Adaptions for Gas exchange Flashcards
What happens when a cell increases in size?
The diffusion pathway gets longer and so diffusion from outer the cell surface to the centre of the cell is slower
what happens when a cell becomes very large?
diffusion will not meet the cells needs
Why do cells need diffusion?
-to supply nutrients
-To remove waste
What are are examples of nutrients a cell needs?
Oxygen and glucose
what are examples of waste that must be removed via diffusion?
-carbon dioxide
-Urea from the liver cells
What is gas exchange?
process by which oxygen reaches cells and carbon dioxide is removed from them
What is ventilation?
-process of moving the respiratory medium over the respiratory surface to maintain a concentration gradient
what are respiratory mediums?
Air or Water
What is respiration?
Series of chemical reactions that results in the release of energy in the form of ATP
what must happen for an organism to become larger?
A number of cells must come together (it becomes multicellular)
which organism has the largest surface area:ratio volume?
Amoeba
what happens as the size of an animal increases?
The surface area to ratio volume decreases
what does unicellular mean?
Single celled
what is an example of a unicellular organism?
Amoeba
what type of cell is amoeba?
Aquatic
what are the features of a unicellular organ?
-Extremely large surface: volume ratio
-Diffusion is sufficient to the oxygen requirements of the organism
-Specialised gas exchange organs are not required
-Permeable membrane allows diffusion of gases
Gas exchange occurs across the whole surf
What is the size of amoeba?
100 µm
what are examples of simple multicellular organisms?
-Flatworm
-Earthworm
What type of simple multicellular organism is a flatworm?
aquatic
Why is there no specialised gas exchange organs in a flatworm? (simple multicellular organism)
-have evolved a flattened shaped overcome the problem of an increase in size- increases their SA:V, so cell no in the body is far from the surface (short diffusion pathway)
how do flatworms exchange gases? (simple multicellular organism)
-Exchange gases directly with environment via diffusion; diffusion across the permeable membrane is sufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of the organism
what type of simple multicellular organism is an earthworm?
Terrestrial
What shape has an earthworm developed and what is it restricted to?
Developed a tubular shaped and restricted to damp environments
why do earthworms secrete mucus?
To keep the cells of the body surface moist (allows gases to dissolve in diffuse)
What does the elongated shape of an earthworm provide?
provide the large surface area to volume ratio, compared with a compact organism (e.g. spherical shape) volume
How do earthworms exchange gases?
-The exchange gases directly with the environment by diffusion across the moist surface
What do blood vessels being close to the body surface in earthworm mean?
gases can diffuse in/out the blood, and then across the cells covering the body surface
What does blood circulating in the vessels of an earthworm do?
This maintains the concentration gradient for diffusion of oxygen into the cells and carbon dioxide out
what does the blood of an earthworm contain?
The respiratory pigment haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body cells
What does an amoeba not contain?
blood or blood vessels because it’s a cell
why do multicellular organisms require specialised gas exchange surface?
-As size of organism increases, SA:V ratio decreases
-Diffusion across body=insufficient to provide enough O2 for organism to survive
-Larger organisms- more metabolically active- higher O2 demand so larger multicellular organisms need a specialised gas exchange surface between organisms and its external environment
-Provide a large no. of gas exchange surfaces to increase SA for diffusion
-Also need a method of circulation to distribute the gases around the body
-many animals have a toughened body surface so have internal gas exchange surfaces e.g. lungs
why have many animals and plants evolved exchange surfaces?
so that diffusion of gases into an out of cells can take place rapidly and efficiently
examples of gas exchange surfaces
-Gill lamellae in fish
-Alveoli in the lungs of mammal
-End of tracheoles of insects
what must all respiratory surfaces be in order to achieve the maximum rate of diffusion?
-Thin (shorter diffusion pathway)
-Moist (gases dissolve and diffuse)
-Large SA- relatively greater area for diffusion of gases
-Permeable to gases
what additional feature increases the efficiency of gas exchange and organisms which possess a circulatory system?
-extensive blood supply and blood circulates to maintain a diffusion gradient
why do insects need a good supply of oxygen for respiration?
Insects fly, which requires a lot of energy
Why is the gas chain system different from other land animals in an insect?
Because they do not use blood to transport gases
where does air diffuse into an insect?
Through paired holes called spiracles running along each side of the body (segments of the thorax and abdomen)
what do the spiracles in an insect lead to?
-System of branched Chitin lined air tubes called tracheae
why is it important that spiracles can open and close like valves?
-they open to allow gas to enter and close to reduce water loss.