Topic 3: Organisms exchange substances with their environment Flashcards
Describe the relationship between the size, surface area and volume ratio of organisms
As the size of an organism increases the surface area to volume ratio decreases
How do you calculate surface area to volume ratio
surface area / volume
Explain the position of mitochondria in large cells
-large cells have smaller surface area to volume ratio which means that without mitochondria being close to the cell surface membrane, diffusion pathway would be longer and less efficient
adaptations of gas exchange surfaces
Adaptations of gas exchange surfaces:
across the body surface of a single-celled organism
in the tracheal system of an insect (tracheae, tracheoles and spiracles)
across the gills of fish (gill lamellae and filaments including the counter-current principle)
by the leaves of dicotyledonous plants (mesophyll and stomata).
exchange and surface area
To survive, organisms transfer materials between the internal and external environments
-The environment around cells of multicellular organisms is tissue fluid
-Mass transport systems maintains diffusion gradient pathways
-the size and metabolic rate of an organism will affect the amount of material that is exchanged. Larger metabolic rate = larger surface area : volume ratio
-exchange can take place passively (diffusion or osmosis) or actively (active transport)
what do organisms need to exchange
oxygen, glucose, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, urea, carbon dioxide, heat
what is the importance of exchange
metabolic processes like respiration
homeostasis (heat)
how are things exchanged
Active transport –> requires metabolic energy e.g co transport
Passive processes –> no energy e,g simple diffusion
surface area to volume ratio
Larger animals have a smaller surface area to volume ratio
Smaller animals have a large surface area to volume ratio
what are the names for two tubes transporting gases to respiring tissues
trachea
tracheoles
Explain four ways in which an insects tracheal system is adapted for efficient gas exchange
1) has many tracheoles that are highly branched so increases surface area
2) Tracheoles also have thin walls which reduces diffusion pathway
3) Trachea has fluid/gas at the end of tracheoles that moves into tissues so faster diffusion
4) body can be moved by muscles so moves air which ensures a concentration gradient
Explain the movement of oxygen into the gas exchange system of an insect when it is at rest
-there is a high concentration of oxygen closest to the spiracle and lower concentration of oxygen in respiring tissues. This means that at rest oxygen diffuses down a concentration gradient to respiring tissues to be used in processes such as aerobic respiration
Describe an explain the results of abdominal pumping on gas exchange of insects
-as pressure increases the amount of CO2 released increases
-as tubes of gas exchange system are squeezed during abdominal pumping, volume decreases and thus pressure increases
-this means that more CO2 is released due to gases moving from high to low pressure
what stimulates the spiracle to open
high partial pressure of CO2
what causes the oxygen concentration in the trachea to fall when the spiracles are closed
-respiration causes oxygen conc to fall and no new oxygen can enter the spiracle through diffusion as it is closed
do insects have a large or small surface area to volume ratio
large
what gas exchange system do insects have
tracheal
what is the spiracle
opening in the surface of an insects gas exchange system
what does the exoskeleton do
provides protection
reduces water loss
what do cartilage rings around the trachea of an insect do
gives it structure and prevents it from collapsing
what are tracheoles
dead end tubes which are high gas in volume which increases the surface area. They also have thin walls which means a shorter diffusion pathway
how to gases move in an out an insects tracheal system (3 ways)
-down a diffusion gradient
-mass transport due to muscle contraction
-pressure changes due to changing water volume
how do gases move down a diffusion gradient in insects
-Oxygen –> high O2 concentration closest to the spiracle and lower closest to respiring tissues
-Carbon dioxide –> High CO2 concentration closest to the respiring tissues and lower closest to the spiracle
how does mass transport due to muscle contraction occur in insects
1) muscle contractions reduce the volume inside the trachea
2) this increases the gas pressure inside the insect
3) causing gases to move to an area of lower pressure in the atmosphere surrounding the insect.
