3.1.1: Exchange and transport Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 main reasons for the need for a specialized exchange surface ?

A
  • SA:VR
  • Single cellular vs multi cellular
  • Metabolic activity
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2
Q

How does SA : VR influence the need for specialized exchange surfaces in small organisms compared to larger organisms ?

A

They have larger SA : VR compared to larger organisms meaning they have a shorter diffusion distance from the outside to the middle of the organism.Diffusion is too slow in larger organisms

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3
Q

How does single cellular vs multicellular influence the need for specialized exchange surfaces in organisms ?

A

Single cellular organisms have a smaller diffusion pathway ( e.g. distance between supply of O2 and cells which require O2 are small enough for simple diffusion across surface/membrane to occur)so don’t need specialized exchange surface

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4
Q

How does metabolic activity influence the need for specialized exchange surfaces in organisms ?

A

Metabolic activity is higher in larger organisms meaning O2 demands and CO2 production is higher so adaptations are needed to increase efficiency of exchange across surface

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5
Q

What are the 3 features of an efficient exchange surface ?

A
  • Increases SA
  • Short diffusion pathway/thin single layer of cells
  • Good blood supply / ventilation to maintain concentration gradient
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6
Q

Give an example of increased SA as a feature of an efficient exchange surface ?

A

Projections on root hair cells or folded membranes

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7
Q

Give an example of short diffusion pathways as a feature of an efficient exchange surface ?

A

Alveoli walls are 1 cell thick of squamous epithelial cells

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8
Q

Give an example of ventilation/ good blood supply as a feature of an efficient exchange surface ?

A
  • Alveolus
  • Gills with countercurrent mechanism
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9
Q

Give the journey of passage of air to the lungs in order

A
  • Nose
  • Pharynx
  • Larynx
  • Trachea
  • Bronchi
  • Bronchioles
  • Alveoli
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10
Q

What is the trachea and what is it’s function ?

A

C shaped rings of cartilage for support and to prevent collapse of the airways

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11
Q

What are the components of the trachea ?

A
  • Ciliated epithelium
  • Goblet cells
  • Smooth muscle within walls to contract + constrict lumen to reduce airflow to lungs if harmful substance is detected
  • Elastic fibres within tracheal walls to allow the stretch and recoil of lumen
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12
Q

What are bronchi and bronchioles and what are their function ?

A
  • Where the trachea splits into 2 tubes which connect to right and left lung = bronchi
  • Where bronchi splits into many smaller tubes to create a network = bronchioles
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13
Q

What are the components of bronchi and bronchioles ?

A
  • Cartilage for structural support to keep the tubes open
  • Ciliated epithelium
  • Smooth muscle
  • Elastic fibres
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14
Q

What is the function of the alveoli ?

A

Site of gas exchange of oxygen from lungs into blood in capillaries and CO2 from blood in capillaries into the alveoli

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15
Q

What are the components of alveoli ?

A
  • Elastic fibres in alveoli walls to stretch and recoil during inhalation and recoil during exhalation to prevent bursting
  • Squamous epithelium
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16
Q

What are the key features of alveoli that make it an efficient gas exchange surface ?

A
  • Large SA due to the many alveoli
  • Short diffusion distance as alveoli walls are 1 cell thick of squamous epithelium cells
  • Maintains a concentration gradient as each alveolus is surrounded by a network of capillaries to remove exchanged gasses
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17
Q

How is the structure of the alveoli maintained ?

A

Lung surfactant

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18
Q

What is lung surfactant ?

A

A phospholipid that coats the lungs surface enabling the alveoli to remain inflated and not collapse

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19
Q

What is the nitrogen composition of the nitrogen we breathe in compared to what we breathe out ?

A

78% in and 78% out as it is inert so not used in body

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20
Q

Define vital capacity

A

The maximum volume of air that can be inhaled and exhaled in one breath

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21
Q

Define tidal volume

A

The volume of air moved in and out of lungs during steady breathing

22
Q

Define residual volume

A

Volume of air constantly in lungs as trachea is always held open by cartilage

23
Q

Define breathing rate

A

Number of breaths taken per minute

24
Q

What is the relationship between oxygen uptake and ventilation rate

A

Increases when ventilation rate increases

25
Q

How is ventilation rate calculated ?

A

Breathing rate x tidal volume

26
Q

Why is air moved in and out of the lungs ?

A

Due to pressure changes in the thorax

27
Q

Define ventilation

A

The movement of air

28
Q

What is the diaphragm ?

