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Lung Adaptations for Gas Exchange

The alveoli have several key adaptations that enable effective gas exchange: 1) They have thin walls that are only one cell thick, allowing for rapid diffusion of gases into and out of the bloodstream. 2) There is a large surface area with millions of alveoli to maximize the area for oxygen to diffuse into the blood. 3) An efficient network of capillaries covers the surface of each alveolus, so that oxygen can quickly enter the blood and carbon dioxide can quickly exit, maintaining the diffusion gradients.

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Minnie Whiting
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68 views2 pages

Lung Adaptations for Gas Exchange

The alveoli have several key adaptations that enable effective gas exchange: 1) They have thin walls that are only one cell thick, allowing for rapid diffusion of gases into and out of the bloodstream. 2) There is a large surface area with millions of alveoli to maximize the area for oxygen to diffuse into the blood. 3) An efficient network of capillaries covers the surface of each alveolus, so that oxygen can quickly enter the blood and carbon dioxide can quickly exit, maintaining the diffusion gradients.

Uploaded by

Minnie Whiting
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What adaptations do the alveoli have to enable them to carry out effective gas exchange?

Lung adaptation summary

Key adaptation How lungs achieve this How it helps rapid gas
exchange

T_hin_______ Alveolus is only 1 cell S_mall________ diffusion


Walls_______ _thick___ _____ pathway, so rapid diffusion.
Capillaries are only 1 cell
thick______ _______
Large________ Millions of Large surface for oxygen to
S_urface_______ A_lveolus__________ diffuse
A_rea________
Efficient blood supply Network_______of C Oxygen which enters blood is
_apillaries_________ over quickly removed, to maintain
surface of __diffusion
Alveolus___________ concentration________
gradient.
V_entilation_______ Movement of Ribs________ Fresh supply of _________ and
____ and removal of _______ _________
Diaphragm____________ to maintain diffusion gradients.
What adaptations do the alveoli have to enable them to carry out effective gas exchange?
Lung adaptation summary

Key adaptation How lungs achieve this How it helps rapid gas
exchange

T________ Alveolus is only 1 ____ S_________ diffusion pathway,


W_______ _____ so rapid diffusion.
Capillaries are only 1
______ _______
L________ Millions of A___________ Large surface for oxygen to
S________ diffuse
A_________
Efficient blood supply N__________of Oxygen which enters blood is
C__________ over surface quickly removed, to maintain
of A___________ __________ gradient.
V____________ Movement of R_________ Fresh supply of _________ and
and D______________ removal of _______ _________
to maintain diffusion gradients.

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