Respiratory System
Solutions for Biology, Class 6, ICSE
Fill In The Blanks
1 questionFill in the blanks with suitable words :
- The ............... emerges from the larynx down below in the neck.
- The inner lining of trachea consists of ............... epithelium.
- ............... end up into microscopic alveoli.
- The volume of chest cavity ............... during inspiration.
- The amount of ............... gas remains the same in the inspired air and expired air.
Answer:
- trachea
- ciliated
- Bronchioles
- increases
- Nitrogen
Long Answer Questions
9 questionsAnswer:
Respiration is a vital process in all living organisms.
Respiratory system is necessary because:
- Respiration is a vital process in all living organisms. Every cell of a plant, an animal or of human body requires energy for various activities. Respiratory system provides this energy by the oxidation of glucose using oxygen.
- Respiratory system helps in breathing through which oxygen from the air is pulled into the lungs and the air containing carbon dioxide is forced out of the lungs.
- Respiratory system helps in gaseous transport. Oxygen of the inhaled air is absorbed by the blood in the lungs where it combines with the haemoglobin present in RBCs. The Oxygen is carried from lungs to the body tissues where the Oxygen is utilised and Carbon dioxide is released.
Answer:
Some of the factors that affect the breathing rate are:
- While exercising or doing intense physical activity, the body requires more energy due to which the demand of oxygen increases. This increases the rate of breathing of the person.
- While sleeping and resting, the breathing rate decreases as the body requires less energy.
- Allergic reactions increase the rate of breathing as allergic reactions narrow the nasal passage leading to a demand for more oxygen.
- Stress and anxiety increases the breathing rate as the stress hormones trigger the body's fight or flight response.
Answer:
The energy liberated during respiration is not all in the form of heat but a large part of it is converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). This energy is utilised by the body cells for a vast variety of activities like:
- Digestion of food.
- Production of enzymes.
- Contraction of muscles for movement.
- Conduction of electrical impulse in a nerve cell.
- Production of new cells by cell division.
- Keeping the body warm in warm-blooded animals.
Answer:
Inhalation is the physical process by which the air containing oxygen is drawn into the lungs.
Exhalation is the physical process by which the air containing carbon dioxide is forced out from the lungs.
Differences between Inhalation and Exhalation are:
Inhalation | Exhalation |
---|---|
Ribs move upwards and outwards. | Ribs move downwards and inwards. |
Diaphragm is pushed downwards and flattens. | Diaphragm moves upwards and becomes dome-shaped. |
Volume of chest cavity increases. | Volume of chest cavity decreases. |
Lungs expand, air pressure becomes low. | Size of the lungs reduces, air pressure becomes high. |
Atmospheric air at a higher pressure rushes into lungs. | Air rushes out of the lungs as atmospheric air pressure is lower. |
Answer:
The diseases that affect the respiratory organs of the body making respiration difficult are termed as respiratory diseases.
The three common respiratory diseases are:
- Bronchitis
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
Answer:
Tuberculosis
Cause — This respiratory infection is caused by bacteria that can spread by air, dust or sputum.
Treatment — BCG vaccine, antibiotic Streptomycin.Pneumonia
Cause — This respiratory disease is mainly caused by bacteria inhaled through air or by contact.
Treatment — Antibiotic - Penicillin.Bronchitis
Cause — This respiratory infection is mainly caused by a virus. Air pollution and smoking can also cause bronchitis.
Treatment — Drinking plenty of fluids, following a well balanced diet, frequent hand washing and adequate rest can prevent and improve bronchitis.
Answer:
The function of Ribs and Diaphragm is to aid respiration:
- Ribs — In breathing during inhalation, the Ribs move upwards and outward. This function increases the volume of chest cavity. As a result lungs expand and atmospheric air rushes into the lungs. During Exhalation, the Ribs move downwards and inward. This function decreases the volume of chest cavity as a result lungs contract and air rushes out of the lungs.
- Diaphragm — The diaphragm helps in breathing by changing its shape. During inhalation, it contracts and flattens, allowing the lungs to expand. During exhalation, it relaxes and becomes dome-shaped, helping push air out of the lungs.
The diagram given alongside is an experimental set up mimicking a certain process occurring in living beings. Study the figure and answer the following questions :

(i) Name the process and define it.
(ii) What are the two phases of the above mentioned process shown as (A) and (B) ?
(iii) Name the particular organs of the body shown in the figure with :
(a) Bell jar (b) Balloons (c) Rubber sheet
(iv) How do these phases (A) and (B) differ with respect to the position of ribs ?
(v) Does the breathing rate of a young boy and an old person differ ? Explain.
Answer:
(i) The given diagram shows an experimental set up to demonstrate the process of Breathing.
Breathing is the process during which the air containing oxygen is drawn into the lungs and the air containing carbon dioxide is forced out from the lungs. It is a physical process.
(ii) Phase (A) shows Inspiration, and Phase (B) shows Expiration.
(iii) The particular organs of the body shown in the figure are:
(a) Bell jar — Chest cavity
(b) Balloons — Lungs
(c) Rubber sheet — Diaphragm
(iv) During Inspiration [Phase (A)], ribs move upwards and outwards while during Expiration [Phase (B)] ribs move downwards and inwards.
(v) Yes, the breathing rate of a young boy and an old person typically differ. Young children have a higher breathing rate than adults, due to their higher metabolic needs and smaller lung capacity relative to their body size. In contrast, older people breathe more slowly as their metabolic rate is lower and lung function may decline with age.
