Form 3 Science - Chapter 2: Respiration

1. Human Respiratory System

• The human respiratory system is responsible for supplying oxygen and removing
carbon dioxide.
• Main structures: nostrils, nasal cavity, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, trachea, bronchus,
bronchiole, alveolus, diaphragm, and lungs.
• Breathing mechanism:
o Inhalation: Rib cage moves up, diaphragm contracts and flattens, increasing
thoracic cavity volume.
o Exhalation: Rib cage moves down, diaphragm relaxes and curves upwards,
decreasing thoracic cavity volume.

2. Movement and Exchange of Gases

• Oxygen moves from alveoli to blood capillaries via diffusion.

• Oxygen binds with hemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin and is transported to body
cells.
• Cellular respiration occurs in cells:

Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

• Carbon dioxide is transported back to the lungs and exhaled.

3. Health of the Respiratory System

• Harmful substances in the air:

o Cigarette tar: Increases mucus, damages lung tissues.
o Carbon monoxide: Binds to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport.
o Sulphur dioxide & nitrogen dioxide: Cause bronchitis, lung cancer, and asthma.
o Haze, dust, and pollen: Trigger respiratory issues.

4. Respiratory Diseases

• Asthma: Triggered by dust, smoke, and allergens.

• Bronchitis: Caused by cigarette smoke, leads to inflammation.
• Emphysema: Damage to alveoli, making breathing difficult.
• Lung cancer: Caused by carcinogens in cigarette smoke.

5. Adaptations in Respiratory Systems

• Different organisms have adapted their respiratory structures:

o Humans & mammals: Lungs with alveoli.
o Fish: Gills with lamellae for increased surface area.
o Amphibians (frogs): Moist outer skin for gaseous exchange.
 o Insects: Tracheal system with spiracles.

6. Gaseous Exchange in Plants

• Occurs through stomata in leaves, lenticels in stems, and root hairs in roots.
• Guard cells control stomata opening based on water availability.
• Effects of pollution:
o Haze and dust block stomata, reducing photosynthesis.
o Acid rain damages plant cells and soil fertility.

7. Summary

• Respiration involves oxygen intake and carbon dioxide removal.

• Different respiratory adaptations allow organisms to survive in their environments.
• Pollution and smoking harm the respiratory system in humans and plants.
• Maintaining a clean environment is crucial for respiratory health.
Human Respiratory System Gas Exchange & Cellular Respiration

