The Respiratory System
How does it breathe?
When the Northern Flying Squirrel breathes, air goes down its windpipe (trachea). The trachea then branches
off to either lung where each of these branches (bronchi) then branch off again into secondary bronchi, again into tertiary bronchi and once more into the smallest of these branches, the bronchioles. These bronchioles supply the alvelor sacs (see diagram) with oxygen, and in turn the alveoli themselves. Each of these aveoli is surrounded by a capillary bed, which could be described like being a network of individual, tiny blood vessels. The function of this is so that the oxygen molecules can pass through the walls of the aveoli to the blood vessels and into the bloodstream due to the fact that the walls containing both are very thin, one cell thick to
be exact. Using this system, carbon dioxide molecules can also pass from the bloodstream, back into the
aveoli and in turn exhaled into the surrounding environments of the Northern Flying Squirrel.
What are the major organs?
The major organs of the Northern Flying Squirrel's respiratory system are as following...
Nose
The nose of a Northern Flying Squirrel has two external nostrils with a lining of hair being present in the inner lining of the nose thus preventing the entry of harmful dust particles and ensuring the smooth flow of oxygen in and out of the lungs.
Pharynx
The Pharynx is a wide cavity accessed via. either the nasal cavity or the mouth, and is a common pathway for both food and air. The main role that the pharynx plays in the respiratory system is ensuring that food does not enter the windpipe by mistake, having many safeguards and foolproofs to prevent this from happening.
Larynx
The Larynx, or the voice box is the part which rises and falls when the organism swallows its food. Although not an essential part of the respiratory system, the Larynx can produce sound as air passes through and is involved in the linking of both the pharynx and trachea, which is described below.
Trachea
The trachea, or the windpipe as it has come to be known, is an important part of the respiratory system as it is the main pathway for air coming to, and carbon dioxide coming from of the lungs.
Bronchi
The trachea eventually divides into two tubes entering both lungs of the organism, called the bronchi. The bronchi then divide further into the secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi and then bronchioles as described in the above paragraphs. The bronchioles then divide into small air sacs by the name of aveoli, providing the interface for the diffusion of gases coming in and out of the bloodstream belonging to the Northern Flying Squirrel.
The Lungs
The lungs are the most important organs of the respiratory system as they are the main center of, and oversee most of the respiratory processes in the organism.
The Diaphragm
The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the chest from the stomach of the organism and is the main muscle of the respiratory system. For example, when the diaphragm contracts it allows the lungs to expand and aid with the act of inspiration, or breathing in. As a result, the Northern Flying Squirrel relies heavily on its diaphragm, and when it is impaired or damaged, it can significantly impact on the organism's ability to breath.
The major organs of the Northern Flying Squirrel's respiratory system are as following...
Nose
The nose of a Northern Flying Squirrel has two external nostrils with a lining of hair being present in the inner lining of the nose thus preventing the entry of harmful dust particles and ensuring the smooth flow of oxygen in and out of the lungs.
Pharynx
The Pharynx is a wide cavity accessed via. either the nasal cavity or the mouth, and is a common pathway for both food and air. The main role that the pharynx plays in the respiratory system is ensuring that food does not enter the windpipe by mistake, having many safeguards and foolproofs to prevent this from happening.
Larynx
The Larynx, or the voice box is the part which rises and falls when the organism swallows its food. Although not an essential part of the respiratory system, the Larynx can produce sound as air passes through and is involved in the linking of both the pharynx and trachea, which is described below.
Trachea
The trachea, or the windpipe as it has come to be known, is an important part of the respiratory system as it is the main pathway for air coming to, and carbon dioxide coming from of the lungs.
Bronchi
The trachea eventually divides into two tubes entering both lungs of the organism, called the bronchi. The bronchi then divide further into the secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi and then bronchioles as described in the above paragraphs. The bronchioles then divide into small air sacs by the name of aveoli, providing the interface for the diffusion of gases coming in and out of the bloodstream belonging to the Northern Flying Squirrel.
The Lungs
The lungs are the most important organs of the respiratory system as they are the main center of, and oversee most of the respiratory processes in the organism.
The Diaphragm
The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the chest from the stomach of the organism and is the main muscle of the respiratory system. For example, when the diaphragm contracts it allows the lungs to expand and aid with the act of inspiration, or breathing in. As a result, the Northern Flying Squirrel relies heavily on its diaphragm, and when it is impaired or damaged, it can significantly impact on the organism's ability to breath.
Cellular Respiration
Cellular Respiration is the process that occurs within the cells of the organism, particularly the mitochondria, of which the nutrients absorbed (biochemical energy) is converted into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which fuels the actions of the cells and therefore produce the energy that all life needs to perform everyday activities such as, for example, movement. The chemical equation for cellular respiration in animals such
Cellular Respiration is the process that occurs within the cells of the organism, particularly the mitochondria, of which the nutrients absorbed (biochemical energy) is converted into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which fuels the actions of the cells and therefore produce the energy that all life needs to perform everyday activities such as, for example, movement. The chemical equation for cellular respiration in animals such
as the Northern Flying Squirrel is Glucose (Sugar) + Oxygen (O2) = Carbon Dioxide (CO2) + Water (H2O) + ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
Why does cellular respiration occur?
The Northern Flying Squirrel requires oxygen so that the process of cellular respiration (see above) can occur and thus create ATP (also described above), which could be described as the energy currency of the cells belonging to the corresponding organism. This is then used to fuel and sustain the lives of the cells themselves, who then produce the energy needed for use by the Northern Flying Squirrel to perform activities on a daily basis, such as gliding and running.
The Northern Flying Squirrel requires oxygen so that the process of cellular respiration (see above) can occur and thus create ATP (also described above), which could be described as the energy currency of the cells belonging to the corresponding organism. This is then used to fuel and sustain the lives of the cells themselves, who then produce the energy needed for use by the Northern Flying Squirrel to perform activities on a daily basis, such as gliding and running.
What factors would change the rate of respiration?
The more common factors that would change the rate of respiration in the Northern Flying Squirrel would be things
such as aerobic exercise (any form of exercise that causes the organism to breath more e.g. running) and diseases
that affect the said aspect of the Northern Flying Squirrel. Aerobic exercise affects the rate of breathing due to the
fact that the organism's body needs more energy to meet demand, consequently making it so the cells need more nutrients and thus making the Northern Flying Squirrel respire faster. Many diseases such as emphysema,
bronchitis and asthma make the gas exchange in the organism's lungs very difficult, with breathing becoming a
laboured task that could result in asphyxiation if not dealt with.
The more common factors that would change the rate of respiration in the Northern Flying Squirrel would be things
such as aerobic exercise (any form of exercise that causes the organism to breath more e.g. running) and diseases
that affect the said aspect of the Northern Flying Squirrel. Aerobic exercise affects the rate of breathing due to the
fact that the organism's body needs more energy to meet demand, consequently making it so the cells need more nutrients and thus making the Northern Flying Squirrel respire faster. Many diseases such as emphysema,
bronchitis and asthma make the gas exchange in the organism's lungs very difficult, with breathing becoming a
laboured task that could result in asphyxiation if not dealt with.