A

A broad domed sheet of muscle which forms the floor of the thorax

29
Q

Where are the intercostal muscles found ?

A

Between the ribs

30
Q

What is the function of the intercostal muscles ?

A

Change the volume of the thorax

31
Q

What is the function of the rib cage ?

A

Protects organs in the chest

32
Q

Describe the process of inspiration

A
  • Diaphragm contracts, flattens and lowers
  • External intercostal muscles contract and internal relax moving rib cage up and out
  • Volume of thorax increases
  • Pressure of thorax decreases
  • Pressure inside lungs is lower than atmosphere so air is drawn into the lungs to equilise pressure
33
Q

Describe the process of exhalation

A
  • Diaphragm relaxes and domes and moves upwards
  • External intercostal muscles relax and internal contract moving rib-cage down and in
  • Volume of thorax decreases
  • Pressure of thorax increases
  • Pressure inside lungs is higher than atmosphere so air is pushed out of the lungs to equilise pressure
34
Q

How does a spirometer graph work ?

A

Each time you breathe out the pen goes up and each time you breathe in the pen goes down

35
Q

Why does the spirometer trace go down over time ?

A

It works in a close system so as soda lime absorbs the CO2 breathed out the volume of air inside the tank will decrease over time

36
Q

Which substance is used to absorb CO2 in a spirometer ?

A

Soda lime

37
Q

Why is a mechanism of ventilation need ed for gas exchange in bony fish ?

A

There is less O2 in water than in the atmosphere so it is difficult to maintain a concentration gradient

38
Q

Give the mechanism of ventilation in bony fish

A
  • Mouth opens
  • Buccal cavity floor lowers which increases the volume and decreases pressure so water flows into buccal cavity
  • Simultaneously the operculum valve shuts
  • Operculum cavity expands which increases the volume and decreases pressure
  • Fish raises floor of buccal cavity forcing water from cavity over gills within operculum cavity
  • Fish closes mouth, opens operculum, increasing pressure in operculum cavity which forces water over the gills and out the side of the fish’ head
39
Q

What are the 3 features of gas exchange in bony fish ?

A
  • Operculum
  • Gill filaments
  • Lamellae
39
Q

What is the function of the operculum in bony fish ?

A

Protects gill cavity and maintains a flow of water over the gills

40
Q

What is the function of gill filaments and lamellae in bony fish ?

A

-Filaments occur in large stacks and many filaments and lamellae are stacked at right angles to create a large SA
- Thin and contain capillary networks for short diffusion distance
- Countercurrrent mechanism maintains concentration gradient for exchange

41
Q

Describe the countercurrent mechanism in bony fish ?

A

Water flows over gill lamellae in the opposite direction to the flow of blood in the capillaries

42
Q

What is the function of the countercurrent mechanism in bony fish ?

A

Ensures a diffusion gradient is maintained across the entire gill lamellae length so equilibrium is never reached

43
Q

What system is the mechanism for ventilation and gas exchange in insects ?

A

Tracheal system

44
Q

What makes up the tracheal system in insects ?

A

Spiracles and trachea

45
Q

Why is a mechanism needed for gas exchange in insects ?

A
  • Tough exoskeleton means that gas exchange cannot take place
  • No blood pigment to carry oxygen so system has to deliver O2 directly to cells
46
Q

How are tracheoles held open for gas exchange ?

A

Chitin

47
Q

How is the mechanism for gas exchange efficient ?

A
  • Large SA
  • Short diffusion distance
  • Maintained concentration gradient
48
Q

How does the tracheal system have a large SA ?

A

Many branching tracheoles

49
Q

How does the tracheal system have a short diffusion distance ?

A

Many branching tracheoles that reach muscle and are thin walled

50
Q

How does the tracheal system maintain a concentration gradient ?

A

When in flight their muscle cells start aerobically respiring which produces lactase. Water potential is lowered so water moves from tracheal fluid in tracheoles into cells via osmosis.Decrease in volume in tracheoles , increases pressure which causes air from the atmosphere to move in.

51
Q

Describe the process of gas exchange in insects

A
  • Air enters system via pores called spiracles
  • Air is transported into body via series of tubes called trachea
  • These divide into smaller tubes called tracheoles which are filled with tracheal fluid
  • The ends of tracheoles open and connect to cells and muscles
  • Insects contract and relax abdominal muscles to move gasses in and out of spiracles to the trachea