Out of Breath
Figure 1. The human respiratory system.Copyright U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC), http://www.4girls.gov/body/body_ tool2.htm
Students learn about the parts of the human respiratory system and the gas exchange process that occurs in the lungs. They also learn about the changes in the respiratory system that occur during spaceflight, such as decreased lung capacity.
By studying the respiratory system, engineers have been able to come up with assistive technology, such as the heart-lung machine. This machine is hooked up to the blood vessels that lead to and from the heart, allowing blood to be pumped into the machine to receive oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide (such as what the lungs would normally do). The machine accomplishes this by directing the blood through a series of chambers before diverting it back into the body. This invention is a critical part of life-saving surgeries that involve organ transplants (usually the heart). Chemical engineers develop pharmaceuticals that can aid lung diseases, such as emphysema, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and asthma. Engineers are currently working on creating an implantable, artificial lung that would aid patients with serious lung disease.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify and describe the components of the respiratory system.
- Describe what happens during the inhalation and exhalation process.
- Describe how the respiratory system is affected during space flight.
- List several innovations that engineers have designed related to the respiratory system.