6: Exchange Flashcards
Name some examples of exchange
Oxygen - aerobic respiration
Nutrients
Waste products - carbon dioxide and urea
Heat
What is SA:V?
Surface area to Volume ratio
SA : V
Volume value is always equals to 1
How do smaller to larger animals SA:V ratio compare?
Smaller animals have a higher SA:V
Larger animals have a smaller SA:V
How do unicellular cells exchange?
Large SA:V ratio
Adv. can happen more directly & easily
Simple diffusion can occur through one membrane
Loses more energy to heat
What are the features of an exchange surface?
High SA:V ratio - increases rate of collisions with exchange surface
Thin layer - short diffusion pathway length
Movement of external & internal environment - maintains a steep conc. gradient
Selectively permeable membrane
Why is diffusion too slow in multi-cellular organisms?
Some cells are deep within the body - long diffusion pathway
Low SA:V
What does heat loss depend on?
Surface area
High SA:V means high rate of heat loss
Causes high metabolic rate & exchange rate
What is the diffusion equation?
Diffusion α (SA x difference in concentration)/ length of diffusion path
α = related to
How does gas get to the body cells in insects?
Spiracles -> Trachea -> Tracheoles -> Muscle fibre
What is the trachea?
Internal network of air-filled pipes in insects
What are tracheoles?
Small dead-end tubes
Fluid filled at the ends next to muscle fibre
Extend throughout all the body tissues
How does a diffusion gradient affect in the tracheal system?
Muscle fibre cells use O2 for aerobic respiration
Creates a conc. gradient for O2 to diffuse to cells
CO2 produced creates a conc. gradient to cause it to diffuse to the atmosphere
Is diffusion faster in gas or liquid?
Gas - less molecules to hit therefore moves faster
How is mass transport done in insects?
Contractions of muscles can squeeze the trachea
Enables mass movement of air
This is also the movement of the external environment
Why are the ends of the tracheoles filled with water in insects?
Anaerobic respiration produces lactate
Lactate is soluble and lowers water potential in cells
Water moves into cells from tracheoles by osmosis
Vol. of water decreases in tracheoles and draws air further into them
Diffusion is in gas phase rather than liquid
Increases rate at which air moves but leads to greater water loss
What is a spiracle?
Tiny pores on the body surface
Can be opened or closed by valves
When open water can evaporate but gas exchange can occur
What is the limitation of the tracheal system?
Relies on diffusion
Requires short pathway
Therefore requires small size of insects
Why are hairs found in the spiracle?
Traps moist air & humidity
Lowering concentration gradient so water cannot diffuse out as easily
Where is a gill found?
Behind the head of the fish
What are the gill filaments?
Thin plates which have a large SA for exchange of gases
Stacked in a pile
What is a gill lamellae?
Gill filaments covered with them, at right angles
Contain lots of blood capillaries
Thin surface later of cells to speed up diffusion
What is the counter-current flow system?
Blood flows through lamellae in one direction
Water flows over them in the opposite direction
Maintains a large conc. gradient
Why does counter-current flow system work?
Larger conc. of oxygen in water than blood
Maintains conc. gradient as water moves over lamellae
What is the main surface of gas exchange in plants?
Mesophyll cells
They have a large SA
What are the pores in the plant called?
Stomata
When do the stomata open and close?
Open in the day - when photosynthesis occurs
Closed at night
Where are the stomata found?
Bottom side of the plant - in the shade so less evaporation
Guard cells turgid when H2O available - opens stoma
Flaccid when less H2O available - closes stoma
Name some adaptations of gas exchange in plants?
No cells far from stoma - short diffusion pathway
Air spaces in mesophyll - gases can easily come in contact with cells
Large SA of mesophyll cells - rapid diffusion
How are insects adapted to reduce water loss?
Small SA:V ratio - minimise area over which water is lost
Waterproof covering - waterproof cuticle prevents water loss
Spircales - valve can be closed to reduce water loss
What is a xerophyte?
Plants specifically adapted in warm, dry or windy habitats, where water loss is a problem
Why are stomata sunken in pits and hairy leaves?
Traps moist air - high water potential therefore reduces conc. gradient
Reduces the amount of water diffusing out of leaf and evaporating away
Why are leaves rolled up in xerophytes?
Protects them from the wind
Traps moist air - high water potential therefore reduces conc. gradient
Why is there a thick cuticle in xerophytes?
Waterproof barrier - prevents the water loss from this route
Why is there a reduced SA:V ratio in xerophytes?
Reduces the surface area which allows water to leave the plant
Why is gas exchange required in humans?
Oxygen needed for aerobic respiration to release ATP
Carbon dioxide is produced in respiration and if builds up is harmful in the body
Why is a large amount of air required to be moved in or out of the human body?
Large organisms with large volume of living cells
Maintain a high body temp. which is related to high metabolic and respiratory rates
Why are the lungs located in the body?
Air is not dense enough to support and protect delicate structures
Body would lose a great deal of water
What is the route of the air going into the body?
Mouth/nostril Pharynx Epiglottis Larynx Trachea Bronchi Bronchioles Alveoli
What is the pharynx?
Part of the throat that air and food goes through
What is the epiglottis?
Flap which prevents the food from entering the trachea