Topic 6 - Exchange Flashcards
Adaptations of gas exchange surfaces: across the body of a single-celled organism
- Thin, flat shape and large surface area to volume ratio
- Short diffusion distance to all parts of cell for rapid diffusion
tracheal system of an insect
- Air moves through spiracles (pores) on insect surface
- Air moves through trachea
- Which divide into tracheoles where gas exchange occurs directly to/from cells
- O2 used by cells during respiration –> establishes a conc. gradient for O2 to diffuse down
- CO2 produced by respiration –> diffuses down conc. gradient from respiring cells
Adaptations for gas exchange
Structural and functional compromises between opposing the needs for efficient gas exchange and the limitation of water loss as shown by terrestrial insects
Adaptation for gas exchange in fish
Adaptation for gas exchange - counter current flow:
- Blood and water flow in opposite directions through/over lamellae
- So oxygen concentration always higher in water (than blood near)
- So maintains a concentration gradient of O2 between water and blood
- For diffusion along whole length of lamellae
If water and blood flowed in the same direction (parallel flow) equilibrium would be reached, so oxygen wouldn’t diffuse into blood along the whole gill plate
Leaf cross section
Closed and open stomata diagram
Adaptation for gas exchange in leaf
Structural and functional compromises between opposing the needs for efficient gas exchange and the limitation of water loss as shown by xerophytic plants
Xerophyte = a plant adapted to live in very dry conditions e.g. cacti
Diagram of human gas exchange system
Adaptations of human gas exchange system
The essential features of the alveolar epithelium as a surface over which gas exchange takes place
- Thin / flattened cells / one cell think –> short diffusion distance
- Folded –> large surface area
- Permeable –> allows diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Moist –> gases can dissolve
- Good blood supply from network of capillaries –> maintains concentration gradient
Gas exchange in the lungs
- Oxygen diffuses from alveolar air space into blood down its concentration gradient
- Across the alveolar epithelium then across the capillary endothelium
The opposite for carbon dioxide
What is ventilation (mechanism of breathing)
The mechanism of breathing to include the role of the diaphragm and the antagonistic interaction between the external and internal intercostal muscles in bringing about pressure changes in the thoracic cavity