1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.

1: Gasping For Air

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

Activity 3.3.1

Gasping for Air

Distance Learning Support

Check with your teacher about:

Materials or resources you need for this activity
What work you need to turn in and how to submit it
Strategies for collaboration

EQUIPMENT

Computer with internet access

Colored pencils or markers

RESOURCES

Activity 3.3.1: Medical History–Visit 1

Body System Organizer

Activity 3.3.1: Medical History–Visit 2

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 1/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

Oxygen Supply
The body can last three minutes without air, yet it can last three days without water and
three weeks without food! From these time limits, it is easy to see that oxygen must be
very important and that the body needs a near constant supply. What does oxygen
provide to the body that is so important for survival?

Cells need energy to function. They obtain this energy from the energy storing
molecule ATP. Think back to what you have already learned about ATP. It is formed by
combining the nucleoside adenosine with three high energy phosphate groups. For
ATP to be produced, oxygen must be available. Without oxygen, the addition of the
third phosphate group does not occur, and ATP is consequently not produced. Without
ATP, the body’s cells do not have a source of energy and will die once a cell’s ATP
reserves are used up.

The body’s source of oxygen is the air in the atmosphere. Getting oxygen from the air
to each cell in the body requires a complex and coordinated effort from the respiratory
and cardiovascular systems. Every minute these systems work together to take in
oxygen the body needs and get rid of the waste gases produced.

Part I: Meet Melissa

Throughout Lesson 3.3, you will analyze the symptoms of a young

girl, research a diagnosis, and provide recommendations for
treatment and control. As you work to diagnose her, you will
investigate the structure of the respiratory system and consider
what happens in the body when low levels of oxygen cause a
person to gasp for even a simple breath.

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 2/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

Meet Melissa

Melissa Martin, age 11, is finding it

harder and harder to catch her breath
during normal activities. She has had
coughing fits for the past six days. 

Her mom is concerned because her

school reports that Melissa has been
reluctant to participate in gym class.
Melissa says that she is embarrassed
that she can’t keep up with her friends.
She also has trouble making it through
band class without feeling tired or
starting to cough. 

1 Open the Activity 3.3.1 Medical History–Visit 1 Resource Sheet.

2 Read the case notes provided for your patient. Highlight or underline any
symptoms or relevant history you feel will be helpful in making a diagnosis.
Research information from the medical history and physical exam as needed. 

 PLTW LABORATORY NOTEBOOK

Record notes about your case.

3 Discuss Melissa’s case with your team. Brainstorm what might be going wrong
and work together to come up with an explanation of Melissa’s symptoms.

Note that Melissa’s exam indicates a pulse ox value of 91 percent. What is this
value and how can it be used to monitor overall health?

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 3/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

Check your answer

4 Add your explanation to the appropriate section on the Medical History

Resource Sheet. Discuss your theory with your teacher.

5 Research next steps for Melissa Martin. 

Reflection Question: How can you confirm the diagnosis and

begin to treat your patient?

6 Record any ideas in the Recommendations section of the Medical History

document.

7 Discuss Melissa’s case as a class.

Part II: Inside the Respiratory System

To be able to explain what is happening to Melissa, you'll need to dig deeper into the
workings of the respiratory system. Think about how changes in each structure may
impact overall function. 

8 To investigate the structure and function of the respiratory system, review the
images and their descriptions below.

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 4/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

Respiratory System Anatomy –

Zones & Divisions
Pictured here are the major anatomical structures of the respira

9 Sketch a diagram of the respiratory system on a blank Body System

Organizer. Label each of the structures.

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 5/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

10 Click on each flashcard below to investigate the function of some of the major
respiratory system structures. 

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 6/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

11 On your Body System Organizer write a brief description of each structure's

function. 

12 On the side or bottom of your Body System Organizer, use what you have
learned to describe the relationship between the bronchioles, alveoli, and
blood vessels. Add a drawing or sketch if desired.

The main function of respiration is to bring in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. This
exchange occurs due to the difference in air pressure between the lungs and the
external atmosphere.

13 Watch this video that demonstrates this exchange in gasses. Pay attention to
the movement of important respiratory structures.   

