what is gas exchange?
process by which organisms obtain and return carbon dioxide and oxygen to and from the environment
two types of gas exchange
internal
external
concentration gradient
difference in concentration of a substance between two locations. requires for passive transport, including diffusion
alveolus
tiny spheres of one-cell thick tissue in the lungs.
what is each alveoli covered by?
capillary blood supply
surfactant
thin phospholipid and protein monolayer film. lines the inner surface of every alveolus
what lines the surface of every alveolus?
surfactant
what does trachea branch off to?
2 bronchi -> broncioles (small air tubes ultimately attached to the trachea)
How does SA:V affect gas exchange?
Higher SA:V leads to better gas exchange
how are concentration gradients maintained for gas exchange in animals with lungs?
as cellular respiration proceeds, the oxygen concentration in blood drops. frequent ventilation (i.e. breathing) means that there is a high oxygen concentration in the lungs. therefore concentration gradient betweeen lungs and tissues
how does structure of alveolus facilitate its function?
only one cell thick -> shorter distance for efficient diffusion. many small alveoli mean high SA:V ratio thus, efficient gas exchange
how does surfactant prevent lung collapse?
surrounding alveoli walls with monolayer of phospholipids mean that will not collapse
adaptations of gas exchange surfaces
thin (one cell thick) -> shorter distance of diffusion
moisture -> gases dissolve into water
large SA:V by lots of small surfaces
high permeability
what is external respiration
exchange of oxygen between alveoli and capillaries
what is internal respiration
exchange of oxygen between red blood cells and tissues
why is cellular respiration a form of gas exchange?
oxygen gas turns into carbon dioxide
which aspect of the body must have a high oxygen concentration for passive transport to occur?
alveoli
how is the high oxygen concentration of alveoli maintained?
when oxygen concentration drops, we exhale and replace. this exhalation is triggered by an increase in carbon dioxide levels
example of an adaptation to sustain concentration gradients
countercurrent gas exchange in fish
why does countercurrent exchange work to diffuse oxygen in fish?
oxygen concentration is always higher in water than in blood -> oxygen will move into blood
how does countercurrent exchange work?
fish swallow water with dissolved oxygen, and push water over the gills. at the same time, the blood stream moves in the concurrent direction. there is always a concentration gradient between the two flows and therefore, oxygen exchange occurs
structure of mammalian respiratory system
trachea (with adaptations such as cilia or cartilage) branch off into two bronchi. Bronchi branoff into many broncioles, each of which are connected to alveoli. the entire structure (from trachea down) is covered by lung tissue.
how does gas exchange in the capillary work?
alveoli is surrounded by capillary. deoxygenated blood enters via vein. due to the concentration gradient of oxygen and carbon dioxide, oxygen moves from the alveoli to the capillary; and carbon dioxide moves from the capillary to the alveoli. type two pneumocytes produce surfactant, which stops alveoli collapsing on expiration
inspiration
process of inhalation in which the diaphragm contracts (and pulls down) due to signal from nerves. external intercostal muslces are signalled by nerves to contract, and the internal intercostal muscles relax and stretch -> pushing the ribs out. this causes an increase in lung volume and thus, decreasse in lung pressure. as the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of the lungs, air moves into the lungs