Lung gas exchange Flashcards
Journey of air in
Air enters via trachea
Splits into bronchi passing into each lungs
Split further into bronchioles
At each end have alveoli
Diffuse through into blood
Rings of cartilage
Inside the trachea to prevent it collapsing whilst inhaling
Journey of air our
Carbon dioxide diffuses from blood into
Alveoli
Air sacks for the sites of gas exchange in lungs
Surrounded by capillaries where oxygen diffuses into deoxygenated blood and carbon dioxide into the alveoli
Alveoli Adaptations
Huge surface area due to many alveoli
Thin walls
Very good blood supply = oxygenated blood rapidly removed to keep a steep concentration gradient
Breathing
Increases rate of diffusion
By taking in fresh oxygen and removing co2
Keeping the concentration gradient high