–> moves out gas (CO2) during respiration from exercise
-Abdominal pumping is an example of muscle contraction (high pressure = more CO2 released due to volume decreasing)
how do pressure changes due to changing water volume occur in insects
-Lactate production from anaerobic respiration during high intensity exercise is soluble in water and reduces water potential in cells
-Water moves by osmosis into the surrounding tissue from the end of the tracheoles
-Increases the volume of tracheole filled with gas (in which gases diffusion quicker)
–> less water = more gas
what are limitations of gas exchange in insects
-Water vapor could evaporate out of the spiracle when open which increases dehydration. To mitigate against this insects have an exoskeleton and hairs on the spiracle
-mainly diffusion that occurs so molecules must be small
Describe and explain how the countercurrent system leads to efficient gas exchange across the gills of a fish
-Countercurrent flow is the movement of blood and water in opposing directions. This means that a favourable concentration gradient for oxygen by diffusion is maintained along the entire length of the lamellae. Equilibrium is not reached.
what is a fish
any member of a group of organisms that consist of all gill bearing aquatic craniate animals that lack limbs with digits
How do gills of fish work
The water passes through their mouth and over their gills. They are able to use diffusion to get oxygen from water when it passes over the surface of the gills
how do fish get oxygen
through dissolved oxygen in water
what are adaptations of fish
-has gill filaments that increase surface area and shortens diffusion pathway
-good blood supply –> maintains concentration gradient
-Has many lamella that increase surface area for exchange
what would happen in fish had parallel flow
-If oxygen and water had parallel flow diffusion would reach equilibrium which is an issue as oxygen will no longer diffuse as concentration gradient would not be maintained all the way along the lamellae.
how does diffusion occur in a fish
-Diffuse occurs in a counter current flow
-Water and blood flow in opposing directions
-Oxygen rich blood always comes into contact with oxygen rich water. This maintains a favorable concentration gradient for diffusion of oxygen along the entire length of the lamellae. This means that no equilibrium is reached
why do fish need a specialised exchange system
-impermeable membrane of skin so gases cannot easily diffuse
-small surface area to volume ratio
what are along an arch of a gill
Along each arch there are multiple projections called gill filaments, with
lamellae on them which participate in gas exchange.
how does ventilation occur in a fish
. Ventilation begins with
the fish opening its mouth followed by lowering the floor of buccal cavity. This enables water
to flow in. Afterwards, fish closes its mouth, causing the buccal cavity floor to raise, thus
increasing the pressure. The water is forced over the gill filaments by the difference in
pressure between the mouth cavity and opercular cavity. The operculum acts as a valve and
pump and lets water out and pumps it in.
Explain how the counter current mechanism in fish gills ensures the maximum amount of oxygen passes into the blood flowing through the gills
-water and blood flow in opposite directions
-this means that a favourable concentration gradient is maintained, The oxygen concentration is always higher in the water than in the blood
-diffusion is maintained throughout the entire length of the lamellae
where is oxygen concentration higher - the blood or water
water
Explain how the presence of gills adapts the damselfly to its way of life
-damselfly has larger metabolic rate and larger surface area to volume ratio
-this means that the damselfly needs more oxygen
describe the features of fish that give them a large surface area
gills have many filaments with lots of lamellae on them
explain the relationship between gill surface area and swimming speed
larger gill surface area means more oxygen is supplied so more respiration and thus more energy is provided
how are diffusion gradients maintained in and out of the leaf
-mitochondria carrying out respiration and chloroplasts carrying out photosynthesis
what are the adaptations in leaves for rapid gas exchange
-high stomatal density
-large surface area of mespohyll cells
-interconnecting air spaces
–large SA:vol ratio so greater SA for exchange
-densely packed stomata so short diffusion pathway
what is the gas exchange surface of a plant
leaf
what is the pore on the underside of a leaf
the stomata
describe a method for finding the surface area of a gas exchange surface
-trace an outline the leaf onto squared paper
-count the number of squares covered by the leaf
-mutliply by 2
what is the structure of a leaf
-waxy cuticle
-upper epidermis
-palisade mesophyll
-spongy mesophyll
-lower epidermis
-stomata and guard cells
how would you measure stomatal density
1) calculate magnification
2) find area of diagram
3) divide area by magnification to get actual size
4) total no of stomata divided by actual size total
why does a plant in a desert have a low stomatal density
due to dry atmospheric conditions. This means that there is a steep diffusion gradient for water vapour and thus less water loss.
what is a mesophyte
plant adapted to a habitat with adequate water
what is a xerophyte
plants adapted to a dry habitat
what is a halophyte
plants adapted to a salty habitat
what is a hydrophyte
plant adapted to a freshwater habitat
how are xerophytes adapted
Thick cuticle –> impermeable to water
Spines for leaves –> smaller surface area for water loss
Low stomatal density –> reduces surface area for water loss
Sunken stomata and stomatal hairs –> trap a layer of still moist air (keeps osmotic gradient at equilibrium)
Rolled leaves –> traps air very saturated with water
Extensive root system –> increases water uptake
what part of the exoskeleton of a terestial insects prevents water loss
lipid layer
what are insect adaptations to prevent water loss
-small surface area to volume ratio
-waterproof exoskeleton
-spiracles open and close
-hairs on the spiracle
how is water loss minimised in insects
-hairs on spiracles
-closing of spiracles
-waxy cuticle on body
why does a mouse have a high metabolic rate
-larger surface area to volume ratio
-this means more heat loss due to faster rate of metabolism
why is oxygen uptake a measure of metabolic rate in organisms
-oxygen is used in respiration which provides energy through ATP
structure of human gas exchange surface
trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, diaphragm
eptihelium of the trachea
-Contains goblet cells and cilia
-Mucus is produced in the goblet cell which is then given to glandular tissue to secrete it
-Finger like projections that are able to move the layer of mucus
-Mucus traps dust and pathogens thus preventing it from reaching the lungs
adaptations of alveoli
-short diffusion pathway
-concentration gradient is maintained by bloodflow and ventilation
-larger surface area of alveoli
-Flattened epithelial cells of alveoli that are only one cell thick so reduces diffusion pathway
-high partial pressure of oxygen in alevoli
pathway for gas exchange in alevoli
-Alevolar endothelium –> Alevolar epithelium –> capillary epithelium/endothelium
process of inhalation
1) External intercostal muscles contract causing the ribs to move up and out
2) The diaphragm contract and flattens
3) This causes the volume of the thoracic cavity to increase subsequently reducing the gas pressure causing air to move into the lungs from outside the body, down a pressure gradient
process of exhalation
1) Internal intercostal muscles relax causing ribs to move down and in
2) The diaphragm relaxes thus returning back to its domed shape
3) This causes the thoracic volume to decrease and subsequently causes pressure to increase forcing air out of the lungs
define pulmonary ventilation
-the total volume of air that is moved into the lungs during 1 minute
define tidal volume
the volume of air normally taken in at each breath when body is at rest
define breathing volume
the number of breaths taken in one minute
how do you calculate pulmonary ventilation
tidal volume x breathing volume
describe and explain 2 features of the alevolar epithelium that makes the epithelium well adapted
-one cell thick and flattened which ensures short diffusion pathway
-permeable which allows diffusion of CO2 and O2
explain why the death of alveolar epithelium cells reduces gas exchange in human lungs
-surface area reduces
-longer diffusion pathway
-rate of gas exchange reduces
Describe the pathway taken by an oxygen molecule from an alveolus to the blood
oxygen molecules diffuse through the alveolar epithelium and into the epithelium of capillaries
when a person starts to breathe out, the percentage of oxygen in the air first exhaled is the same as the percentage of oxygen in the atmospheric air. Explain why
air from nose/mouth is not same as in alveoli
explain why it is important that the pieces of leaf tissue examined were very thin
-optical microscopes can only observe a single layer so light can pass through the sample
Give two reasons why it was important that the student counted the number of stomata
-so the sample is representative
-to collect a reliable study
state two reasons why the rate of water uptake by a plant may not be the same as rate of transpiration
-water is used in hydrolysis
-water used in photosynthesis
what do rolled leaves ensure
decrease in water potential gradient
explain the advantage of the stomata closing when the light s turned of
-closed stomata reduces rate of water loss which maintains the water content of cells
describe how the student could use an eyepiece graticule to determine the mean diameter of stomata
-measure each stomata using the eyepiece graticule
-calibrate eyepiece against stage ruler
-calculate mean
explain how you would use traces from this spirometer to compare the tidal volumes and breathing rates of male and female human subjects
-define tidal volume + breathing rate
-volume and time need to be calibrated
-tidal volume = pulmonary ventiliation / breathing rate
-one peak = one breath
-male and female groups should be standardised -> non-smoker/non-alcoholic
-traces should be taken at rest
-study should be replicated then a mean should be calculated
give one reason for the difference in PEF values between ages of 35 and 85 years
weakening of the muscles
what is a spirometer
a device used to measure lung volume
define affinity
attracted to bind
what is haemoglobin
haemoglobin is a water soluble, globular protein (quaternary structure)
-It consists of 2 beta polypeptide chains and 2 alpha helixes
why does haemoglobin carry oxygen in the blood
Haemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood as oxygen can bind to the haem (Fe2+) group. Each molecule can carry four oxygen molecules.
where is oxygen loaded and unloaded from red blood cells
-different organisms have different haemoglobin structures
-Oxygen is loaded into haemoglobin in the lungs and is unloaded in respiring tissues
-haemoglobin has a quaternary structure, formed by condensation reactions and contains nitrogen
what does the affinity of oxygen for haemoglobin depend on
depending on the partial pressure of oxygen (greater concentration of dissolved oxygen in cells = greater partial pressure)
what occurs during respiration in terms of oxygen and haemoglobin
During respiration, oxygen is used up and therefore the partial pressure decreases, thus decreasing the affinity of oxygen for haemoglobin. As a result of that, oxygen is released in respiring tissues where it is needed. After the unloading process, the haemoglobin returns to the lungs where it binds to oxygen again.
cooperative binding and oxygen dissociation
Lungs –> low PO2, high saturation levels, high affinity
Respiring tissues –> high PO2, low affinity, low saturation levels
1) Initially it is very difficult for first oxygen to bind
2) Once the first O2 binds there is a conformational change to the active site
3) This makes it easier for 2nd and 3rd oxygen to bind
4) It is then reliant on a high PO2 to bind the 4th oxygen molecule
what do disassociation curves show
-Dissociation curves illustrate the change in haemoglobin saturation as partial pressure changes. The saturation of haemoglobin is affected by its affinity for oxygen, therefore in the case where partial pressure is high, haemoglobin has high affinity for oxygen and is therefore highly saturated, and vice versa.
how does saturation affect affinity
-Saturation can also have an effect on affinity, as after binding to the first oxygen molecule, the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen increases due to a change in shape, thus making it easier for the other oxygen molecules to bind.
positive cooperativity graph
Initially the curve is shallow because it is hard for the first oxygen molecule to bind. Once it has bound though it changes the shape making it easier for oxygen molecules two and three to bind, hence the steep increase. This is called positive cooperativity. Finally the gradient begins to flatten out because the likelihood of the fourth oxygen finding a binding site is low.
how does carbon dioxide affect affinity
Carbon dioxide is released by respiring cells which require oxygen for the process to occur. Therefore, in the presence of carbon dioxide, the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen decreases, thus causing it to be released. This is known as the Bohr effect. It does this because carbon dioxide creates slightly acidic conditions which change the shape of the haemoglobin protein, thus making it easier for the oxygen to be released.
how many polypeptide chains does haemoglobin have
4
where is there a high partial pressure of carbon dioxide
respiring tissues due to decreased affinity which unloads more oxygen
does fetal haemoglobin have a higher or lower affinity
higher
why do xerophetic plants have slower rate of growth
lower stomatal density
Suggest one advantage of the change in affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen
facilitates the loading of oxygen in the lungs
Describe the advantage of the Bohr effect during intense exercise
-during intense exercise more oxygen is required for aerobic respiration
-This means that when there is high PCO2 the affinity reduces so oxygen dissociates
which way does the graph shift when there is a reduced affinity of haemologbin for oxygen
right
how many haem groups does haemolgobin have
4 (Fe2+)
how is the affinity of haemoglobin affected
-The affinity of haemoglobin is affected by its tertiary structure (3D)
difference between fetal haemoglobin and adult haemoglobin
-Fetal haemoglobin has a higher saturation at the same PO2 than adult haemoglobin. This is necessary to supply the fetus with oxygen from the mother
Bohr affect
-At the lungs there is a lower PCO2 so haemoglobin has a higher affinity to oxygen thus helping it associate
(graph shifts left)
-At the respiring tissues where there is a high PCO2 the curve shifts to the right which reduces its affinity and supports the disassociation of oxygen
(graph shifts right)
what stimulates the change in affinity of haemoglobin
PCO2 stimulates the change in affinity of haemoglobin
how does CO2 change affinity
-When in solution carbon dioxide is acidic. This lowered pH through more CO2 the more H+ ion concentration which causes a change in the tertiary (3D) structure of the protein due to hydrogen bonding being easily attracted to changes in pH. The change in shape causes a decreased affinity to oxygen
Haemoglobin in animals
-lives with lower PO2
-Lungworms live in an oxygen poor environment which means that haemoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen at lower partial pressures. This means that it is able to more readily associate/load oxygen to be transported to respiring tissues for aerobic respiration
-llamas live in high altitude environments with a low PO2
why do smaller animals have larger metabolic rates
-larger surface area to volume ratio
-so more heat loss
explain the role of the cell cycle in maintaining efficient exchange of materials
-As cell size increases, surface area to volume ratio decreases
-so slower exchange of materials
-at a certain size cytokenesis occurs
-so faster exchange of materials
why do tadpoles not need lungs but a frog does
frogs have a smaller SA:vol
so has a slower diffusion pathway
lungs are a specialised exchange system to supply sufficient oxygen
how many molecules of oxygen can haemoglobin bind to
4 once fully saturated
how many bases are there for one amino acid
3
give two reasons why there would be more bases
1) stop/start sequence
2) addition of base my mutation
explain why llamas are better adapted to live in high mountains than horses
-llamas have low PCO2 in lungs
-greater affinity
-this means that oxygen is loaded from haemolgobin
Explain how the haemoglobin of species B allows a greater level of activity
-curve shifted to right so lower affinity
-more O2 unloads from haemoglobin into cells for greater respiration
Explain changes in shape of curve for dissociation of haemoglobin
-O2 binds causing shape to change
what does fetal haemoglobin mean
more oxygen is unloaded for easier respiration
give on use of amino acids
protein synthesis
explain why the binding of one molecule of oxygen makes it easier for a second oxygen molecule to bind
-binding of first oxygen molecule changes tertiary structure which creates another binding site
explain how the stain allowed the doctor to count white blood cells amongst all the red blood cells
-white blood cells have nucleus which is able to be stained whilst red blood cells dont
Explain the advantage of fetal haemoglobin
-greater affinity of O2 so more association
-this means that more oxygen moves from mother to foetus
explain the advantage of having more red blood cells for those living at higher altitudes
-more haemologbin
-loads more oxygen
what is meant by the term partial pressure
-a measure of the concentration of a gas
explain how the gills of fish are adapted for efficient gas exchange
-many lamellae increase SA for diffusion
-thin epithelium reduces diffusion pathway
-water and blood have countercurrent flow
-ventilation replaces water
-good blood supply maintains favourable concentration gradient
Explain an advantage of the Bohr effect for aerobic respiration
-greater dissociation of oxygen from haemoglobin
-more oxygen for aerobic respiration in respiring tissues
why do iron deficient plants have a low growth rate
-less thykaloid membrane
-less chlorophyll
-so slower rate of photosynthesis
what do mineral salts do
keep pH neutral