Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The human respiratory system

Dear all,

We spent a good part of 3 periods on our next topic of the Human Respiratory System. I hope you all do understand the important points. But let us recap again.

Respiration is not the same as breathing.
Respiration = breaking down of energy in food through taking in of oxygen and giving out of carbon dioxide.
Breathing = taking in of oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide

You need to know the parts of the respiratory system in our human body such as:


  • Nose
  • Throat
  • Windpipe or trachea 
  • Lungs ( there are 2 of them with the left one usually being smaller due to the presence of the heart)
  • Bronchus (2 main tubes that connect to the lungs)
  • Bronchioles (smaller tubes within the lungs)
  • Aveoli (air sacs that contain the air)
  • Capillaries (blood vessels that are contained in the air sacs)
Please note the flow of of taking in of oxygen and giving out of carbon dioxide. This can be a common question in which you are asked to draw arrows to indicate how human inhale and exhale the different gases in the air. 

Next important point is about the movement of the ribcage and diaphragm. The ribcage protects the lungs and the diaphragm is a muscle below the lungs that controls the movement of the lungs. 

When we inhale (take in oxygen), the ribcage moves outwards and downwards. Air is gushing into our body.

When we exhale (breathe out carbon dioxide), the ribcage move inwards and upwards. Air is being released from our body.

Exchange of gases is taking place at the capillaries inside the aveoli. oxygen goes into the blood vessels while the waste carbon dioxide is being removed to the air sacs, through the lungs and out the body through the windpipe. 

The nose hairs prevents the dust particles from entering the windpipe. It acts as a filter for dust particles and dirt. Air that passes through the nose is warm, moistened and cleaned.

Revise through your topic on digestive system as it is closely link to respiratory system. :) Topics are often linked and some questions can involved more than one topic alone. As such, it is important for you to revise and be able to draw the link and not just stick to one topic on its own. Don't spot topics to study. Every topic is important. 

Why is this topic important and how is it relevant to us?

If you are able to understand the meaning of the topic you are studying and how it is relevant to your life, you will appreciate it more and have more interest in understanding. As such, do not treat studying as just something you have to go through but see the link of it to life itself. 

Human respiratory system helps us to understand how we live, in terms of respiration and breathing. it also shows us how asthma or sinus can occur. Dust or phlegm blocks the bronchioles and as such, air is unable to pass through. As the bronchioles are stuck, we will experience discomfort in breathing. 

Always think and reflect after each topic learnt and not just throw it to one side. 

A student who thinks critically and questions has truly learnt well!!!

Here are some videos to leave you to watch:


Sincerely,
Mr Nelson Ong

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