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17 Gas exchange in humans

What does the human breathing system consist of?
 The human breathing system is specially developed for gas exchange. It consists of the
respiratory tract and structures that help in breathing: rib cage (made up of ribs, sternum and
vertebral column), external and internal intercostal muscles, and diaphragm.

J
B
K

C M

D
E N

F
G O

I P

 The human breathing system

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Class: Name:
Structure
(1) _______________ __________
A b ciliated epithelial cells
(鼻腔)
B Nostril (鼻孔)
C (2) _______________ (肋骨)
D Intercostal muscle (肋間肌)
E (3) _______________ (小支氣管)
F Inner pleural membrane (內胸膜)
G Outer pleural membrane (外胸膜)
(4) _______________ __________ 
H
(胸膜液)
I (5) _______________ (肺泡)
J Pharynx (咽)
K (6) _______________ (會厭)
L (7) _______________ (喉)
M (8) _______________ (氣管)
N (9) _______________ (支氣管)
O Lung (肺)
P (10) _______________ (橫膈膜)
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Description
 Lined with
a mucus-secreting cells
c blood capillaries
d olfactory cells (嗅覺細胞)
 Guarded by hairs
 Makes up the rib cage to protect the lungs and
the heart
 Controls the movement of the rib cage
 Does not have any cartilage
 Lined with mucus-secreting cells and
ciliated epithelial cells
 In contact with the lung
 In contact with the internal intercostal muscles
Acts as a lubricant to help the lungs move easily
inside the thoracic cavity during breathing
 Forms the respiratory surface (呼吸表面) where
gas exchange takes place
 Where the respiratory tract and the alimentary
canal meet
 Covers the entrance of the larynx to prevent
choking (窒息)
 Made of cartilage to prevent it from collapsing
 Contains the vocal cords to produce sounds
 Supported by C-shaped cartilage
 Lined with mucus-secreting cells and ciliated
epithelial cells
 Supported by circular rings of cartilage
 Lined with mucus-secreting cells and
ciliated epithelial cells
 Made up of alveoli, bronchioles and a large
network of blood capillaries
 Separates the thoracic cavity from the abdomen
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 Rib cage

 Transverse section through the trachea

 The structure of a lung

 Air flow along the respiratory tract: nostrils  nasal cavity  pharynx  larynx 
(1) _______________  (2) _______________  (3) _______________ (in lungs) 
(4) _______________ _______________ (in lungs)  (5) _______________ (in lungs)

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Filtering, moistening and warming of the incoming air

 Air contains dust particles, which would block the air passage, and (1) _______________ that
may cause infection.

 The incoming air is filtered by

 the (2) _______________ in the nostrils – trap ____________________

 mucus in ____________________, ___________________ and bronchi. It traps dust

and __________________________

 Cilia swept the mucus in the trachea and bronchi up to _________________________ by

_______________________ action

 It is moistened by the (4) _______________ and warmed by the (5) _______________

in the respiratory tract.

 Consequently, the air reaching the lungs is clean, moist and warm.

 Dust particles are removed from the respiratory tract

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How does gas exchange take place in the alveoli?

direction of
blood flow

blood capillary from

red blood cell pulmonary artery

alveolus
O2

CO2

film of moisture

blood capillary to
pulmonary vein

 Gas exchange between an alveolus and a blood capillary

 The transport of oxygen from the atmosphere into the blood:

1 Oxygen is inhaled into the alveoli of the lungs.

2 Oxygen then (1) _______________ in the film of moisture lining the alveoli.

3 Oxygen concentration is (2) _______________ in the alveoli than in the blood capillaries.
Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the (3) _______________ _________________.

 The transport of carbon dioxide from the blood into the atmosphere:

1 Carbon dioxide concentration is (4) _______________ in the blood capillaries than in the
alveoli. Carbon dioxide then diffuses across the capillary walls and the alveolar
epithelium into the (5) _______________.
2 Carbon dioxide is exhaled out of the lungs.

Note:
Not all of the oxygen in the alveoli diffuses into the blood capillaries.

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