Respiration & Excretion Study Guide


























Your body uses glucose and oxygen to produce energy during the process of respiration
A passageway for both air and food is the pharynx
The major organs of the excretory system are the kidneys
A colorless, odorless gas that is produced when tobacco is burned is carbon monoxide
The waste chemical that comes from the breakdown of proteins in the body is called urea
Oxygen is moved into the body in the respiratory system
Tiny hair-like structures that sweep mucus from the nose into the throat are called cilia
Urine flows out of the kidneys through narrow tubes called nephrons
The disease in which lung tissue is permanently destroyed is called emphysema
Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli
An addiction is a physical dependence on a substance such as nicotine
The chemical process called respiration takes place inside the body’s cells
Tar is the dark, sticky substance produced when tobacco burns
Air moves into the lungs primarily due to the action of rib muscles and the diaphragm
The vocal cords are paired organs that produce sound when moving air causes them to vibrate
The trachea is a part of both the respiratory system and the digestive system (F; pharynx)
People with emphysema have tumors in the lungs (F; lung cancer)
The urethra is the saclike muscular organ that stores urine (F; urinary bladder)
Tar coats the cilia of a smoker and makes them clump together (T)
The passages that direct air into the lungs are the bronchi (T)
Substances removed from the bloodstream
o Alveoli: carbon dioxide & water
o Nephrons: glucose, water, and urea
Substances that enter the bloodstream or are reabsorbed into the bloodstream
o Alveoli: oxygen
o Nephrons: glucose & water
Explain how the processes in the alveoli and in the nephrons both involve excretion
o In both processes, substances are removed from the body. In the alveoli, the substances
are carbon dioxide & water. In the nephrons, the substances are urea & water
What is passive smoking? How can it affect a nonsmoker?
o Passive smoking is inhaling smoke from other people’s cigarettes. Like smoking, passive
smoking increases the risk of bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer
Explain how your kidneys maintain homeostasis.
o Your kidneys maintain homeostasis by removing wastes and regulating the amount of
water in your body
Which organs of excretion are important for maintaining water balance in the body?
o The kidneys are the organ primarily responsible for maintaining water balance. Water is
also lost through the skin and lungs



How is the liver similar to a recycling facility?
o The liver “recycles” part of the hemoglobin from old red blood cells into substances such
as bile
What is the path of air as it travels from the outside environment into the lungs? What happens
to air as it passes through the respiratory system?
o Air passes through the nose, into the pharynx, through the trachea, and into the bronchi
before reaching the alveoli in the lungs. In the nose and throat, air is warmed and
moistened. Cilia and mucus in the nose and throat help clean the air. In the alveoli,
oxygen from the air moves into the blood
Explain why a smoker has an increased risk of atherosclerosis.
o Some of the chemicals in smoke enter the bloodstream and irritate the walls of the
blood vessels. This irritation contributes to the buildup of the fatty material that causes
atherosclerosis