Organisms exchange substances with their environment Flashcards
(163 cards)
Do smaller or larger organisms have a larger surface area to volume ratio? Why?
Smaller organisms
As size increases, volume increases disproportionately compared to surface area
Why is transport across a small organisms body surface more sufficient?
- distances are short (less than 0.5mm)
- surface area to volume ratio is relatively large
Why can’t large active organisms rely upon their body surface for exchange?
- distances are too great
- surface area relative to volume is insufficient
- nutrients and waste removal for cells is larger
What two systems are needed for a large active organism?
- a specialised exchange surface
- an transport system to deliver materials to and from the exchange surface
Features of a specialised exchange surface:
- a large surface area
- thin barrier to reduce diffusion distance
- large concentration gradient
-fresh supply of molecules on one side
-removal of molecules on the other side
What is the tracheal system?
Series of tubes that deliver oxygen directly to the cells. this process is diffusion (simple)
What are the function of the spiracles?
The way air enters the tracheal system
Spiracles can be opened and closed - this helps to reduce water loss
How can the delivery of oxygen be maximised in the tracheal systemin an insect?
- cells using oxygen generates an oxygen concentration gradient
- pumping of the abdomen ventilates the tracheal system, maintains gradient
- production of metabolites during respiration reduces water potential of cells
How does water leave the tracheoles
Via osmosis
how is oxygen transported directly to tissues undergoing respiration in insects?
from spiracles, trachea or tracheoles, supply it with gases to the body. Gases move in and out through diffusion, mass transport of muscle contraction and water volume change in the tracheoles
Structure of fish gills:
- two rows of filaments
- filaments covered with folds called lamella (increases SA)
- extensive network of blood capillaries (conc. gradient)
Where does gas exchange in a fish take place and why?
Lamella
Distance between water and the blood cells is 5um (short diffusion path)
What is counter current flow?
Blood flows in an opposite direction to water, maintains a favourable concentration gradient, across the entire exchange surface
Why would parallel flow not be efficient in a gill of a fish
Concentration gradient will decrease as blood flows along the lamella preventing any further uptake of oxygen by diffusion
how is ventilation maintained in a fish?
mouth opens and lowers floor of buccal cavity. water flows in. fish closes its mouth, the buccal cavity raises, increases pressure. water is forced over gill filaments by the pressure difference. The operculum acts as a valve, lets water out and in.
how have plants adapted to increase gas exchange in their leaves
- small holes called stomata (in mesophyll) which allow gases to enter and exit the leaves. Large no. of these means cells are close to the stomata, reducing the diffusion distance.
- air spaces allow gases to come in contact with photosynthesising mesophyll cells.
how alveoli have adapted to maximize gas exchange:
- alveoli are one cell thick. These are surrounded by capillaries. This reduces the diffusion pathway for gases.
- constant blood supply by capillaries, creates a steep concentration gradient.
- large number of alveoli (~300 million)
how does the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles play its role in keeping the airway clear
- air enters through the nose, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles
- airway has rings of cartilage, in trachea allows passage of food down the oesophagus
- gas exchange takes place in the walls of alveoli
trachea and bronchi structure
- bronchi are narrower.
- layers make up a thick wall. wall is composed of cartilage, as incomplete C rings
- inside surface of the cartilage is glandular tissue, elastic fibres, smooth muscle and blood vessels
structure of bronchioles
- are narrower than the bronchi.
- larger bronchioles contain cartilage.
- wall is made out of smooth muscle and elastic fibres
- alveoli clusters at the ends
what is pulmonary fibrosis
scarring of the lung, tissue in lungs thicken difficulty to absorb o2 into the bloodstream (loose elasticity)
how dos pulmonary fibrosis effect gas exchange
- fall in lung volume. loss of elasticity, leads to decreased ventilation, leads to a lower tidal volume, due to lack of expansion
- increase diffusion distance
what is asthma?
occurs due to an obstruction in the airways, inflammation and bronchoconstriction, caused by an allergic reaction, so they narrow producing mucus
effect of asthma on gas exchange
- bronchoconstriction disrupt breathing, restriction of ventilation, deprives body of o2
- impaired exchange of o2 between air sacs in and blood in the lungs.
- air trapped in lungs