7 - Exchange Surfaces and Breathing Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 features of efficient exchange surfaces?

A

-Increased surface areaa
-Thin layers
-Good blood supply
-Ventilation to maintain a diffusion gradient

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2
Q

Why does an increased surface area make an exchange surface efficient?

A

Provides the area needed for exchange overcomes limitations of low SA:V

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3
Q

Why do thin layers make an exchange surface efficient?

A

Distance that substances have to diffuse are short. Making the process faster and more efficient

eg. villi of small intestine, alveoli

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4
Q

Why does a good blood supply make an exchange surface efficient?

A

The steeper the concentration gradient the faster diffusion takes place. Good bloody supply ensures substances are constantly delivered and removed. This maintains a steep concentration gradient

eg. alveoli in lungs, gills of fish, villi of small intestine

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5
Q

Why does ventilation make an exchange surface efficient?

A

Helps maintain concentration gradients and make the process more efficient

eg. alveoli and gills of fish

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6
Q

What are the main reasons why diffusion alone is enough to supply the needs of single felled organisms?

A

-the metabolic activity of a single-celled organism is low, so oxygen demands and CO2 production is relatively low
-the SA:V ratio is large

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7
Q

What happens as an organisms gets larger?

A

-higher metabolic rate
-oxygen demands are higher
-distance between cells where the oxygen is needed is larger
-SA:V ratio decreases

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8
Q

What is the equation to calculate the circumference of a circle?

A

2πr

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9
Q

What is the equation to calculate the area of a circle?

A

πr^2

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10
Q

What is the equation to calculate the surface area of a cuboid?

A

2(bh + bl + hl)

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11
Q

What is the equation to calculate the volume of a cuboid?

A

hbl

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12
Q

What is ventilation?

A

Rhythmic physical process of moving atmospheric air into and out of the lungs in order to supply O2 and remove CO2

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13
Q

What are the key structures involved in the human gaseous exchange system?

A

Nasal cavity
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveoli

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14
Q

Where does gas exchange occur in humans? What gases exchange?

A

Alveoli
-CO2 diffuses from the blood into the alveoli
-O2 diffuses from alveoli into the blood

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15
Q

In what structures of the human gas exchange system is cartilage found?

A

Trachea
Bronchi
Larger bronchioles (not smaller)

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16
Q

In what structures of the human gas exchange system is smooth muscle found?

A

Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles

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17
Q

In what structures of the human gas exchange system are elastic fibres found?

A

Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveoli

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18
Q

In what structures of the human gas exchange system are goblet cells found?

A

Trachea
Bronchi
Larger Bronchioles

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19
Q

In what structure of the human gas exchange system is epithelium cells found?

A

Trachea - ciliated
Bronchi - ciliated
Bronchioles - ciliated
Alveoli - squamous

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20
Q

What are the important features of the nasal cavity?

A

-large SA with a good blood supply which warms the air to body temperature
-hairy lining which secretes muscular to trap dust and bacteria, protecting delicate lung tissue from irritation and infection
-moist surface which increases humidity of incoming air, reducing evaporation from the exchange surfaces

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21
Q

What is the pathway of air from the mouth to the alveoli?

A

-air flows in though the mouth and nose
-down the trachea
-spilts into two bronchi
-branch off into smaller bronchioles
-bronchioles end in small sacs called alveoli
-surrounded by capillaries where gas exchange takes place

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22
Q

What is pleural fluid?

A

-the fluid that is inside the pleural cavity which is a membrane that surrounds each lung
-lubricates the lungs and helps adhere to the walls of the thoracic cavity by water cohesion
-allows the lungs to expand with the chest during inhalation

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23
Q

What are some of the specialised cells and tissues which help the lungs to carry out their function?

A

Smooth muscle
Cartilage
Goblet cells
Ciliated epithelium cells
Elastin
Squamous epithelium cells
Surfactant

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24
Q

How is the trachea adapted for its function?

