Unit B Lesson B10 Respiration
Completion requirements
Lesson B10: Human Systems: Respiration
Video Lesson
How does air move in and out of the human body? Watch this video to learn about the human respiratory system.
Lesson B10: Human Systems: Respiration
Figure B.3.10.1 – People with asthma sometimes have trouble breathing.
Figure B.3.10.2 – People with asthma should carry an inhaler at all times.
Figure B.3.10.3 – Inhalers contain medicine to open up lung airways.
Reading and Materials for This Lesson
Science in Action 8
Reading: Pages 132–134
Materials:
Empty plastic water or pop bottle (500 mL), sharp scissors, straw, two round balloons, duct or packing tape, rubber band, modelling clay, empty juice or milk jug with a lid (4 L or bigger), plastic tubing or hose (1 metre), water, glass measuring
cup, masking tape, permanent marker, large bowl (7 L capacity or greater).
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a respiratory system condition that causes breathing difficulties. Asthma causes the bronchi and bronchiole airway tubes to swell and narrow in diameter. When a person’s airways are narrower, less air enters their lungs. A person having an asthma attack feels tightness in their chest and breathes faster, because they aren’t inhaling sufficient amounts of air.
Asthma attacks can be triggered by tiny particles in the air such as dust, pollen, and smoke. In some people, exercise triggers asthma attacks. A person with asthma should always carry an inhaler. An inhaler contains medicine that relaxes the muscles surrounding the bronchi and bronchioles, which reduces swelling and opens the airways.
Asthma is a respiratory system condition that causes breathing difficulties. Asthma causes the bronchi and bronchiole airway tubes to swell and narrow in diameter. When a person’s airways are narrower, less air enters their lungs. A person having an asthma attack feels tightness in their chest and breathes faster, because they aren’t inhaling sufficient amounts of air.
Asthma attacks can be triggered by tiny particles in the air such as dust, pollen, and smoke. In some people, exercise triggers asthma attacks. A person with asthma should always carry an inhaler. An inhaler contains medicine that relaxes the muscles surrounding the bronchi and bronchioles, which reduces swelling and opens the airways.
Watch More
Asthma: Take the Caps Off Your Inhaler and Spacer
Watch this animated cartoon to learn more about asthma.
Watch this animated cartoon to learn more about asthma.
This video explains the proper way to use an asthma inhaler.
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Reviewing the Lungs
People don’t breathe at the same speed all of the time. Watch this video to learn how different types of breathing affect the body.
People don’t breathe at the same speed all of the time. Watch this video to learn how different types of breathing affect the body.
Most of the time, we breathe without thinking. How does this work? Watch this video to learn more.
Try It!
Bottle Lungs
Try this simple experiment to build a model of the lungs.
Materials:
Try this simple experiment to build a model of the lungs.
Materials:
- Empty plastic water or pop bottle (500 mL)
- Sharp scissors
- Straw
- Two large round balloons
- Duct or packing tape
- Rubber band
- Modelling clay
Safety Warning
Take care with scissors; don't cut yourself or anyone else!
Instructions:
- With the sharp scissors, cut the bottom off the plastic bottle.
- Tie off the end of one uninflated balloon. With the scissors, cut the rounded top off this balloon.
- Stretch the cut balloon around the open bottom of the plastic bottle. Secure the balloon to the bottle with duct or packing tape.
- Fit the straw into the open end of the second balloon.
- Wrap a rubber band tightly around the balloon and straw to secure them together.
- Push the balloon and straw through the open top of the plastic bottle. Adjust their position so that the balloon is located in the middle of the bottle.
- Wrap modelling clay around the straw and bottle opening to hold the straw in place. The clay should seal the bottle opening.
- Pull down gently on the balloon stretched over the bottom of the bottle. What do you observe?
- Let the balloon on the bottom of the bottle relax back to its resting position. What do you observe?
- Watch this video to see this experiment and its results:
Questions:
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
The balloon stretched over the bottom of the bottle represented the diaphragm.
Pulling the stretched balloon “diaphragm” downwards increased the volume inside the bottle. Increasing the volume inside the bottle decreased the air pressure inside the bottle. Air moves from high to low pressure, which caused air at a higher
pressure outside the bottle to move through the straw into the lower pressure balloon “lung”.
Try It!
Lung Capacity
Lung capacity describes how much air your lungs can hold. Try this experiment to measure your lung capacity.
Materials:
Lung capacity describes how much air your lungs can hold. Try this experiment to measure your lung capacity.
Materials:
- Empty juice or milk jug with a lid (4 L or bigger)
- Plastic tubing or hose (1 metre)
- Water
- Glass measuring cup
- Masking tape
- Permanent marker
- Large bowl (7 L capacity or greater)
Instructions:
- Place a strip of masking tape along the longest side of the bottle.
