Respiratory system
Oxygen is used for survival and is everywhere. Every living organism needs oxygen to survive. The oxygen is inhaled through the nasal chambers or the mouth. It travels through the larynx, the trachea and then the bronchi. Bronchioles branch off from the bronchi in the lungs. In the lungs tiny air sacs called alveoli diffuse the oxygen into the body to be used and then the deoxygenated blood comes back to the lungs where it is goes up and is released out of either the nose or mouth. Throughout this whole process the diaphragm which is located below lungs acts like a pump. When the air is being breathed in the diaphragm will contract and make more space for the oxygen coming in. When the air is being released the diaphragm will go back up, meaning it will loosen.
Fun Facts: The American black bear takes about 4-6 breaths a minute when resting. When it is extremely hot these bears can take up to 100 breaths per minute. During hibernation their breath is twice as slow then when they rest.
Fun Facts: The American black bear takes about 4-6 breaths a minute when resting. When it is extremely hot these bears can take up to 100 breaths per minute. During hibernation their breath is twice as slow then when they rest.
Gas Exchange
The alveoli are small branch like units made out of fibres that exchange gases. The alveoli work in the lungs and are covered in capillaries. Alveoli diffuse oxygen and carbon dixide very quickly because the shield that's between the alveolar area and the pulmonary capillaries is very small. When Oxygen is at the alveoli in order for the oxygen to enter the bloodstream it has to get through the alveolar epithelium and the capillary endothelium. Carbon dioxide then comes out this same process except starting from the last step. The process is reversed.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_alveolus
http://oac.med.jhmi.edu/res_phys/Encyclopedia/Alveoli/Alveoli.HTML
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_alveolus
http://oac.med.jhmi.edu/res_phys/Encyclopedia/Alveoli/Alveoli.HTML
Energy
Every living thing requires energy. Energy promotes life. There are different ways to obtain energy. For example photosynthesis is the way plants get energy. In animals, however, cellular respiration is how energy is made. The energy is taken from the foods in the shape of ATP. This takes place in the mitochondria and is made up of three stages. One, glycolysis: a 6 sugared molecule is broken into three sets. Two, the citric acid cycle: two molecules made by glycolysis are made into a different compound (Ex. NAD, FAD) that have a high amount of energy in them. Three, electron transport: a bunch of electron holders that bring the energy to the blood. As a result of all this ATP is made. The picture to the left is the formula of cellular respiration.
Sources:
http://biology.about.com/od/cellularprocesses/a/cellrespiration.htm
Sources:
http://biology.about.com/od/cellularprocesses/a/cellrespiration.htm