A
  • incomplete rings of strong flexible cartilage which holds airway open and stopes trachea from collapsing
    -lined with ciliated epithelium and goblet cells
    -goblet cells secret mucus onto the lining of trachea, traps dust and microorganisms which are breathed into the lungs
    -ciliated epithelium waft and beat regularly to move mucus towards mouth, away from the lungs
    -smooth muscle which can contract if harmful substances are detected to construct the airways, can stretch and recoil due to the elastic fibres
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25
Q

How is the bronchi adapted for its function?

A

-smaller supporting rings of cartilage
-similar in structure to trachea

26
Q

How are the bronchioles adapted for its function?

A

-Walls contain smooth muscle which can contract to constrict the bronchioles and relax to dilate them, changes the amount of air reaching the lungs
-lined with thin later of flattened epithelium making some gaseous exchanged possible
-smaller bronchioles = no cartilage

27
Q

What is the function of cartilage for gas exchange in humans?

A

Provides strength to the trachea and bronchi. Holds the airway open and prevents it from collapsing when air pressure falls

28
Q

What is the function of surfactant for gas exchange in humans?

A

Phospholipid layer which maintains moisture but reduces surface tension to stop alveoli collapsing when air pressure falls

29
Q

What is the function of smooth muscle for gas exchange in humans?

A

Can contract to constrict the airways

30
Q

What is the function of goblet cells for gas exchange in humans?

A

Secrete mucus which traps particles of dust and bacteria which are breathed into the lungs

31
Q

What is the function of ciliated epithelium for gas exchange in humans?

A

Beat regularly to move mucus up the airways towards the mouth to be removed. Helps keep the airways clear and prevent infection. Contain lots of mitochondria to provide energy required to move cilia

32
Q

What is the function of elastin for gas exchange in humans?

A

Allow lung tissue to stretch when breathing in and filling up the lungs, recoil when breathing out to help force air out of the lungs. Allows alveoli to return to original shape after exhaling

33
Q

What is the function of squamous epithelium for gas exchange in humans?

A

Gives a short diffusion pathway for oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli

34
Q

What are the adaptations of the alveoli for efficient gaseous exchange?

A

-large surface area - millions of alveoli
-thin layers made of squamous epithelium which consists of flattened cells that are only one cell thick so the diffusion distance for quick gas exchange
-good blood supply. millions of capillaries surrounding them with a constant blood flow bringing CO2 and carrying away oxygen
= maintains steep concentration gradient for both CO2 and O2 between blood and alveoli, keeps o2 higher in alveoli and CO2 higher in blood
-Good ventilation, O2 is constantly replenished and CO2 is constantly removed maintaining a steep concentration gradient
-have elastic fibres allowing alveoli to stretch and recoil, stretch increases surface area and recoil helps in ventilation by forcing out air. More space for molecules to pass allowing for a high rate of diffusion
-inner surface of alveoli covered in surfactant, makes sure alveoli remain inflated by reducing cohesive action between molecules/ surface tension

35
Q

What are the 4 features of efficient exchange surfaces?

A

-Increased surface area
-Thin layers
-Good blood supply
-Ventilation to maintain a diffusion gradient

36
Q

Why does an increased surface area make an exchange surface effient?

A

Provides the area needed for exchange and overcomes the limitations of low SA:V ratio of larger organisms

eg. root hair cells, villi in animals small intestine

37
Q

Why do thin layers make an exchange surface effient?

A

The distances that substances have to diffuse across is short making it fast and efficient

eg. alveoli in lungs, villi in small intestine

38
Q

Why does a good blood supply make an exchange surface effient?

A

the greater the difference in concentration the greater the rate of diffusion. A good supply means substances are constantly being delivered and removed, maintaining the steep concentration gradient

eg. alveoli in lungs, gills of fish, villi of small intestine

39
Q

Why does ventilation make an exchange surface effient?

