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Respiratory System

Respiratory System We need energy for life--for all of our daily activities. Our respiratory system is responsible for supplying oxygen to our body. We need oxygen to get energy from the food that we eat. In fact, we need oxygen to carry out all of the chemical processes that are constantly going on in our bodies. Our respiratory systems obtain oxygen from the air and pass it to our blood which then carries it to our entire body.

The following are some internet resources and activities to help you learn more about your respiratory system.

Lungs

Smoking makes it harder for our lungs to absorb oxygen.

  1. Lungs provide a place for what important aspect of breathing?
  2. What are pleurae?

Your Respiratory System

Insects don't have lungs; they breathe differently than most other animals. They have tubes inside their bodies that carry oxygen to their organs.. These tubes open up at holes called spiracles along the sides of the insect's body.

  1. Why do we need to breathe?
  2. What role does your diaphragm play in breathing?
  3. What keeps food from going down our windpipe?
  4. Spread out flat, about how much space would all the airsacs in the lungs of an adult cover?
  5. What role do red blood cells play in respiration?
  6. Every minute about how much air do you breath in?
  7. How are plants our partners in breathing?

Oxygen Delivery System

We need more oxygen to give us more energy when we are running or exercising. This is why we breathe so hard during these activities, and our heart beats faster in order to get that oxyen to the various parts of our body.

  1. What is the job of your diaphragm?

Inspiration and Expiration

When we are tired or inactive for a long period of time, our breathing slows down and becomes more shallow. When our breathing slows down, we, of course, take in less oxygen. But if our bodies need some more oxygen for energy, we yawn. Yawning brings extra oxygen into our lungs which gives us more energy and may help keep us awake. Yawning may also be triggered by a build up of carbon dioxide in our lungs. When we yawn, we take in an extra large amount of oxygen and then expel the carbon dioxide.

  1. What is inspiration?
  2. What is expiration?

Larynx and Trachea

Normal air is about 21% oxygen.

  1. Where are your vocal chords and how do they help you make sound?
  2. What is the purpose of the C-shaped rings of tough, rubbery, cartilage that are in your trachea?

Breathing

The key to a long life, said vaudeville entertainer Sophie Tucker, is simple enough: "Keep breathing."

  1. How many breaths have you taken since the day you were born? (Remember this is an estimate!)

Gross and Cool Body

Babies get hiccups alot more than adults.

  1. What makes us hiccup?
  2. Why do we keep hiccupping?
  3. What are some ways to try and stop hiccups?
  4. Do unborn babies hiccup?

Gross and Cool Body

The mucus in our noses is made by tiny glands and goblet cells found in the walls of our noses.

  1. What is the purpose of the mucus in your nose?
  2. What is this mucus made of?
  3. What are boogers made up of?
  4. Do men or women have more hair in their noses?

Respiratory System Amazing Facts

How long can you hold your breath? One minute? Two minutes? Two minutes is a long time for a human to hold his or her breath. Some divers in the South Pacific who dive for pearls can stay underwater and hold their breath for about two and a half minutes.

  1. Which lung is bigger--your right or your left?
  2. What is the highest recorded sneeze speed?
  3. About how much water do we lose per day through breathing?

Asthma

When you blow up a balloon, you are filling it full of carbon dioxide.

  1. What is asthma?
  2. What happens during an asthma attack?

Emphysema

Bronchitis is an infection of the main air tubes in the lungs which are called bronchi. They may become swollen which narrows the space inside for air to pass through. Extra mucus in the lungs is also produced. People with bronchitis cough to try to clear the mucus, and they have trouble breathing because of the narrowed passages.

  1. What is emphysema?
  2. What is it usually caused by?
  3. What does emphysema do to the air sacs of the lungs?
  4. Can emphysema be cured? Why or why not?

Pneumonia

A cold is an infection of the linings of the nasal cavity and other parts of the respiratory system caused by viruses.

  1. What is pneumonia?
  2. What can it be caused by?

Bibliography

Cromwell, Sharon. Why Can't I Breathe Underwater? Rigby Interactive Library : Des Plaines, Illinois, 1998.

Ganeri, Anita. Breathing. Raintree Steck-Vaughn : Austin, Texas, 1995.

Hardie, Jackie. Breathing and Respiration. Rigby Interactive Library : Des Plaines, Illinois, 1997.

Parker, Steve. Lungs. Copper Beech Books : Brookfield, Connecticut, 1996.

Parker, Steve. The Lungs and Respiratory System. Raintree Steck-Vaughn : Austin, Texas, 1997.

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Author: LINDA MOSBACKER - Email linda.mosbacker@slc.k12.ut.us