Year 7 Biology: Breathing

What is Breathing?

Breathing is the process we use to take in air and get rid of carbon dioxide. It is essential for our survival. When we breathe in, our body gets oxygen, which it needs to create energy. When we breathe out, we release carbon dioxide, which is a waste product from our body.

How Does Breathing Work?

Breathing involves two main actions:

1. Inhaling (Breathing In): This is when we take air into our lungs. Our diaphragm (a muscle under the lungs) moves down, creating space for the lungs to expand, pulling air in.
2. Exhaling (Breathing Out): This is when we push air out of our lungs. The diaphragm moves up, forcing the air out of the lungs.

The Importance of Oxygen

Oxygen is vital for our bodies. We use it to turn food into energy in a process called cellular respiration. Without oxygen, our cells cannot function properly.

Key Parts of the Breathing System

1. Nose/Mouth: Where air enters the body.
2. Trachea (Windpipe): A tube that carries air to the lungs.
3. Lungs: Organs where gas exchange happens.
4. Diaphragm: A muscle that helps us breathe in and out.

Tips and Tricks to Remember Breathing

• Visualise: Picture your diaphragm moving up and down like a balloon filling and emptying with air.
• Practice: Try taking deep breaths and feel your stomach rise and fall.
• Remember the Cycle: Inhale → Oxygen goes to blood → Exhale → Carbon dioxide leaves body.

Questions About Breathing

Easy Level Questions

1. What do we breathe in?
2. What do we breathe out?
3. Name one part of the breathing system.
4. What is the name of the muscle that helps us breathe?
5. Where does gas exchange happen?
6. Why do we need oxygen?
7. What is the trachea?
8. What happens when we inhale?
9. What happens when we exhale?
10. Can we breathe through our mouth?
11. What is carbon dioxide?
12. What do our lungs look like?
13. How does the diaphragm move when we breathe in?
14. Name a place where we can see a diagram of the breathing system.
15. What happens to air when it enters our lungs?
16. Why is breathing important for our cells?
17. What does the diaphragm look like?
18. How many lungs do we have?
19. What do we call the process of breathing in and out?
20. Can we hold our breath? What happens?

Medium Level Questions

1. Describe how the diaphragm helps us breathe.
2. Explain the process of gas exchange in the lungs.
3. What happens to our body when we exercise and breathe faster?
4. How does cold weather affect our breathing?
5. Why is it important to breathe through our nose?
6. What are the effects of not getting enough oxygen?
7. Name two activities that can affect your breathing rate.
8. How does smoking affect the breathing system?
9. What role does the trachea play in breathing?
10. How do we use our lungs when we speak?
11. What is asthma, and how does it affect breathing?
12. Why do we sometimes yawn?
13. What can happen if you breathe in something harmful?
14. How does breathing help to regulate body temperature?
15. What are the small air sacs in the lungs called?
16. Why do you feel out of breath after running?
17. How can breathing deeply help you relax?
18. What is the average number of breaths a person takes per minute?
19. How do animals breathe differently from humans?
20. What is the purpose of the cilia in the respiratory system?

Hard Level Questions

1. Explain the role of alveoli in the process of breathing.
2. How does the body respond to high altitudes in terms of breathing?
3. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
4. Discuss how the structure of the lungs aids in gas exchange.
5. Compare the breathing rates of different animals and what they indicate about their activity levels.
6. What adaptations do animals have for breathing in water?
7. How does pollution affect our breathing system?
8. Explain how breathing is controlled by the brain.
9. What is the significance of hemoglobin in relation to breathing?
10. How can you measure your breathing rate?
11. What happens to the diaphragm during heavy exercise?
12. Discuss the effects of age on breathing capacity.
13. How does the respiratory system work with the circulatory system?
14. What is the role of mucus in the respiratory system?
15. Explain the process of inhalation in detail.
16. How can breathing techniques improve athletic performance?
17. Describe how a cold can affect your breathing.
18. What is the impact of environmental factors on lung health?
19. Discuss how certain diseases can affect the diaphragm’s function.
20. What role does the epiglottis play in the respiratory system?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. Oxygen
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Lungs
4. Diaphragm
5. Lungs
6. For energy
7. The windpipe
8. Lungs expand
9. Lungs contract
10. Yes
11. A waste gas
12. They are spongy and pink
13. It moves down
14. In textbooks
15. It mixes with blood
16. To create energy
17. It’s a dome shape
18. Two
19. Breathing
20. Yes, you might feel dizzy.

Medium Level Answers

1. It moves down to let air in.
2. Oxygen enters the blood, and carbon dioxide leaves.
3. We take more breaths to get more oxygen.
4. It can make breathing feel harder.
5. It filters and warms the air.
6. You can feel tired or dizzy.
7. Running and swimming.
8. It can damage the lungs.
9. It carries air to the lungs.
10. We use air from the lungs to make sound.
11. It makes breathing difficult.
12. To increase oxygen.
13. It can damage the lungs.
14. It helps cool the body.
15. Alveoli
16. Your muscles use more oxygen.
17. It calms your mind.
18. About 12-20 breaths.
19. They have gills.
20. They trap dust and germs.

Hard Level Answers

1. Alveoli are tiny air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.
2. Our bodies breathe faster to get more oxygen.
3. Aerobic uses oxygen; anaerobic doesn’t.
4. The alveoli increase surface area for gas exchange.
5. Fast animals breathe faster to keep up energy.
6. Fish have gills to extract oxygen from water.
7. It can cause breathing issues and diseases.
8. The brain senses carbon dioxide levels and adjusts breathing.
9. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood.
10. Count how many breaths in a minute.
11. It contracts more to draw in air.
12. Breathing capacity can decrease as we age.
13. The lungs deliver oxygen to the blood.
14. It traps dirt and germs.
15. Air is pulled in as the diaphragm lowers.
16. It helps to increase lung capacity.
17. It can make it feel congested.
18. Pollution can cause lung diseases.
19. It can weaken the muscle, making breathing harder.
20. It prevents food from entering the lungs.

This explanation and set of questions should help you understand the concept of breathing better! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!