The Respiratory System Challenge

Design a Model Lung

Research

You’re going to do some research! Let’s look at some information you will try to find as you research.

Not all information will be in your research article. You can get the remaining information during sharing time.

Structures• There are four

structures in the respiratory system we need to know about.

• Look for names for these structures in your research and list them on your Data Collection Sheet.

The Structures

In the lungs there are grape-like clusters.

What is the name of these clusters?

What do these clusters do?

WOW!

If all of those little clusters were flattened out and laid next to each other, how much surface area would they cover? You won’t believe this!

Another

Of course, you know that your lungs hold air. What volume of air do they hold? What volume of

air would just one lung hold?

Pause

Name these parts

Alveoli

Bronchus

Bronchioles

Trachea

Fascinating Facts! An adult’s lungs contain about 300 million alveoli.

If flattened out, the surface area would be about 70 square meters, or the size of a tennis court! This much surface area allows the lungs to absorb a large amount of oxygen.

Fascinating Fact!

Your lung capacity (or how much air your lungs can hold) depends on how old you are, how tall you are and whether you are a boy or a girl.

At age 12-15 your lungs can hold from 3 to 5 liters of air.

You breathe about 20,000 times a day!