GAS EXCHANGE IN HUMANS
q1) What are lungs?
A: the specialised organs for gas exchange
q2) what do humans need to get in and out?
A: Need to get oxygen INTO the blood (for respiration) and get RID OF carbon dioxide
q3)Describe the pathway of the gas exchange system.
As you breathe in, air enters the trachea. The trachea splits into 2 bronchi; w/ each bronchi leading to
each lung. Each bronchus then branches off into smaller tubes called bronchioles. The bronchioles end
in small ‘air sacs’ called alveoli (where gas is exchanged). The ribcage, intercostal muscles and
diaphragm all work together to move air in and out.
q4) Describe forced expiration in humans.
The external intercostal muscles relax and the internal intercostal muscles contract, pulling the ribcage
further down and in. During this time, the movement of the 2 sets of intercostal muscles is said to be
antagonistic (opposing).
q5)Where does human gas exchange take place?
In the alveoli
q6) Describe the structure of the alveoli
A: It’s a single layer of thin, flat cells called alveolar epithelium- surrounded by a network of capillaries.
q7) Describe the movement of carbon dioxide and oxygen across the alveolar epithelium.
O2 diffuses out of the alveoli,across the alveolar epithelium and the capillary endothelium and into
haemoglobin in the blood. CO2 diffuses into the alveoli from the blood, and is breathed out.
Describe 2 ways in which the lungs are adapted for efficient gas exchange.
● A thin exchange surface- the alveolar epithelium is only one cell thick; meaning there’s a
short diffusion pathway which speeds up diffusion
● A large S.A; the large no. of alveoli means there’s a large surface area for gas exchange
GAS EXCHANGE
q1) what are the 2 major adaptations that gas exchange surface?
● Large S.A
● They’re thin (often just one layer of epithelial cells); thus providing a short diffusion pathway across
the gas exchange surface
● Organism maintains a steep concentration gradient of gases across the gas exchange surface
q2) Where do single-celled organisms exchange gases across?
Their body surface
q3) Describe how single-celled organisms are adapted for efficient gas exchange.
They absorb and release gases by diffusion through their outer surface as they have a relatively large S.A, a
thin surface and a short diffusion pathway.
q4) why is there no need for a gas exchange system in single-celled organisms?
Because oxygen can take part in biochemical reactions as soon as it diffuses into the cells
q5)How are fish able to diffuse as much oxygen as possible from the water into the blood compared to
humans? Do not include details about the ‘counter-current’ system.
Because the concentration of oxygen IN WATER is always higher than that in the blood.
q6) Describe the structure of gills in fish.
Gills are made up of lots of thin plates called gill filaments; which give a big S.A for exchange of gases.
The gill filaments are covered in lots of tiny structures called lamellae; which increase the S.A even more.
The lamellae have lots of blood capillaries and a thin surface layer of cells to speed up diffusion.
q7) Where do dicotyledonous plants exchange gases?
A: At the surface of the mesophyll cells.
Q8) What do plants need CO2 for?
Photosynthesis; which produces O2 as a waste gas.
q9) How are the mesophyll cells well adapted to their function?
They have a large S.A Where gases move in and out through special pores in the epidermis called stomata.
