

of low concentration.

There is a high concentration of oxygen in the alveoli and a low concentration of

oxygen in the blood, so oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the blood.

There is a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and a low

concentration in the alveoli, so carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the
alveoli.

Both oxygen and carbon dioxide are capable of combining with an iron-rich
protein in the blood called haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to be
exchanged at the working muscle and carbon dioxide to be exchanged at the lung.

The rate of diffusion is affected by the:

• Concentration gradient - a larger difference in the high and low concentrations

increases the diffusion rate.
It is important to remember that the particles:

• will move in both directions, but there will be a net movement from high to low
concentration

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