Topic 3: Organisms exchange substances with their environment Flashcards
(355 cards)
Describe the relationship between the size, surface area and volume ratio of organisms
As the size of an organism increases the surface area to volume ratio decreases
How do you calculate surface area to volume ratio
surface area / volume
Explain the position of mitochondria in large cells
-large cells have smaller surface area to volume ratio which means that without mitochondria being close to the cell surface membrane, diffusion pathway would be longer and less efficient
adaptations of gas exchange surfaces
Adaptations of gas exchange surfaces:
across the body surface of a single-celled organism
in the tracheal system of an insect (tracheae, tracheoles and spiracles)
across the gills of fish (gill lamellae and filaments including the counter-current principle)
by the leaves of dicotyledonous plants (mesophyll and stomata).
exchange and surface area
To survive, organisms transfer materials between the internal and external environments
-The environment around cells of multicellular organisms is tissue fluid
-Mass transport systems maintains diffusion gradient pathways
-the size and metabolic rate of an organism will affect the amount of material that is exchanged. Larger metabolic rate = larger surface area : volume ratio
-exchange can take place passively (diffusion or osmosis) or actively (active transport)
what do organisms need to exchange
oxygen, glucose, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, urea, carbon dioxide, heat
what is the importance of exchange
metabolic processes like respiration
homeostasis (heat)
how are things exchanged
Active transport –> requires metabolic energy e.g co transport
Passive processes –> no energy e,g simple diffusion
surface area to volume ratio
Larger animals have a smaller surface area to volume ratio
Smaller animals have a large surface area to volume ratio
what are the names for two tubes transporting gases to respiring tissues
trachea
tracheoles
Explain four ways in which an insects tracheal system is adapted for efficient gas exchange
1) has many tracheoles that are highly branched so increases surface area
2) Tracheoles also have thin walls which reduces diffusion pathway
3) Trachea has fluid/gas at the end of tracheoles that moves into tissues so faster diffusion
4) body can be moved by muscles so moves air which ensures a concentration gradient
Explain the movement of oxygen into the gas exchange system of an insect when it is at rest
-there is a high concentration of oxygen closest to the spiracle and lower concentration of oxygen in respiring tissues. This means that at rest oxygen diffuses down a concentration gradient to respiring tissues to be used in processes such as aerobic respiration
Describe an explain the results of abdominal pumping on gas exchange of insects
-as pressure increases the amount of CO2 released increases
-as tubes of gas exchange system are squeezed during abdominal pumping, volume decreases and thus pressure increases
-this means that more CO2 is released due to gases moving from high to low pressure
what stimulates the spiracle to open
high partial pressure of CO2
what causes the oxygen concentration in the trachea to fall when the spiracles are closed
-respiration causes oxygen conc to fall and no new oxygen can enter the spiracle through diffusion as it is closed
do insects have a large or small surface area to volume ratio
large
what gas exchange system do insects have
tracheal
what is the spiracle
opening in the surface of an insects gas exchange system
what does the exoskeleton do
provides protection
reduces water loss
what do cartilage rings around the trachea of an insect do
gives it structure and prevents it from collapsing
what are tracheoles
dead end tubes which are high gas in volume which increases the surface area. They also have thin walls which means a shorter diffusion pathway
how to gases move in an out an insects tracheal system (3 ways)
-down a diffusion gradient
-mass transport due to muscle contraction
-pressure changes due to changing water volume
how do gases move down a diffusion gradient in insects
-Oxygen –> high O2 concentration closest to the spiracle and lower closest to respiring tissues
-Carbon dioxide –> High CO2 concentration closest to the respiring tissues and lower closest to the spiracle
how does mass transport due to muscle contraction occur in insects
1) muscle contractions reduce the volume inside the trachea
2) this increases the gas pressure inside the insect
3) causing gases to move to an area of lower pressure in the atmosphere surrounding the insect.
–> moves out gas (CO2) during respiration from exercise
-Abdominal pumping is an example of muscle contraction (high pressure = more CO2 released due to volume decreasing)