A

for gases ventilation helps to maintain concentration gradient and makes the process efficient

eg. alveoli and gills of fish

40
Q

What happens during inspiration?

A

-taking air in (energy-using process)
-diaphragm contracts and flattens
-external intercostal muscles contraction
-(moving) ribs up and outwards
-volume of thorax increases
-pressure decreases lower then the pressure of atmospheric air
-air is drawn in

41
Q

What happens during expiration?

A

-breathing out (passive)
-diaphragm relaxes and returns to dome shape
-external intercostal muscles relax
-ribs move down and inwards
-elastic fibres of alveoli of lungs return to normal length
-volume of thorax decreases
-pressure inside the thorax increases above atmospheric pressure
-air moves out of the lungs until pressure is equal again

42
Q

What happens if we expire forcibly?

A

-internal intercostal muscles contract
-pulling ribs down hard and fast
-abdominal muscles contract forcing diaphragm up
-pressure in lungs increases rapidly

43
Q

What is the definition of tidal volume?

A

The volume of air that moves in and out of the lungs with each breath at rest

44
Q

What is the average value of tidal volume?

A

0.5L / 500ml

45
Q

What is the definition of vital capacity?

A

The largest volume of air that can be moved in and out of the lungs in any one breath

46
Q

In what circumstances does vital capacity vary?

A

Age,Gender,Sex,Disease

47
Q

What is the average value of vital capacity?

A

male - 5L
female- 4.5L

48
Q

What is the definition of inspiratory reserve volume?

A

The maximum volume of air you can breathe in over and above the normal tidal volume when taking a deep breath

49
Q

What is the average value of inspiratory reserve volume?

A

3L

50
Q

What is the definition of expiratory reserve volume?

A

The extra amount of air you can force out of your lungs (exhale) over and above a normal tidal volume of air you breathe out

51
Q

What is the average normal volume of expiratory reserve volume?

A

1.2L

52
Q

What is the definition of residual volume?

A

The volume of air that is left in your lungs when you have exhaled as hard a possible. This cannot be measured directly

53
Q

What is the average value of residual volume?

A

1.5L

54
Q

What is dead volume?

A

Volume of air in the bronchioles, bronchi and trachea - does not take part in gas exchange

55
Q

What are the different ways of measuring volume of air in and out of the lungs?

A
  • peak flow meter
    simple device that measures the rate at which air can be expelled from the lungs
    eg. people with asthma use to monitor how well lungs working

-vitalograohs
patient breaths out quickly as they can through a mouth piece, an instrument produces a graph on the amount of air breathed out and how quickly

-spirometer
measures different aspects of lung volume, investigate breathing patterns. many different forms of

56
Q

how do you calculate ventilation rate?

A

ventilation rate = tidal volume X breathing rate

57
Q

What is the total lung capacity?

A

The same of the vital capacity and the residual volume

58
Q

How do you use a spirometer?

A
  1. subject needs to be relaxed to establish a breathing pattern
  2. a sterile mouthpiece is place onto the mouth and a nose clip is worn
  3. subject breaths normally and a spirometer trace is obtained (this is the tidal volume)
  4. after a few minutes of relaxed breathing, the subject preforms maximum expiration and then preforms a maximum inspiration before returning to a normal breathing pattern
59
Q

Why do we use a nose clip when using the spirometer?

A

To ensure all air breathed in comes from the chamber and prevents entry or exit of air through the nose

60
Q

What are the precautions that need to be taken care of when dealing with a spirometer?

A

-use medical grade O2 and ensure adequate amount of O2 is available
-ensure subject is not suffering from respiratory problems eg. asthma
-ensure equipment is sterile and disinfect mouthpiece
-maintain a constant temperature
-need a closed container

61
Q

Why does a constant temperature need to be kept when dealing with the spirometer?

A

Temperature affects volume of gases

62
Q

What is used to absorb CO2 when using a spirometer?

A

soda lime (sodium hydroxide)