DESCRIPTION During an average lifetime, enough air passes through our lungs to fill a football stadium. Examines the complex process of respiration, beginning with the air's entrance into the nose. Explores the oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs and the importance of oxygen in the blood to the body's tissues. Microphotography of the respiratory system reveals the secrets of the breath of life. ACADEMIC STANDARDS Subject Area: Science Standard: Knows the general structure and functions of cells in organisms Benchmark: Knows that multicellular organisms have a variety of specialized cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems that perform specialized functions (e.g., digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, excretion, movement, control and coordination, protection from disease) (See Instructional Goal #1) Benchmark: Knows that disease in organisms can be caused by intrinsic failures of the system or infection by other organisms (See Instructional Goal #3) Benchmark: Understands the chemical reactions involved in cell functions (e.g., food molecules taken into cells are broken down to provide the chemical constituents needed to synthesize other molecules; enzymes facilitate the breakdown and synthesis of molecules) (See Instructional Goal #4) INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS 1. To identify the parts of the respiratory system. 2. To describe what happens during inhalation and exhalation. 3. To explain how oxygen is used by body cells. 4. To explain how the brain controls breathing. 5. To describe the effects of air pressure on breathing. VOCABULARY 1. alveoli 2. carbon dioxide 3. cartilage 4. corpuscles 5. diaphragm 6. epiglottis 7. evolution 8. hemoglobin 9. labyrinth 10. larynx 1
11. lungs 12. mucus 13. nitrogen 14. oxygen 15. snorkel 16. vacuum 17. windpipe BEFORE SHOWING 1. Take a deep breath, hold it as long as possible, and record the time. Compare with other classmates. a. What is the shortest time and the longest time? b. What is the average time? c. What is the record time as noted in Guinness Book of World Records? d. What effect does holding one s breath for a long time have on the rest of the body? 2. List the events in the Olympics swimming competition. a. Explain that the video is about a swimmer training for the 1500-meter crawl. b. Change 1500 meters to feet or yards and discuss the endurance required for competing in such an event. 3. Point out that the video contains microphotographic views of the respiratory system. Explain how this is done. DURING SHOWING Discussion Items and Questions 1. View the video more than once, with one showing uninterrupted. 2. Pause at the section demonstrating inhalation and exhalation. Point out the diaphragm and its movements. 3. Point out the parts of the respiratory system as they are being photographed internally. Note the pulsation of the heart near the lungs. 4. Pause at the graph showing the efficiency of John s oxygen intake. Explain what the graph indicates. 5. Pause at the section depicting how the brain controls breathing by monitoring the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and review. 6. Pause at the section describing the pressure at a depth of 1,000 feet underwater. a. Cut a piece of paper that is one square inch. b. Identify objects that weigh about 500 pounds and discuss the meaning of pressure of 500 pounds per square inch. AFTER SHOWING Discussion Items and Questions 1. When oxygen reacts with the body cells, what is produced? 2. Where did life begin and how did oxygen enter into the bodies of the earlier life forms? 3. Which contains more oxygen--air or water? 4. What happens to the rib cage, diaphragm, and lungs during inhalation and exhalation? 5. How are the nose and windpipe protected from dust and other particles? 6. Why is breathing through the mouth not a good idea? 2
7. Where is the epiglottis located and what is its function? 8. What would happen if the epiglottis did not close properly? 9. What percentage of the body is water? 10. How much water vapor does the a human exhale daily? 11. What prevents the windpipe from closing or collapsing? 12. On the average, how many breaths does a human take each minute? 13. What are some factors that might affect the breathing rate? 14. How many pints of lung capacity did the swimmer in the video have? Compare this to an average person s capacity. 15. What part of the air is oxygen? 16. What other gases are found in the air and what happens to them during inhalation? 17. What are alveoli and how many are found in the lungs? 18. How is oxygen transported in the blood? 19. What waste product is created when oxidation occurs in the cells? 20. How does the brain control breathing? 21. How does a tank of compressed air allow a scuba diver to breathe? a. How long does a tank of compressed air usually last? b. Why will the air last less time if the diver goes deeper? c. At what depth can divers safely work and what is the pressure at that depth? 22. What problems does low pressure at high altitudes cause? 23. How does the body adapt to living at higher altitudes? 24. Why can t humans survive without aid at an altitude of 30,000 feet? 25. How are aircraft equipped to handle the problems of insufficient oxygen in the air? 26. What effect does high altitude have on brain cells? 27. Why does blood boil at high altitudes? 28. What features does a space suit provide for traveling in a vacuum? Applications and Activities 1. Make a computer-generated chart of various Olympic events and the record times. Report on the training required for each. 2. Incorporate math activities: a. The average number of breaths per minute is 15. (1) Calculate the number of breaths in one hour, one minute, one day, and one year. (2) Calculate the number of breaths taken in an average person s lifetime. b. Two-thirds of the human body consists of water. (1) Change this to a percent. (2) Calculate the weight of water in each class member s body. c. Human lungs weigh 2½ pounds. Calculate the percent of body weight that they comprise. d. Make a computer-generated circle graph showing the composition of the air. e. The swimmer in the video exhaled 6.5 liters of air during his training tests. Convert this to pints. f. Change the following numbers to scientific notation: (1) Humans who live in the city may breathe one trillion particles of dirt and pollution. (2) Humans breathe an average of 400,000,000 breaths in a lifetime. (3) There are about 700 million alveoli in the lungs. (4) The walls of the alveoli are only 1/100 of an inch across. (5) There are about 30 trillion red blood corpuscles in the blood. 3
3. Research high altitude flights and the effects on the human body. 4. Report on unique characteristics of the lungs of other animals, such as spiders, birds, and kangaroo rats. 5. From a local butcher, obtain a cow s lungs with the windpipe still attached. a. Observe the rings of cartilage found in the windpipe. b. Examine a piece of lung tissue under the microscope and look for alveoli and capillaries. c. Insert a hollow cardboard tube into the windpipe and try to inflate part of the lung. d. Compare the size, weight, and strength of the lungs with that of human lungs. 6. Make a computer-generated chart of mountains in the world and their elevations. Report on effects of high-altitude climbing on the human body. 7. Report on diseases of the respiratory system. RELATED RESOURCES Captioned Media Program I Am Joe s Lung #3141 Respiratory System, The #3508 World Wide Web The following Web sites complement the contents of this guide; they were selected by professionals who have experience in teaching deaf and hard of hearing students. Every effort was made to select accurate, educationally relevant, and kid-safe sites. However, teachers should preview them before use. The U.S. Department of Education, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Captioned Media Program do not endorse the sites and are not responsible for their content. SWIMMING SCIENCE JOURNAL http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coachsci/swimming/index.htm Contains hyperlinks to sites with information about training for swimming competitions. HUMAN ANATOMY ONLINE http://www.innerbody.com/htm/sysselec.html Contains descriptions, images, and animations of various parts of the body systems. THE LUNG ASSOCIATION http://www.sk.lung.ca/info/education/student/anatomy/anatomy1.html Contains a diagram of the human respiratory system. Viewer can click on a part of the system to learn more about it. Includes a lung anatomy quiz. 4