Gas Exchange in Insects

Question 1

tracheae

Answer 1

• microscopic air filled pipes
• air moves into trachea through spiracles
• large SA

Question 2

Spiracles

Answer 2

-pores on surace

Question 3

gas exchange

Answer 3

• oxygen travels down the concentration gradient towards cells
• tracheae branch off into smaller tracheoles
• oxygen diffuses directly into respiring cells
• carbon dioxide from cells move down its own concentration gradient towards the spiracles to be released into the atmosphere
• insects use rhythmic abdominal movements to movements to move air in and out of the spiracle

Question 4

Trancheoles

Answer 4

• thin, permeable walls that go to individual cells
• large SA
• lined with single layer of cells to minimise diffusion distance