Gaseous
Exchange
THE DELIVERY OF OXYGEN FROM THE LUNGS TO
THE BLOODSTREAM, AND THE ELIMINATION OF
CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE BLOODSTREAM TO
THE LUNGS AND OUT OF THE BODY.
In multicellular organisms the cells are far away
from external environment where oxygen is
obtained.
They have specialised gas exchange surface.
So that he oxygen from external environment can
diffuse into the body, and carbon dioxide can be
diffuse out.
Functions :
clean
and warm the incoming air
Maximise
surface area for diffusion of O2
and CO2
Minimise
distance fro diffusion
Maintain
adequate gradient for diffusion
Air enters the body through the mouth and nose, from here it
moves to the pharynx (throat), passes through the larynx (voice
box) and enters the trachea.
trachea
bronchioles
Bronchus
The trachea splits into two branches, the left and right
bronchus, each bronchus divides many times into
smaller branches called bronchioles.
Each bronchiole finally leads to a bunch of tiny air sacs,
called alveoli, which inflate during inhalation, and deflate
during exhalation.
Gas exchange is the delivery of oxygen into
bloodstream, and the elimination of carbon dioxide out of
the body. It takes place in the alveoli.
The alveoli walls are surrounded by blood capillaries. the
O2 from alveoli diffuse into the capillaries and the CO 2
diffuse into alveoli and to be exhaled out of the body. Both
O2 and CO2 move from high concentration to low
concentration areas.
Lungs
Located
in the thoracic (chest) cavity
surrounded by pleural membrane
(airtight).
Pleural
membrane contains small
amount of fluid
To
allow friction free movement when
lungs ventilates.
Cartilage
Found
in trachea(c shape) and
bronchus (irregular shape)
Keeps
airways open and air resistance
low
Prevent
collapsing or bursting of the
passage as different air pressure
change when breathing
Bronchiles
Has no cartilage
Surrounded by smooth muscles
Smooth muscles contract and
reflex to adjust diameter of
airways
During exercise the muscles relax
to allow big flow of air into alveoli.
Warming and Cleaning The Air
Air from nose to trachea are warmed to body
temperature and moistened by evaporation
from the lining
To protect the surface inside lungs from
desiccation
Particles larger than 5-10m are trapped on
the hairs inside the nose and the mucus lining
the nasal passages & other airways
mucus
Production of goblet cells of the ciliated
epithelium
Slimy solution of mucin
Contains
1.
glycoprotein with many carbohydrate chain
that make them sticky
2.
Lysozyme, the enzyme in lysosome which
causes lysis( breakdown of bacteria)
Some chemical pollutants eg: SO2 and NO2
can dissolve in mucus and forms acid solute
that irritates lining of airways
Between the goblet cells
cells
Continual beating of their cilia
carries the carpet of mucus
upwards towards the larynx (1
cm/ min)
When mucus reaches the trachea,
it is usually swallowed so that
pathogens are destroyed by
stomach acid
ciliated
Macrophages
Phagocytic white blood cell
Act as police for small particles
o
Kills small particles (dust and bacteria) o the
surfaces of airways
During infection, other phagocytic cells will
leave the capillaries to help remove
pathogens
Alveoli
300 millions in each lung
Super thin membrane (squamous epithelial
cells)
Surrounded by many blood capillaries carrying
deoxygenated blood
Alveolar walls contains elastic fibres
o
Stretch during breathing
Recoils during expiration, help to force air out
The elasticity ables the alveoli to expand to
increase the volume of air
Increses the surface area for diffusion & air is
expelled efficiently when elastic fibres recoil
Breathing rate
Calculate
by Spirometer
At
rest, we require 6dm3 of air per minute &
about 0.35dm3 enters the alveoli
Lungs
cannot be emptied with air. At least
1dm3 remains = Residual Volume
Tidal volume = volume of air in and out per breath
(0.5 dm3 )
Vital capacity = max volume of air that an be
moved in and out per breath ( 5 dm3 )
Residual volume = volume of air that remains in
the lungs after biggest possible exhalation
(1.5dm3 )
Ventilation rate = tidal volume x breathing rate
One breath
Pulse rate
Stroke
volume = volume of blood pumped out
per minute
Cardiac
output = total volume pumped out per
minute
Pulse
rate = stretch and recoiling of aorta and
arteries as blood travels
Pulse
Is
rate is identical to heart rate
an indication of aerobic fitness
An
average person = 60-100 beats per min
Blood pressure
Systolic pressure = Maximum arterial pressure
during the ventricular systole
Diastolic pressure = Minimum pressure in the
arteries
o
It reflects the resistance of the small arteries
and capillaries
Typical blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg
Hypertension
when systolic and diastolic pressure are high at rest,
and the heart is working too hard
High blood pressure occurs
Contraction of smooth muscles in the walls of small arteries
and arterioles , which is a result of hormone noradrenaline
Long term hypertension imposes a strand on the
cardiovascular system.
Known as the silent killer ( no prior warning for stroke ,
heart failure and heart attack)
Causes of hypertension
Excessive alcohol intake
Smoking
High salt levels in diet
Genetic predisposition
obesity
