❤️🔥2- gas exchange (human) Flashcards
(37 cards)
the lungs are
the gas exchange surface in humans
all gas exchange surfaces have features which allow maximum amount of gas in the smallest space, these are-
large surface area to allow faster diffusion of gases across the surface, thin walls to ensure diffusion distances remain short, good ventilation with air so that diffusion gradients can be maintained, good blood supply to maintain a high concentration gradient so diffusion occurs faster
ribs
bone structure that protects internal organs such as the lungs
intercostal muscle
muscles between the ribs which control their movement causing inhalation and exhalation
diaphragm
sheets of connective tissue and muscle at the bottom of the thorax that helps change the volume of the thorax to allow inhalation and exhalation
trachea
windpipe that connects the mouth and nose to the lungs
larynx
also known as the voice box, when air passes across this we are able to make sounds
bronchi
large tubes branching off the trachea with one bronchus for each lung
bronchioles
bronchi split to form smaller tubes called bronchioles in the lungs connected to the alveoli
alveoli
tiny air sacs where gas exchange takes place
pleural cavity
the fluid filled space between the pleural membranes which reduces friction and allows the lungs to move more freely
the passages down to the lungs are lined with
ciliated epithelial cells
cilia cells have
tiny hairs on the end of them that beat and push mucus up the passages towards the nose and throat where it can be removed
the mucus is made by
special mucus producing cells called goblet cells because they are shaped like a goblet (cup)
mucus traps
particles, pathogens like bacteria or viruses and dust and prevents them for getting into the lungs and damaging the cells there
the alveoli are
highly specialised for gas exchange
why are alveoli specialised for gas exchange
- there are many rounded alveolar sacs which give a very large surface area to volume ration
- alveioli and the capillaries around them have thin, single layers of cells to minimise diffusion distance
- ventilation maintains high levels of oxygen and low levels of carbon dioxide in the alveolar air space
- a good blood supply ensures constant supply of blood high in carbon dioxide and low in oxygen
- a layer of moisture on the surface of the alveoli helps diffusion as gases dissolve
muscles are only able too
pull on bones not push on them. this means there must be two sets of intercostal muscles to work antagonistically to facilitate breathing
external intercostal muscles
pull the rib cage up
internal intercostal muscles
pull the rib cage down
the diagphram is
a thin sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen
during inhalation
the diaphragm contracts and flattens, the external set of intercostal muscles contract to pull the ribs up and out, this increases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax), leading to a decrease in air pressure inside the lungs relative to the outside and so air is drawn in
during exhalation
the diaphragm relaxes it moves upwards back into its domed shape, the external set of intercostal muscles relax so the ribs drop down and in, this decreases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax) leading to an increase in air pressure inside the lungs relative to outside the body and so air is forced out
the external and internal muscles work as
antagonistic pairs (different directions)