Cardiovascular and Respiratory Health

Your Respiratory System

The Pathway of Air

·         Before oxygen can get into your blood, air must reach your lungs

·         Blood carries oxygen to your cells and carbon dioxide from them

·         Cells use oxygen and produce carbon dioxide as a wastes product

The Nose, Mouth, and Throat

·         The nostrils and other air passages are lined with mucous membranes

·        ____________________________ produce mucus, that moistens the air and traps bacteria and dust particles before they reach the lungs

·         Air passages are lined with ______________ – tiny hair-like structures that are in constant motion

·         Air enters the ___________________ – the throat; and goes down the ______________________ – the windpipe that moves air from the throat to the chest

·         The ____________________ – voice-box – is made of cartilage, has vocal cards that vibrate to produce sound when talking or singing

 The Lung

·         The trachea divides to form two ______________________ – cartilage rings that go into each lung

·         The ____________________ are elastic, spongy organs through which the body absorbs oxygen

·         Each bronchi break up into smaller tubes in the lungs

·         The smallest tubes are called _________________________

·         Tiny sacs called _____________________ are located at the end of each bronchiole

 What Happens When You Breathe

·         The work of breathing is done by muscles in the abdomen

·         The __________________________– a dome shaped muscle that is just below the lungs – is the main muscle involved in breathing

·         As you breathe in, the diaphragm flattens, drawing air in

·         As you breathe out, the diaphragm moves up, forcing air out

 Disorders of the Respiratory System

Respiratory Infections

·         Respiratory infections are caused by microorganisms

·         Two infectious diseases that affect the lungs are _________________________________________________

·         Pneumonia is an infection in which fluids accumulate in the lungs, decreasing the ability to take in oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide

·         Tuberculosis – is a long lasting bacterial disease that affects the lungs and other parts of the body

 Asthma

·         _____________________________ – is a disorder in which the air passages become narrower than normal

·         Causes wheezing, coughing, and difficulty in breathing

·         Can be caused by ________________________________ – a reaction by the body to an irritating substance

·        Pollen, dust, and molds can cause an allergic reaction

 Bronchitis

·         ______________________________ is an inflammation and swelling of the bronchioles in the lungs

·         Spreads from the nose and throat to the lungs

·         ___________________________________ is a respiratory disorder in which the alveoli lose their ability to expand and contract

·         As the disease expresses, the alveoli stretch and break, interfering with inhalation and exhalation

·         Cannot be cured

 Effects of Air Pollution and Smoking

·         Tobacco smoke and air pollutants are some materials that can harm the respiratory tissues

·         Long-term exposure to cigarette smoke and other air pollutants can seriously and permanently harm your ______________________________ health:

1.    They may irritate the mucus membranes of your nasal cavity, making your nose run

2.    Can damage the cilia in the air passages; making the cilia no longer able to trap microorganisms and remove mucus

3.    Mucus builds up in the air passages causing coughing

4.    If particles build up in the lungs, they can damage the alveoli, reducing the amount of oxygen intake and carbon dioxide removal

5.    Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers