Module 3.1 Exchange Surfaces and Breathing Flashcards
Do small organisms need a specialised surface for exchange?
No
Do large organisms need a specialised surface for exchange?
Yes, their body surface is no longer sufficient
🐿Small organisms have
A large surface area to volume ratio
🐘Large organisms have
A small surface area to volume ratio
A ratio should always be expressed as
Something to 1 (e.g. 4:1)
🌟Features of a good exchange surface
- Large surface area - more space for molecules to pass through = more efficient
- Thin barrier = diffusion distance reduced
- Permeable walls
- A good blood supply
- A fresh supply of molecules on one side and removal on the other - conc. grad. kept steep for quick diffusion
What are alveoli?
Tiny folds of lung epithelium to increase the surface area
What are bronchi or bronchioles?
Smaller airways leading into the lungs
What is the diaphragm?
A layer of muscle beneath the lungs
What are the intercostal muscles?
Muscles between the ribs. Contraction of the external intercostal muscles raises the ribcage.
What is the trachea?
The main airway that leads from the back of the mouth to the lungs
💨Oxygen
passes from the air in the alveoli to the blood in the capillaries
🌬Carbon dioxide
passes from the blood to the air in the alveoli
What does the surfactant do?
It lines the alveoli and reduces the cohesive forces between the water molecules, as these forces tend to make the alveoli collapse
Adaptions to reduce the diffusion distance:
- The alveolus walls are one cell thick
- The capillary walls are one cell thick
- Both walls consist of squamous cells (flattened or v thin cells)
- The capillaries are v close to the alveolus walls
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood is
higher than that in the air of the alveolus. This means that carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveoli
The concentration of oxygen in the blood is
lower than that in the alveoli, so oxygen diffuses into the blood
Ventilation ensures that:
- The concentration of oxygen in the air of the alveolus remains higher than that in the blood
- The concentration of carbon dioxide in the alveoli remains lower than that in the blood
🌟During Inspiration..
- The diaphragm contracts, flattens and moves down
- The external intercostal muscles contact
- The ribs move up
- The volume in the chest cavity increases
- The pressure in the chest cavity drops below atmospheric pressure
- Air enters the lungs
🌟During Expiration…
- The diaphragm relaxes and moves up
- The external intercostal muscles relax
- The ribs move down
- The internal intercostal muscles can contract (to help push air out more forcefully)
- The volume in the chest cavity decreases
- The pressure in the lungs rises above atmospheric pressure
- Air exits the lungs
What is cartilage?
A form of connective tissue
What are ciliated epithelium?
A layer of cells that have lots of cilia (hair-like projections)
What are elastic fibres?
Protein fibres that can deform and recoil
What are goblet cells?
Cells that secrete mucus
What is smooth muscle?
Muscle that involuntarily contracts
What is the function of cartilage?
To keep the airways open and prevent collapse during inspiration when there is low pressure in the thorax. They also allow some flexibility in the neck
What is the function of smooth muscle?
To contract to constrict the airways, to reduce air flow and therefore reduce the amount of harmful substances going into the lungs
What is the function of elastic fibres?
To stretch when the smooth muscle contracts and to recoil when the smooth muscle relaxes to help dilate the airway
What is the function of goblet cells?
To secrete mucus to trap bacteria and other particles to be removed from the lungs (reducing infection)
What is the function of ciliates epithelium?
To waft to remove mucus from the airway up to the threat
What is the function of blood vessels?
To supply lung tissue with oxygen for aerobic respiration
🌟What structures does the trachea have?
Cartilage, ciliated epithelium, goblet cells, smooth muscle and elastic fibres
🌟What structures do the bronchi and bronchioles have?
Cartilage (only in bronchi), ciliated epithelium, goblet cells, smooth muscle and elastic fibres
🌟What is the only structure that alveoli have?
Elastic fibres
What happens during inspiration when using a spirometer?
Air is drawn in from the chamber and the lid moves down
What happens during expiration when using a spirometer?
The air returns to the chamber, raising the lid