- Measure 250 mL of water into the measuring cup. Pour it into the bottle.
- With the permanent marker, mark the water level on the masking tape.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the plastic jug is full of water.
- Close the plastic jug.
- Fill the large bowl one-third full with water.
- Turn the plastic jug upside down into the bowl of water. Open the lid of the plastic jug, making sure that the opening stays underwater.
- Feed one end of the plastic tubing or hose into the jug, while holding the jug to keep its opening underwater.
- Hold the jug with one hand and the hose with the other hand. Take the deepest breath you can in and exhale all the way through your mouth into the hose.
- Count the number of marks on the masking tape that are between the water level in the jug and the top of the jug. Multiply the number of marks by 250. This gives you your lung capacity in millilitres (mL). Divide this number by 1000 to obtain your
lung capacity in litres (L).
- Refill the plastic jug with water and close it.
- Repeat steps 6-10 of the experiment, except take a normal breath in and blow a normal breath out into the hose.
- Watch this video to see this experiment and its results:
Figure B.3.10.4 – Cigarette smoke is harmful to lungs.
Figure B.3.10.5 – Vaping is done with e-cigarettes, which also harm the lungs.
Figure B.3.10.6 – Smoke contains many harmful particles and substances that clog the lungs.
Smoking vs Your Lungs
Cigarette and pipe smoke negatively affects the lungs. Tobacco smoke contains many toxic and addictive substances. Tar particles in smoke coat the surfaces of lung airways. Tar causes inflammation in the lungs, which narrows the airways and causes them to produce excess mucus. Smokers often have trouble breathing because their airways are narrower. Long-term smokers cough frequently to remove excess mucus from their lungs.
Smoking is addictive and very hard to quit. Over time, smoking usually leads to serious health problems like lung cancer. Second-hand smoke, breathed in while nearby smokers, also leads to many respiratory diseases.
E-cigarettes, or vaping, has recently become a popular alternative to tobacco cigarettes. While e-cigarettes don’t coat the lungs with as much tar, they still contain addictive nicotine and other cancer-causing substances.
Cigarette and pipe smoke negatively affects the lungs. Tobacco smoke contains many toxic and addictive substances. Tar particles in smoke coat the surfaces of lung airways. Tar causes inflammation in the lungs, which narrows the airways and causes them to produce excess mucus. Smokers often have trouble breathing because their airways are narrower. Long-term smokers cough frequently to remove excess mucus from their lungs.
Smoking is addictive and very hard to quit. Over time, smoking usually leads to serious health problems like lung cancer. Second-hand smoke, breathed in while nearby smokers, also leads to many respiratory diseases.
E-cigarettes, or vaping, has recently become a popular alternative to tobacco cigarettes. While e-cigarettes don’t coat the lungs with as much tar, they still contain addictive nicotine and other cancer-causing substances.
Watch More
The Consequences of Smoking
This video explains several reasons why smoking is bad for your health.
This video explains several reasons why smoking is bad for your health.
Watch this video to see what a smoker's lungs look like.
Smokers often get bronchitis. Watch this video to learn more about bronchitis.
Some people smoke e-cigarettes because they are advertised as being healthier than tobacco cigarettes. However, scientific research does not support these claims. Watch this video to find out more.
Think • Interpret • Decide
Lung Capacity Experiment
A researcher did a project measuring average lung capacities. Two graphs of the experiment results are shown below.
A researcher did a project measuring average lung capacities. Two graphs of the experiment results are shown below.
Questions:
After you have examined the graphs carefully, consider the following questions. Then, type or write your answers. When you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
After you have examined the graphs carefully, consider the following questions. Then, type or write your answers. When you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
The graphs show several factors that affect average lung capacity. Average lung capacity changes between different ages. Average lung capacity is different between males and females. Average lung capacity is different between smokers and nonsmokers.
As children become adults, their lung capacity increases. The maximum lung capacity for adults is between ages 20 and 30. After age 30, the average lung capacity of adults slowly decreases. Boys and girls of the same age have the same average
lung capacity. For teenagers and adults, males have a larger average lung capacity than females at the same age. At all ages, smokers have a smaller lung capacity than non-smokers.
As children grow in size, their lungs get bigger and so their lung capacity increases. Lung capacity starts to slowly decrease in adults after age 30, because the muscles surrounding airways start to weaken. On average, adult men have larger
bodies than adult women, so they have larger lungs with larger lung capacities. Smokers have smaller lung capacities than nonsmokers because smokers’ lungs are covered with tar and inflamed, which narrows airways and reduces lung capacity.
Figure B.3.10.7 – The larynx enables people to speak and sing.
Figure B.3.10.8 – The larynx, or voice box, is located just above the trachea.
Figure B.3.10.9 – The larynx is located at the base of the throat, towards the front of the neck.
"CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?"
The larynx, or voice box, is located at the top of the trachea. This organ helps you speak. Vocal cords are muscles on both sides of the larynx. When you breathe normally, your vocal cord muscles are relaxed. Air freely moves past them. When you start to speak, your vocal cords stretch across your voice box. As you breathe out, air passes over the vocal cords and makes them vibrate back and forth. Vibrating vocal cord muscles produce sound, similar to how a vibrating guitar string makes sound.
Pitch describes how high or low a sound is. The pitch of your voice depends on how tightly your vocal cords are stretched. Put your hand on your neck and talk in a low voice. You will feel vibrations on your neck. To make lower pitched sounds, your vocal cords are looser and vibrate more. Keep your hand on your neck and talk in a high voice. The vibrations on your neck will feel smaller. To make higher pitched sounds, your vocal cords stretch tighter and don’t vibrate as much.
The larynx, or voice box, is located at the top of the trachea. This organ helps you speak. Vocal cords are muscles on both sides of the larynx. When you breathe normally, your vocal cord muscles are relaxed. Air freely moves past them. When you start to speak, your vocal cords stretch across your voice box. As you breathe out, air passes over the vocal cords and makes them vibrate back and forth. Vibrating vocal cord muscles produce sound, similar to how a vibrating guitar string makes sound.
Pitch describes how high or low a sound is. The pitch of your voice depends on how tightly your vocal cords are stretched. Put your hand on your neck and talk in a low voice. You will feel vibrations on your neck. To make lower pitched sounds, your vocal cords are looser and vibrate more. Keep your hand on your neck and talk in a high voice. The vibrations on your neck will feel smaller. To make higher pitched sounds, your vocal cords stretch tighter and don’t vibrate as much.
Watch More
Voice Box
Why are men’s voices often lower than women’s voices? Watch this video to find out more.
Why are men’s voices often lower than women’s voices? Watch this video to find out more.
Have you ever wondered how your voice can make so many different sounds? Watch this video of a singer's vocal cords to see how.
Make sure you have understood everything in this lesson. Use the Self-Check below, and the Self-Check & Lesson Review Tips to guide your learning.
Unit B Lesson 10 Self-Check
Instructions
Complete the following 6 steps.
Don't skip steps – if you do them in order, you will confirm your
understanding of this lesson and create a study bank for the future.
- DOWNLOAD the self-check quiz by clicking here.
- ANSWER all the questions on the downloaded quiz in the spaces provided. Think carefully before typing your answers. Review this lesson if you need to. Save your quiz when you are done.
- COMPARE your answers with the suggested "Self-Check Quiz Answers" below. WAIT! You didn't skip step 2, did you? It's very important to carefully write out your own answers before checking the suggested answers.
-
REVISE your quiz answers if you need to. If you answered all the questions correctly, you can skip this step. Revise means to change, fix, and add extra notes if you need to. This quiz is NOT FOR MARKS, so it is perfectly OK to correct
any mistakes you made. This will make your self-check quiz an excellent study tool you can use later.
- SAVE your quiz to a folder on your computer, or to your Private Files. That way you will know where it is for later studying.
- CHECK with your teacher if you need to. If after completing all these steps you are still not sure about the questions or your answers, you should ask for more feedback from your teacher. To do this, post in the Course Questions Forum, or send your teacher an email. In either case, attach your completed quiz and ask; "Can you look at this quiz and give me some feedback please?" They will be happy to help you!
Be a Self-Check
Superhero!
Self-Check Quiz Answers
Click each of the suggested answers below, and carefully compare your answers to the suggested answers.
If you have not done the quiz yet – STOP – and go back to step 1 above. Do not look at the answers without first trying the questions.
Sanding drywall produces fine dust particles which can irritate lung passages. Irritated lung passages can become inflamed and cause bronchitis. Wearing a face mask prevents fine dust particles from entering the lungs.
Mucus blocks airways in the lungs and makes it harder to breathe. Coughing forces mucus out of the lungs and opens up the airways.
When the diaphragm muscle stretches downwards, it increases the size of the chest cavity and lets more air flow into the lungs. Additional air in the lungs results in louder, more controlled singing.
Inhalation occurs when air enters the body, while exhalation occurs when air leaves the body. Inhalation occurs when the diaphragm stretches downwards, while exhalation occurs while the diaphragm relaxes upward. Inhalation brings oxygen into
the body, while exhalation moves carbon dioxide out of the body. Inhalation decreases pressure in the chest cavity, while exhalation increases pressure in the chest cavity.
Smoking can cause a number of respiratory health problems. For example:
- Smoking can cause shortness of breath.
- Smoking can cause lung cancer.
- Smoking can cause chronic coughing.