Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology > Exchange > Flashcards

Exchange Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is the relationship between the size and structure of an organism and its SA:vol ratio?

A

As the size or structure of an organism increases the SA:vol ratio decreases because vol increases at much faster rate than SA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What things need to be transferred between an organism and its environment?

A

Oxygen,co2,urea,heat,waste and nutrients

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How do you calculate SA:vol ratio?

A

Assume a uniform shape calculate SA and volume then divide the surface are by the volume

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Ficks law

A

Rate of diffusion = surface area x concentration difference / distance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 6 features of a specialist gas exchange surface?

A
  1. Large SA to vol ratio increases rate of exchange
  2. Very thin so short diffusion distance
  3. Selectively permeable only allows certain materials to cross
  4. Movement of environmental medium to maintain steep diffusion gradient eg in air as fastest
  5. Moist surface
  6. Located internally to be protected
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the relationship between surface area to volume ratio and metabolic rate?

A

The higher the metabolic rate the greater the SA:vol ratio so it looses more heat so needs a higher metabolic rate for greater delivery of o2 to the tissues and cells. Generally smaller organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do single celled organisms exchange substances?

A

Have a large SA:vol ratio so oxygen is absorbed by diffusion across cell membrane the gas exchange surface making it easier to perform gas exchange

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do larger organisms have to perform gas exchange?

A

Have a transport system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How are insects adapted for efficient gas exchange?

A

Evolved an internal network of tubes called trachea supported by strengthened rings to prevent collapse. The trachea divides into smaller dead end tubes called tracheoles which extend into the body tissue of the insects. This creates a short diffusion pathway from oxygen in the air to the respiring tissues via the tracheoles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How do insects reduce water loss? When they need large sa:vol ratio for gas exchange?

A

Waterproof covering on body made up if chitin with a waterproof cuticle. Spiracles can open and close when they close it reduces water loss and also the tracheal system is internal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What three ways do respiratory gases move in and out of the tracheal system?

A
  1. Along a diffusion gradient
  2. Mass transport
  3. The ends of tracheoles are filled with water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does an insect move gas out along a diffusion gradient?

A
  1. Along a diffusion gradient when cells respire oxygen is used up so concentration at ends of tracheoles is low so O2 diffuses down trachea and tracheoles where there is a high concentration. When co2 is produced by respiration it creates a diffusion gradient in opposite direction high to low in air out of trachea. Diffusion occurs in air so much more rapid
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do insects move gas by mass transport?

A
  1. Mass transport- contraction of muscles of insects squeeze trachea allowing mass movement of air in and out sped up by abdominal pumping
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How does air move into the insect due to water at end of tracheoles?

A
  1. The ends of tracheoles are filled with water when cells respire anaerobically produces lactate lowering water potential so water moves into cells from tracheoles by osmosis decreasing volume of water in tracheoles so they can draw air further into them the final diffusion pathway is a gas as rapid but greater water evaporation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What have fish evolved for efficient gas exchange?

A

Gills located behind the head which are a specialist gas exchange surface.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are gills made up of and how does this help?

A

Made up of gill filaments stacked up in piles at right angles are gill lamellae which increase the surface area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What happens to water when it gets to the gills?

A

Forced over the gills

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are gills made up of?

A

Gill filaments in piles with gill lamellae at right angles which increases surface area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why are gills needed?

A

In water there is 25x less oxygen than air

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How do fish maintain steep concentration gradients?

A

Ventilation and good supply

21
Q

What is countercurrent flow?

A

Blood moves through the capillaries in the lamella in the opposite direction to the flow of water over the gill lamella.

22
Q

Why is countercurrent flow more efficient for diffusion?

A

Diffusion gradient existe over the whole length of the lamella so oxygen is constantly diffusing from the air down a diffusion gradient into the blood

23
Q

What is parallel flow?

A

Water and blood flow in the same direction

24
Q

Why is parallel flow less efficient?

A

Only maintained along half the lamella so water cant diffuse when saturations are the same in the blood and water so reach equilibrium

25
Q

Where does most gas exchange happen in the plant?

A

In the leaves

26
Q

What two processes do plants perform?

A

Photosynthesis and respiration

27
Q

What two things make diffusion fast in plants?