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 7/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

0:00 0:0

Additional Information: To acquire oxygen, the diaphragm

contracts (pulls down) which drops the internal air pressure and
draws oxygen into the lungs (inhale). When the diaphragm
relaxes (raises up), the pressure in the lungs increases, pushing
the air out of the lungs (exhale). 

The inhaled oxygen moves from the upper respiratory tract to the lower respiratory
tract and into the respiratory zone. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs
in the respiratory zone.

14 Watch the video below that demonstrates the diffusion of gases in the
respiratory zone. 

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 8/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

0:00 0:1

Additional Information: In the respiratory zone, oxygen diffuses

from the alveoli into the capillaries, binds to red blood cells, and
is distributed throughout the body via the circulatory system.
Similarly, carbon dioxide diffuses from the capillaries into the
alveoli and out of the body. 

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 9/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

 PLTW LABORATORY NOTEBOOK

Use what you have learned to answer the following questions.

1. The walls of the alveoli in the lungs are incredibly thin. Explain how this
structure is related to function in the body.
2. Use the principles of diffusion to explain why oxygen molecules in the
tissues of the lung go into the blood, and then in other tissues the oxygen
molecules leave the blood.

Hint: Remember what you learned about diffusion in PBS or another

science class.

15 Complete the question below to check your understanding of respiratory

system anatomy and function. 

Respiratory System Self-Check

Get Started

4 Questions

16 Visit the American Lung Association site on asthma. 

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 10/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

Asthma / American Lung Association

 PLTW LABORATORY NOTEBOOK

Watch the What is Asthma? video and complete the following. 

a. Define asthma.
b. Describe how asthma impacts normal functioning of the lungs.

17 View the Kids Health video What Happens During an Asthma Flare-Up.

What Happens During an Asthma Flare-Up / KidsHealth.org

 PLTW LABORATORY NOTEBOOK

Describe how changes inside the airways in the lungs lead to an asthma
attack.

Part III: Follow-up Visit

On the last visit, the doctor determined that Melissa had a high probability of asthma.
They asked Melissa to use a peak flow meter for one week to measure her peak
expiratory flow rate (PEFR). A peak flow meter is a simple device to monitor how open
your airways are. A patient blows into the device as hard as they can and records the
value shown on the indicator.

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 11/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

Melissa Martin

Melissa is back in the office for a follow-up visit after being tasked to keep a
peak flow diary, recording peak flow at the same time each morning and
evening. She was instructed to take three readings at each interval and record
the best of the three readings. She was also asked to add notes about particular
activities each day, as well as other factors that may have influenced her
breathing.

18 Obtain an Activity 3.3.1 Medical History–Visit 2 Resource Sheet.

19 Read the updates to the Case History.

20 Review Melissa’s Peak Flow chart. The chart describes the classification of
peak flow values.

Note: The average (or normal) peak flow for a patient of Melissa’s size is
267.

Normal Peak Flow Values

% of Normal Peak Flow Meaning Classification

80–100% All is fine Green Zone

50–80% Caution Yellow Zone

Less than 50% Medical Alert Red Zone

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 12/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

21 Calculate the value ranges that relate to the Green, Yellow, and Red zones for
Melissa. List the values on the Medical History form under the graph and use
colored pencils or markers to shade in the associated ranges of the peak flow
chart.

22 Analyze Melissa’s peak flow graph as well as her descriptions of her

symptoms and activities on each day of her diary. Describe conclusions about
her condition on the Explanation of Results section of the Medical History
Resource Sheet.

23 Read the Recommendations section of the report.

Reflection Question: How can monitoring Melissa’s response to

medication during wheezing events help in making a clinical diagnosis of
asthma?

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 13/14
1/30/23, 8:20 AM Activity 3.3.1: Gasping For Air

CONCLUSION QUESTIONS

1 What environmental conditions might cause damage to the alveolar sacs,

and what would be the consequences of that damage?

2 Describe how the muscular system is interconnected to the respiratory

system. What role do muscles play in an asthma attack?

3 Describe the interaction between the cardiovascular system and the

respiratory system. 

Note: Make sure to include the words hemoglobin and carbon

dioxide, as well as relevant anatomy you have learned in this lesson.

Proceed to next activity

https://pltw.read.inkling.com/a/b/8e22fd7ebe0d495a9597588bba11b214/p/e7b51afc82b64992a9efbfb09c8d927e 14/14