6- exchange Flashcards
features of specialised exchange surfaces
- large surface area to volume ratio which increases the rate of exchange
- thin so short diffusion distance for rapid exchange
-selectively permeable to allow selected materials to cross - movement of external medium-diffusion gradient maintained
- movement of internal medium- diffusion gradient maintained
how do insects limit water loss
- small surface area to volume ratio where water can evaporate from
- waterproof exoskeleton
- spiracles where gases enter and water can evaporate from. Open and close to control water loss
insect tracheal system
- spiracles- round openings running along the length of the abdomen. Oxygen and CO2 enter and leave via spiracles. Trachea attach to these
- trachea- network of internal tubes that have rings within them to strengthen them and keep them open
- tracheoles- trachea branch into tracheoles which extend throughout all the tissues to deliver oxygen to respiring cells
three methods of moving gases in tracheal system
- Gas exchange by diffusion as when cells respire, they use up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, creating a concentration gradient from the tracheoles to the atmosphere
- Insect contracts and relaxes abdominal muscles to move gases
- When the insect is in flight the muscles start to respire anaerobically to produce lactate. This lowers the water potential of the cells and therefore water moves from the tracheoles into the cells by osmosis. This decreases the volume in the tracheoles and as a result, more air from the atmosphere is drawn in
Adaptions of insects for efficient diffusion
- large number of tracheoles- large surface area
- walls of tracheoles are thin and short distance between spiracles and tracheoles- short diffusion pathway
- use of oxygen and production of CO2 sets up steep diffusion gradients
Structure of gills
- four layers of gills on both sides of the head
- made up of stacks of gill filaments
- each gill filament is covered in gill lamellae, positioned at right angles to the filament
- this creates a large surface area
- when fish open their mouth water rushes in over the gills and then out through a hole in the sides of their head
Adaptations for efficient gas exchange
- large surface area to volume ratio created by many gill filaments covered in many gill lamellae
- short diffusion distance due to a capillary network in every lamellae and very thin gill lamellae
- countercurrent flow mechanism to maintain conc gradient
countercurrent flow principle
- water flows over the gills in the opposite direction to blood flow in the capillaries
- ensures that equilibrium is not reached
- ensures that a diffusion gradient is maintained across the entire width of the gill lamellae
gas exchange in stomata
- oxygen diffuses and CO2 diffuses out
- to reduce water loses by evaporation stomata close at night as photosynthesis is not occurring
Xerophytic plants
- adapted to survive in environments with limited water
- structural features to enable efficient gas exchange while also limiting water loss
adaptations of xerophytic plants
- curled leaves and hairs which trap moisture to increase local humidity. Increases water potential outside leaf so smaller water potential gradient so less water diffuses out of the leaf
- thicker cuticle to reduce evaporation
- longer root network to reach more water
structure of human gas exchange system
- lungs
-trachea- airway that is supported by rings of cartilage to prevent it collapsing. - bronchi- two divisions of the trachea each leading to one lung. Produce mucus to trap dirt and particles and have cilia to move mucus to throat
- bronchioles- series of branching subdivisions of the bronchi. Walls are muscle lined so can constrict to control air flow in and out of the alveoli
- alveoli- minute air sacs lined with epithelium. Have elastic fibres which allow the alveoli to stretch as they fill with air when breathing in. Spring back during breathing out to expel CO2 rich air
process of inspiration
- external intercostal muscles contract while internal intercostal muscles relax
- ribs are pulled upwards and outwards, increasing the volume of the thorax
- diaphragm muscles contract causing it to flatten and volume in thorax increases
- Pressure is reduced in the lungs below atmospheric pressure
- air is forced into the lungs
process of expiration
- external intercostal muscles relax and internal intercostal muscles contract
- ribs move downwards and inwards, decreasing the volume of the thorax
- diaphragm muscles relax so it is pushed up again
- pressure increased in the lungs to greater than atmospheric pressure
- air forced out lungs
equation for pulmonary ventilation
tidal volume x breathing rate
why is diffusion of gases between the blood and alveoli rapid
- red blood cells are slowed as they pass through pulmonary capillaries, allowing more time for diffusion
- red blood cells flattened against capillary wall to reduce diffusion distance
- walls of alveoli and capillary are very thin- short diffusion distance
- alveoli and capillaries have a large total surface area
- blood flow through the capillaries maintains a concentration gradient
causal relationship
evidence that one event directly influences or causes another event
correlation
when a change in one or two variables is reflected by a change in the other variable
tidal volume
volume of air that enters and leaves lungs at normal resting breath
vital capacity
max volume of air we can inhale and exhale
residual volume
volume of air left in the lungs after the strongest exhalation
digestion defintion
large biological molecules are hydrolysed into smaller molecules that can be absorbed across cell membranes
where is amylase produced
salivary glands and pancreas
role of amylase
hydrolyses polysaccharides into maltose