Topic 4 - Exchange and Transport Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is diffusion?
the movement of particles down a concentration gradient.
What is facilitated diffusion?
diffusion that occurs through carrier proteins or protein channels.
Osmosis.
The net movement of water molecules from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential through a partially permeable membrane.
Endocytosis?
the movement of large molecules into cells through a vesicle.
Exocytosis?
The movement of large molecules out of cells through vesicle formation.
Active transport?
Movement of substances up a concentration gradient across a membrane using ATP.
Describe the process of facilitated diffusion
1) - protein carriers of a specific shape to amino acids carry them across the membrane
2) the protein carrier changes shape and the molecules are passed into the cell
3) Protein carrier returns to its original shape to allow more molecules to enter.
(Passive process)
What happens to a cell in an isotonic solution?
the osmotic concentration of the solute in the solution is the same as that in the cell
What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?
The osmotic concentration of solutes in the solution is lower than that in the cytoplasm of the cell.
(will shrink)
What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?
The osmotic concentration of solutes in the solution is higher than that in the cytoplasm
(become turgid)
What is the equation for water potential of a cell?
water potential of a cell (-) = turgor pressure (+) + osmotic potential (-)
What is turgor pressure?
A measure of the inward pressure exerted by the plant cell on the protoplasm of the cell as the cell contents expand and press outwards, which opposes the entry of water by osmosis.
Osmotic potential?
A measure of the potential of the solution to cause water to move into the cell across a partially permeable membrane as a result of dissolved solutes.
Factors that affect the rate of diffusion?
- surface area
- concentration gradient of the particles diffusing
- distance over which the diffusion is taking place
Effective gas exchange features?
- Large surface area
- Thin layers to minimise diffusion distances
- Rich blood supply to respiratory surfaces, helps maintain steep concentration gradient
- Moist surfaces so the gases dissolve quicker
- Permeable surfaces
Parts of the human gas exchange system and their function?
- Nasal cavity (air enters)
- Mouth (air enters more rapidly)
- Epiglottis (prevents food going wrong way)
- Larynx (voice box, uses air flow)
- Trachea (Major airway to bronchi)
- Incomplete rings of cartilage (prevents collapse, allows food to be swallowed)
- Left and right bronchus (tubes to lungs)
- Lung (where gas exchange happens)
- Bronchioles (small tubes in lungs to alveoli)
- Alveoli (main site of gas exchange)
- Ribs (protective cage)
- Intercostal muscles (between ribs for breathing)
- Pleural membranes (surround lungs and line chest cavity)
- Plueral cavity (space between above )
- Diaphragm (sheet of tissue floor of chest cavity)
Alveoli features for efficient gas exchange
- large surface area
- short diffusion distance
- steep concentration gradient
Describe inhalation
- intercostal muscles contract up and out
- muscles contract and flatten the diaphragm
- volume increases and the pressure lowers
- draws air in
Describe exhalation
- intercostal muscles relax
- diaphragm relaxes into dome shape
- volume decrease
- air forced out
What protects the lungs?
- mucus lines airways to trap particles
- cilia sweep upwards to back of throat
- swallowed
- stomach acid digests mucus
Features of insect gas exchange
- Spiracles (site of entry and exit of gases)
- Tracheae (carry air directly into body)
- Tracheoles (spread throughout tissues of insect)
Gas exchange in fish
- very active=high oxygen demand
- gills have large surface area for diffusion
- good blood supply to maintain conc gradient
- thin walls, short distances
- gills protected by operculum
- countercurrent exchange system
- overlapping gill filaments
Layers of a plant leaf?
- Waxy cuticle (prevent water loss)
- Upper epidermis (transparent for light)
- Palisade mesophyll layer (cells stacked vertically)
- Spongy mesophyll layer (air to increase surface area)
- Lower epidermis, guard cells, stomata (guard cells open and close to prevent water losss from the stomata so need thick walls)
Lenticels?
areas of loosely arranged cells which act as a pore to allow gas exchange in lignified (woody) plants