1. Which of the following is NOT part 8. The process of diffusion in

of the human respiratory system? respiration allows:
a) Trachea a) Oxygen to move from blood to
b) Bronchus alveoli
c) Esophagus b) Carbon dioxide to move from
d) Alveolus alveoli to blood
2. The function of the epiglottis is to: c) Oxygen to move from alveoli to
a) Help in gas exchange blood
b) Prevent food from entering the d) Water to move into the lungs
trachea 9. Oxygen is carried in the blood by:
c) Increase oxygen absorption a) White blood cells
d) Remove carbon dioxide b) Platelets
3. The diaphragm: c) Hemoglobin in red blood cells
a) Contracts during exhalation d) Plasma
b) Moves up during inhalation 10. Which process produces energy in
c) Contracts and moves down during cells?
inhalation a) Photosynthesis
d) Has no role in breathing b) Cellular respiration
4. The exchange of gases in the human c) Fermentation
body occurs in the: d) Digestion
a) Trachea 11. The equation for cellular respiration
b) Bronchi is:
c) Alveoli a) Carbon dioxide + water →
d) Pharynx glucose + oxygen
5. What happens to the rib cage during b) Glucose + oxygen → carbon
inhalation? dioxide + water + energy
a) Moves downward and inward c) Glucose + water → carbon
b) Moves upward and outward dioxide + oxygen
c) Stays in the same position d) Oxygen + carbon dioxide →
d) Contracts and moves inward glucose + energy
6. The air we inhale contains more: 12. Which organ removes carbon
a) Oxygen dioxide from the body?
b) Carbon dioxide a) Heart
c) Nitrogen b) Liver
d) Hydrogen c) Lungs
7. What is the function of the d) Kidneys
intercostal muscles?
a) Transport oxygen to cells Respiratory Health & Diseases
b) Help in expanding and contracting
the chest cavity 13. Which of the following is a
c) Produce mucus in the lungs respiratory disease?
d) Prevent dust from entering the a) Diabetes
lungs b) Bronchitis
 c) Hypertension b) Alveoli
d) Stroke c) Gills
14. Which harmful gas in cigarette d) Lungs
smoke reduces oxygen transport in 21. Amphibians like frogs use which
the blood? organ to breathe on land?
a) Oxygen a) Gills
b) Carbon monoxide b) Moist skin
c) Nitrogen c) Spiracles
d) Hydrogen d) Air sacs
15. Emphysema is a disease that 22. Insects breathe through:
damages: a) Gills
a) Alveoli b) Lungs
b) Trachea c) Spiracles and trachea
c) Intercostal muscles d) Alveoli
d) Epiglottis 23. What is the main function of stomata
16. Which substance in cigarette smoke in plants?
causes lung cancer? a) Absorb minerals
a) Oxygen b) Release oxygen and take in carbon
b) Carbon dioxide dioxide
c) Tar c) Transport water
d) Hemoglobin d) Trap sunlight
17. Which respiratory disease is caused 24. What controls the opening and
by inflammation of the bronchial closing of stomata?
tubes? a) Guard cells
a) Asthma b) Xylem
b) Bronchitis c) Phloem
c) Lung cancer d) Chloroplast
d) Tuberculosis 25. When do stomata usually close?
18. Asthma is triggered by: a) In bright light
a) Excess water in the lungs b) During photosynthesis
b) Pollen, dust, and smoke c) At night or on a hot day
c) Increased oxygen in the body d) When oxygen levels are high
d) Lack of food 26. How do plants remove excess water?
19. Which of the following does NOT a) Photosynthesis
help maintain a healthy respiratory b) Transpiration
system? c) Respiration
a) Avoiding smoking d) Diffusion
b) Exercising regularly
c) Living in polluted areas General Adaptations in Respiratory
d) Practicing deep breathing Systems

Respiration in Animals & Plants 27. Why do humans find it harder to

breathe at high altitudes?
20. Which structure do fish use for a) The air is thicker
breathing? b) The oxygen concentration is lower
a) Trachea
 c) The lungs stop working a) Thick alveoli walls
d) There is too much carbon dioxide b) Dry alveoli surface
28. What adaptation do deep-sea divers c) Large surface area of alveoli
use to help them breathe underwater? d) Reduced capillary network
a) Lungs with large alveoli 30. Which feature allows oxygen to
b) External gills diffuse quickly into blood capillaries
c) Oxygen tanks in the alveoli?
d) Moist skin a) Thick walls
29. Which adaptation increases the b) Dry surface
efficiency of gas exchange in human c) Thin and moist walls
lungs? d) Lack of blood vessels

10 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. The diaphragm __________ when a person inhales, allowing air to enter the lungs.
2. The exchange of gases in the lungs occurs in small sacs called __________.
3. The oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells is called __________.
4. The main function of the respiratory system is to supply __________ to the body and
remove __________.
5. Cigarette smoke contains harmful substances like __________, which causes lung cancer.
6. Insects breathe through small openings called __________, which lead to a network of
tubes called __________.
7. The gas that plants take in for photosynthesis is __________, while they release
__________.
8. The process by which water moves through a semipermeable membrane is called
__________.
9. Fish use __________ to extract oxygen from water.
10. The chemical equation for cellular respiration is: __________ + Oxygen → __________
+ Water + __________.

gills
spiracles, trachea
oxygen, carbon dioxide
glucose, carbon dioxide, energy
osmosis
tar
carbon dioxide, oxygen
alveoli
hemoglobin
contracts