3.1.1 - Exchange Surfaces Flashcards
The need for specialised exchange surfaces ( Multicellular organisms)
- Low SA:V ratio - Large diffusion distance
- High metabolic activity - High oxygen demand
- Therefore specialised exchange surface is need to increase diffusion and meet oxygen demands
Why do unicellular organisms not need exchange surfaces?
- Metabolic activity low, so relatively low oxygen needed and carbon dioxide produced
- Large SA:V ratio, so small diffusion distance
- Therefore diffusion alone is sufficient to meet the demands.
Features of specialised exchange surfaces
- Increased surface area : Provides the area needed for exchange. Overcomes the limitation of the small SA:V ratio of larger organisms.
- Thin layers : This means the distance the substances have to diffuse is short
- Good blood supply : The steeper the concentration gradient, the faster diffusion takes place
- Ventilation: Maintains concentration gradient
Surface area , volume equations
Ratio = Surface area / Volume - Cuboids : V = l x W x h SA = (4 x l x h) + (2 x h x w) - Cylinder : V =Pi x r^2 x h SA = (2 x Pi x r x h) + 2 x Pi x r^2 - Sphere : V = 4/3 x Pi x r^3 SA = 4 x Pi x r^2
Ficks Law
Rate of diffusion = SA x Concentration difference / Thickness of membrane
- SA & cd proportional to rate of diffusion
- Thickness of membrane inversely proportional to rate of diffusion
Why do gas exchange surfaces need to be moist?
So that oxygen and carbon dioxide can dissolve in it and easily diffuse.
Nasal cavity
- Large SA with rich blood supply which warms the air
- Hairy lining which secretes mucus to trap dust and bacteria.
- Moist surfaces to increase humidity of incoming air to prevent water loss at alveoli
Trachea
- Carries humid air down to the lungs
- Itis supported by a layer of cartilage that holds the trachea open and prevents it from collapsing.
- The rings are incomplete to allow it to bend when food is swallowed down the oesophagus.
- Ciliated epithelium
- Goblet cells
- Smooth muscle and elastic fibres
Bronchus
- Bronchus are extensions of the trachea that split into two for the left and right lung
- Ciliated epithelium
- Goblet cells
- Smooth muscle and elastic fibres
Bronchioles
- Bronchus divide to form bronchioles
- No cartilage , but do have smooth muscle, this can contract to cause them to constrict.
- Ciliated epithelium
- Elastic fibres
- Goblet cells
Alveoli
- Little air sacs, this is where most of the gas exchange occurs
- They are made up of a thin layer of flattened epithelial cells, as well as some collagen and elastic fibres
- The elastic fibres causes recoil which helps move air out of the alveoli
- Surfactant - Holds alveoli open
Goblet cells
- Goblet cells secrete mucus
- This traps dirt and microorganisms
Ciliated epithelium
- Hair- like structure, called cilia move the mucus away from the lungs, so that it can be swallowed
Cartilage
- Holds the trachea open and prevents it from collapsing
- Provides strength
Smooth muscle
- Allows the airway to constrict
- Control flow of air
Squamous epithelium
Provide thin diffusion distance
Elastic fibres
Allow them to expand and contract
Inhalation
- Diaphragm contracts and flattens
- The external intercostal muscles contract
- The ribs move upwards and outwards
- The volume of the thorax increases
- The pressure of the thorax decreases
- It is now lower than the pressure of the atmospheric air
- Air is drawn in to equalise the pressure inside and outside
Exhalation
- The diaphragm relaxes, so it moves up to its resting domed shape
- The external intercostal muscles relax
- Ribs move down and inwards
- The volume of the thorax decreases
- The pressure inside the thorax increases.
- The pressure inside the thorax is greater than the pressure of the atmospheric air
- Air moves out of the lungs, to equalise the pressure inside and outside.
Peak flow meter
- Measures the rate at which air can be expelled from the lungs
- Blow into it the scale moves to show rate
Spirometer
- The patient is asked to take the deepest breath they can, and then exhale into the sensor as hard as possible, at least 6 seconds.
- Sometimes directly followed by a rapid inhalation (inspiration), in particular when assessing possible upper airway obstruction.
- Testing can be preceded by a period of quiet breathing in and out from the sensor (tidal volume), or the rapid breath in (forced inspiratory part) will come before the forced exhalation.
Tidal volume
Volume of air that moves in or out of the lungs with each resting breath
Vital capacity
Volume of air that can be breathed in when the strongest possible exhalation is followed by the deepest possible intake of breath
Inspiration reserve volume
Maximum volume of air you can breathe in over and above a normal inhalation