Question
Answer the following questions about the model of the Human Respiratory System. 1. Which organs are represented by the two balloons? lurgh 5 2. Why do we use rigid plastic straws instead of flexible tubes? 3. Explain why the whole model should be airtight. 4. Regarding the function of the thoracic cavity, what is the one thing that the model cannot do that a human thorax can do? Explain your answer. .
Ask by Hart Rojas. in South Africa
Mar 13,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
1. The two balloons represent the lungs.
2. Rigid plastic straws are used to maintain the shape of the airways, similar to the trachea and bronchi in the human body.
3. The model must be airtight to accurately demonstrate the pressure changes during breathing.
4. Unlike a human thorax, the model cannot actively contract and relax, which is essential for the breathing process.
Solution
Let's address each question step by step regarding the model of the Human Respiratory System.
1. **Which organs are represented by the two balloons?**
- The two balloons in the model typically represent the lungs. When air is blown into the balloons, they expand, simulating how the lungs inflate during inhalation.
2. **Why do we use rigid plastic straws instead of flexible tubes?**
- Rigid plastic straws are used to represent the trachea and bronchi because they maintain a consistent shape and structure, similar to how the human trachea is supported by cartilage rings. Flexible tubes would collapse under pressure, which would not accurately represent the function of the airways in the respiratory system.
3. **Explain why the whole model should be airtight.**
- The model should be airtight to accurately simulate the pressure changes that occur during breathing. An airtight system allows for the creation of negative pressure in the thoracic cavity during inhalation, which is essential for drawing air into the lungs. If the model were not airtight, air would leak, and the pressure changes would not be effectively demonstrated.
4. **Regarding the function of the thoracic cavity, what is the one thing that the model cannot do that a human thorax can do? Explain your answer.**
- The model cannot actively contract and relax like a human thorax can. In humans, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract to change the volume of the thoracic cavity, creating the necessary pressure changes for inhalation and exhalation. The model, being a static representation, cannot replicate this muscular action, which is crucial for the dynamic process of breathing.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
Like
error msg
Explain 
Simplify this solution Mind Expander
The two balloons in the model represent the lungs, which are the primary organs involved in gas exchange. When air is inhaled, the balloons expand, simulating how real lungs fill with air, facilitating the crucial process of oxygen entering the bloodstream and carbon dioxide being expelled. Using rigid plastic straws instead of flexible tubes is essential as it allows the model to accurately mimic the bronchial tubes that maintain their shape under pressure. Unlike flexible tubes, which can collapse and distort airflow, rigid straws provide a consistent structure for air to move freely, much like how the bronchi support airflow in the human body.
