Name: _______________________________________ Name: ___________________________________

Worksheet .1
ALVEOLI AND LUNG SURFACE AREA

Purpose ● To work out how the surface area of the lungs is greatly increased by the presence of numerous alveoli.
Statement of Objectives: (identify at least 3 specific objectives related to the problem)

Materials:
Calculator and ballpen
Procedure
1. Complete the calculations yourself using this activity.
2. For these calculations we are assuming:
a) that the lungs are two perfect spheres
b) that each sphere has a radius of 89 mm, giving a volume of 3 dm3 , 3 ×106 mm3
c) that the diameter of an alveolus is 0.25 mm.
We first find the surface area of these two spheres by working out:
1. Surface area of one sphere = 4πr 2
= ______________mm 2
2. Surface area of the two spheres = answer to part (1) × 2
= ______________mm 2
We now calculate the surface area of an alveolus by working out:
3. Diameter of one alveolus =____________ mm
4. Radius of one alveolus = diameter ÷2
= ______________ mm
5. Volume of one alveolus = 4/3 πr 3
= ______________mm3
6. Surface area of one alveolus = 4πr 2
= ______________mm 2
To find out the surface area of all the alveoli that can fit into the two ‘sphere’ lungs you must work out:
7. The number of alveoli that will fit into both the lungs
= volume of lungs/mm3 ÷ volume of one alveolus/mm3
= 6 × 106
=______________ alveoli
8. Surface area of the alveoli that will fit inside the lungs
= surface area of one alveolus x number of alveoli
= ______________ x __________________
= ________________mm 2

Alveoli increase the surface area of the lungs times. (Divide the surface area with alveoli by the surface area without alveoli to
find the factor it has increased by.)

Questions
Q1 What assumptions have you made when estimating the surface area of the lungs in this activity?
Q2 The actual surface area of a typical pair of human lungs is 60–80 m² but can be as much as 140 m². This maximum lung
surface area is closest to which of the following? Circle the correct answer.
a. a large dining table
b. the floor of a small room
c. a tennis court
d. a football pitch
Q3 Does your estimate give a reasonably precise value for lung surface area? Explain your answer.
Q4 Does your estimate give a reliable value for lung surface area? Explain your answer.
Q5 List the features of gas exchange surfaces and describe how they increase the rate of gas exchange.

Conclusion: (discuss the stated objectives)