The diagram given alongside shows the "Human Respiratory System". Study the same and answer the following questions :

(i) Label the guidelines 1 to 4.
(ii) Define the structure shown as part 2.
(iii) Name the basic structural and functional unit of part 3.
(iv) Write one specific structural feature of the inner lining of part 1.
(v) What is the muscular sheet on which part 3 rests ?
Answer:
(i) The guidelines 1 to 4 show:
- Trachea
- Larynx
- Lung
- Bronchus
(ii) At the entrance of the trachea, there is a voice box called larynx. It contains two ligamentous folds called 'vocal cords'. Air expelled forcibly through the vocal cords vibrates them, to produce sound.
(iii) Alveoli is the basic structural and functional unit of part 3, i.e., lungs.
(iv) The inner linings of the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles have ciliated epithelium. The continuous movement of the cilia pushes out the unwanted particles that may be present in the inhaled air.
(v) Diaphragm is the muscular sheet upon which the lungs rest.
Match The Following
1 questionAnswer:
Column A | Column B |
---|---|
(i) Aerobic | (d) Presence of oxygen |
(ii) Anaerobic | (c) Absence of oxygen |
(iii) Trachea | (e) C-shaped cartilaginous rings |
(iv) Left lung | (a) Two-lobed |
(v) Right lung | (b) Three-lobed |
Multiple Choice Questions
10 questionsAnswer:
Inhalation
Reason — Inhalation is the physical process by which the air containing oxygen is drawn into the our lungs through nostrils into the nasal cavity.
Answer:
Cellular respiration
Reason — Cellular respiration is the process of oxidation of glucose (breaking down of food) in the cells with the release of energy in the form of ATP molecules (Adenosine triphosphate).
Answer:
Mouth
Reason — In humans, the organs of the respiratory system include nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and the lungs. One should always breathe through the nose and not through the mouth.
Answer:
Pharynx
Reason — Pharynx or throat is a common passage for air and the food. It leads into two passages, one is the air tube called wind pipe or trachea and the other the gullet (food-pipe).
Answer:
Haemoglobin
Reason — The oxygen from the lungs diffuses into the blood, and is picked up by haemoglobin in red blood cells. Carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses into the lungs and is exhaled out through the same passage.
Answer:
Diaphragm
Reason — Diaphragm is a muscular sheet which internally divides the body cavity into two cavities, the chest cavity or thoracic cavity above, and the abdominal cavity below.
Short Answer Questions
10 questionsAnswer:
Difference between Breathing and Respiration:
Breathing | Respiration |
---|---|
Breathing is a physical process. | Respiration is a bio-chemical process. |
Air containing oxygen is taken into the lungs and air loaded with carbon dioxide is given out. | Oxygen taken in is used in oxidizing glucose and energy is released. |
Lungs are mainly involved. | Occurs in all living cells of the body. |
Answer:
Epiglottis guards the front opening (glottis) of the wind pipe. It closes the wind pipe at the time of swallowing of food, and hence prevents any wrongful entry of food into the wind pipe.
Larynx contains two ligamentous folds called 'vocal cords'. Air expelled forcibly through the vocal cords vibrates them to produce sound.
Alveoli are richly supplied with blood capillaries covering their walls. The walls of the alveoli are extremely thin and moist for allowing faster diffusion of gases.
Pleura protects the lungs. The fluid filled in the space between the outer and inner pleura acts as a shock absorber for the lungs.
The lining of the nasal chamber has mucous (a sticky fluid) which traps germs and dust, so they don't enter our body.
Answer:
Respiration — Respiration is the process of releasing energy by breaking down food (glucose) needed for various activities of the body.
Breathing — The process during which the air containing oxygen is drawn into the lungs and the air containing carbon dioxide is forced out from the lungs is called breathing. Breathing is a physical process.
Lungs — The lungs are a pair of pink and spongy, elastic organs located in the chest cavity and help in the exchange of gases. They take in oxygen from the air and remove carbon dioxide from the blood during the process of breathing.
Inhalation — Inhalation is the process of drawing in the air through the nostrils into the nasal cavity and finally into the lungs.
Exhalation — Exhalation is the process of forcing out of the air from the lungs.
Name the following.
- Respiratory process in which oxygen is not utilized.
- Respiratory process in which oxygen is utilized.
- The microscopic air-sacs of the lungs.
- The two membranes which protect the lungs.
- Six main parts of the human respiratory system.
- Two types of respiration.
- Three phases of respiration.
- Two steps of breathing.
- Three common respiratory diseases.
Answer:
- Anaerobic Respiration.
- Aerobic Respiration.
- Alveoli.
- Outer and inner pleura.
- Nose, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchi and the Lungs
- Aerobic respiration and Anaerobic respiration
- Breathing, Gaseous transport, and Cellular respiration
- Inspiration and Expiration
- Bronchitis, Asthma, and Pneumonia
Correct the following statements by changing the first/ last word only :
- BCG is a kind of vaccine used to prevent Pneumonia.
- Streptomycin is a kind of vaccine.
- Breathing is a bio-chemical process.
- The amount of oxygen in expired air is 21%.
- The front opening of the trachea is guarded by a muscular flap called diaphragm.
Answer:
- BCG is a kind of vaccine used to prevent Tuberculosis.
- Streptomycin is a kind of antibiotic.
- Respiration is a bio-chemical process.
- The amount of oxygen in expired air is 16%.
- The front opening of the trachea is guarded by a muscular flap called epiglottis.