Exchange of Substances Flashcards
(126 cards)
how do small organisms transport substances in and out? why is this possible?
- they have a large SA:volume ratio, so they can diffuse substances across surface efficiently
- shorter diffusion distance from outside to centre of organisms so can simply exchange substances across their surface
why isn’t it possible for larger organisms to simply diffuse substances across their surface?
- as an organism gets larger, SA:volume ratio decreases + therefore will need adaptions to help increase surface area
larger object = smaller sa:vol - larger organisms typically have a higher metabolic rate, so more efficient transport of waste out of calls and reactants into cells is required
list some adaptions of organisms that increase surface area. what is their purpose?
- villi + microvilli - more efficient absorption of digested food
- alveoli + bronchioles - more efficient gas exchange
- spiracles + tracheoles (insects) - more efficient gas exchange
- gill filaments + lamellae (fish) - more efficient gas exchange
- thin wide leaves (plants) - more efficient gas exchange
- many capillaries - link to form capillary network - more efficient gas exchange
define breathing
movement of air into and out of the lungs
define respiration
chemical reaction to release energy in the form of ATP
define ventilation
- correct term for breathing
- movement of air into and out of the lungs
describe the structure and function of the alveoli
- minute air sacs at end of bronchioles
- consists of collagen and elastic fibres lined with epithelial cells
- stretch as they fill with air and spring back when breathing out
- increase surface area for more efficient gas exchange
- alveolar epithelium one cell thick and lies in close contact with the capillary endothelium
outline the pathway of air from when it enters the body to when it reaches the blood
air ->trachea -> bronchi -> bronchioles -> alveoli -> alveolar epithelium -> capillary endothelium -> blood
describe the structure and function of the trachea
- has tough c shaped cartilage rings that support the trachea to helps to keep it open
- ciliated epithelium to move mucus up throat
- goblet cells to secrete mucus
- branches into 2 bronchi
describe the structure and function of the bronchioles
- small tubes leading from bronchi to alveoli
- muscular walls
- lined with epithelial cells
- control air flow in/out of the alveoli
what is an antagonistic interaction?
one muscle contracts and the other relaxes
describe how the intercostal muscles are used for ventilation
- external intercostal muscles contract leading to inspiration (inhaling)
- internal intercostal muscles contract leading to expiration (exhaling)
describe the process of inspiration
- external intercostal muscles contract (pulling ribs upwards and outwards)
- internal intercostal muscles relax
- diaphragm contracts downwards from dome position
- air pressure in lungs (pulmonary pressure) lower (in comp. to atmospheric pressure)
- lung volume increases
- air moves into lungs from atm pressure into lower pressure
describe the process of expiration
- external intercostal muscles relax
- internal intercostal muscles contract (pulling ribs upwards and outwards)
- diaphragm relaxes, elasticity returns to dome position
- air pressure in lungs (pulmonary pressure) higher (in comp. to atmospheric pressure)
- lung volume decreases to increase the pressure
- air moves out of lungs from lower pressure into atm pressure
describe the process of gas exchange in the alveoli
- alveoli surrounded by capillaries + made up of a single layer of cells (short diffusion distance)
- CO2 diffuses out of blood into alveoli
- O2 diffuses into blood out of alveoli
- once gases are in alveoli, gas exchanges between the epithelium and the blood
describe how the alveoli are adapted to their function
- alveolar epithelium cells very thin to minimise diffusion distance
- each alveolus is surrounded by a network of capillaries to remove exchanged gases + therefore maintains a concentration gradient resulting in faster diffusion
- walls of alveoli contain elastin which allows them to recoil to their normal shape following inspiration
what is used to measure tidal volume?
spirometer
what is tidal volume?
the volume of air normally taken in at each breath when the body is at rest - usually around 0.5dm3
what is vital capacity?
maximum volume air a person can inhale/exhale
what is residual volume?
volume of air left in lungs after the strongest inhalation
how do you calculate total lung capacity? what is a normal lung capacity
- vital capacity + residual volume
- 5-6 dm3 (5-6L)
what is pulmonary ventilation?
the total volume of air that is moved into the lungs during one minute (dm3min-1)
what is ventilation//breathing rate?
the number of breaths taken in during one minute - normally 12-20 in a healthy adult
give an equation linking tidal volume, pulmonary ventilation and ventilation rate. include units.
pulmonary ventilation (dm3min-1)= tidal volume (dm3) x ventilation rate (min-1)