03-27-07, Anatomy and Physiology respiration test notes

Compare cellular respiration with inspiration.

Cellular respiration is specifically the metabolic process that is defined by basically glycolysis, where the sugar molecule is broken apart and the energy from the bonds is converted into some various acids and eventually results in the phosphorylation of ADP into ATP.

Why is it better to inhale through your nose than through your mouth?

When you are inhaling through your nose, you are going to have the particles in the air intersecting with the hairs in your nose as well as the mucous and the other substances in the nose. This filters the air and makes sure that foreign materials are filtered. The mouth does not have this filtering apparatus.

Why can't a person hold a breath long enough to suffocate?

The problem with this is that the lack of oxygen means that the brain is unable to function. The higher functions of the brain that control the muscles to inhale and exhale become unconsciously controlled again. So once you pass out, you start to breath again and you are unable to suffocate.

Why do many smokers cough more frequently than nonsmokers?

The smokers have too many particles that are obstructing their air intake pathways. The coughs are used to push up all of the materials that are grouping in the bottom of the lungs. The cough pushes these materials up so that the surface area of the lung for air-intake is increased back to the normal ratio.