Biology · KS3 Y8 · Human Body Systems

The breathing mechanism

The breathing mechanismFree7:34Heddy Score 3 of 7, below the standard

What you need to know

  • Breathing (the respiratory system) and cellular respiration are different: breathing brings oxygen in and removes carbon dioxide, while respiration happens in cells.
  • Cells need oxygen to release energy from glucose, and carbon dioxide is the waste gas produced.
  • Air passes through the nose, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles to the alveoli, where gas exchange happens across thin walls with a large surface area and many capillaries.
  • The rib cage protects the lungs, and the intercostal muscles and diaphragm change the size of the chest during breathing.
  • Rising carbon dioxide in the blood is detected by the brain, which speeds up breathing during exercise.

In this clip

Heddy Score3/7, Below the standard
See the seven stars
  • Trusted source · passed. The creator's own upload, live and playable here.
  • On the map · not judged yet. A teacher watched it: it mainly teaches this map topic.
  • Spec-true · not judged yet. Accurate, and right for the current UK specification.
  • Focused · passed. One idea, short enough to watch in one go.
  • Accessible · passed. Good captions, clear sound and pictures.
  • Safe for children · not judged yet. Right for 11 to 16 year olds, with no sales pitch.
  • Proven · not judged yet. Earned from our students: they learn from it, find it helpful and watch it to the end.
★ passed · ☆ pending · ✕ failed
Our students

Not enough students yet

Our own students' answers. These are what move ★7 Proven.
On YouTube

3.95M views · 43K likes · Amoeba Sisters 2.98M subscribers

As reported by YouTube on 2026-11-02. Not part of the Heddy Score.
How the Heddy Score works

Why we picked it

A friendly animated walk through the airways that keeps breathing and cell respiration clearly apart.

Amoeba Sisters on YouTubechecked 2026-10-22

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