A

No living cells are far from air and it takes place in the gas phase so more rapid

28
Q

How is the leaf adapted for exchange?

A
  1. Very thin so short diffusion pathways
  2. Large surface area to volume ratio
  3. Stomata so gas can come into contact with mesophyll cells and they can open and close due to the guard cells
29
Q

How is the leaf adapted to reduce water loss?

A

Stomata closes so reduces water loss by transpiration

30
Q

What are some adaptations of xerophytic plants to reduce water loss?

A
  1. Stomata in pits or grooves to trap moist air reducing water potential gradient
  2. Rolling up leaves protects lower epidermis traps region of air so no water potential gradient
  3. Hairy leaves trap moist air reducing water potential gradient
  4. Reduced surface area to volume ratio for example needles, cacti, holly, desert plants
31
Q

How are the lungs adapted for gas exchange?

A
  1. Large surface to volume ratio
  2. Reduced heat loss as it is internal
  3. Thin alveoli and capillary walls reduces diffusion pathway
  4. Concentration gradient due to capillaries always moving blood away
  5. Moist
  6. Pigment transports co2 and o2
  7. Contains squamous epithelium
32
Q

What is the trachea and how is it prevented from collapsing?

A

A flexible airway lined with ciliated epithelium and goblet cells supported by rings of cartilage to prevent collapse when we breathe in

33
Q

What is the bronchi and how is it prevented from collapsing?

A

Where trachea splits in two lined with cilia supported with cartilage to prevent collapse

34
Q

What are bronchioles?

A

Made up of muscle lined with epithelium cells so they can constrict to control the flow of air in and out of the alveoli

35
Q

What are alveoli and why do they have elastic fibres?

A

Minute air sacs at the end of the bronchiole lined with epithelium and elastic tissue so that they can stretch and fill with air then spring back

36
Q

What is the pathway of blood from the alveolus to the blood?

A

Moves across epithelium cells of alveolus then down a concentration gradient through the endothelial cells in the capillaries which are just 1 cell thick

37
Q

What two ways makes diffusion between alveolus and blood so rapid?

A
  1. Pulmonary capillaries are thin so red blood cells are slowed down to fit through so more time for diffusion
  2. Distance reduced red blood cells are flattened against the capillary walls
38
Q

What are the 6 ways alveoli are adapted for efficient gas exchange?

A
  1. Red blood cells are slowed through pulmonary capillaires allowing more time for diffusion
  2. Distance reduced red blood cells are flattened against capillary walls
  3. Walls of alveoli and capillaries are thin diffusion pathway is short
  4. Alveoli and pulmonary capillaries have large SA
  5. Breathing constantly ventilated lungs and heart pumps blood around alveoli maintaining a steep concentration gradient
  6. Blood flow through the pulmonary capillaries maintains a concentration gradient
39
Q

What is correlation?

A

When a change in 1 or 2 variables is reflected by a change in another variable

40
Q

What is causation?

A

When it is scientifically proven that one variable directly causes something else

41
Q

What are the risk factors for lung disease?

A

Smoking, air pollution, genetic makeup, infections, occupation

42
Q

How does asthma effect the lungs?

A

Muscle walls of bronchi contract and walls secrete more mucus so diameter of airway is reduced so flow of air is reduced

43
Q

What happens in inspiration?

A

External intercostal muscles contract while internal intercostal muscles relax
Ribcage moves upwards and outwards
Diaphragm contracts and flattens
Thoracic volume increases so pressure decreases
Air moves into lungs from atmosphere down a pressure gradient
Active process

44
Q

What happens in expiration?

A

External intercostal muscles relax while internal intercostal muscles contract
Ribs move downwards and inwards
Diaphragm relaxes and becomes dome shaped
Thoracic volume decreases so pressure increases
Air moves out if lungs down a pressure gradient
Passive process
Energy only needed for forced expiration

45
Q

What is ventilation?

A

When air is constantly moved in and out of the lungs called inspiration and expiration to maintain a diffusion gradient across the alveolar epithelium

46
Q

What is the equation for pulmonary ventilation rate?

A

Tidal volume x breathing rate

47
Q

What is tidal volume?

A

Volume of air normally taken in at each breath

48
Q

What is breathing rate?

A

Number of breaths taken in a minute

Biology (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions