GAS EXCHANGE ACTIVITY

1. Provide an image of the following:

(a) Monocot leaf cross section e.g. Zea mays
(b) Dicot leaf cross section e.g. Ixora sp.
Label the upper and lower epidermis, mesophyll, and vascular bundles.
(a) Monocot leaf cross section (b) Dicot leaf cross section

Upper
Upper
Epidermis
Epidermis
Palisade
Mesophyll
Vascular Vascular
Bundles Bundles
Mesophyll Spongy
Tissue Mesophyll
Lower
Epidermis Lower
Epidermis

2. Describe how air can enter the leaf. Provide an image of a leaf epidermis showing the stoma.
Label the stomatal pore, guard cells, and subsidiary or accessory cells.

Carbon dioxide from the air enters the plant leaves through tiny pores that can open and close
called stomata. The oxygen left over from photosynthesis passes out of the leaves through the
stomata and then into the air. Water also moves from the leaves into the air through the stomata.

Stomatal Pore
Subsidiary Cells

Guard Cell
 3. Provide an image of an insect tracheal system. The large tracheae are reinforced by thickened
spiral rings of cuticle called taenidia while the smaller tracheae have annular rings. Label the
large tracheae, taenidia, smaller tracheae, and annular rings.

Taenidia Small Trachea

(thickening of chitin)

Large Trachea

Annular Rings
Tracheoles

4. Provide an image of a toad. Examine the external nares and the oral cavity. Locate the epiglottis
which leads to the glottis. Observe the lungs in the chest cavity. What do you call the numerous
branches and the air sacs found in the lungs? Provide a diagrammatic representation of the
respiratory system of the toad. Label the external nares, pharynx, glottis, larynx, trachea,
bronchi and lungs.

In our lungs, the main airways (bronchi) branch off into smaller and smaller passageways. The smallest
branches called bronchioles lead to tiny air sacs (alveoli).

Laryngo-Tracheal
External Chamber
Nares
Larynx

Pharynx Trachea
Glottis

Lungs Bronchi
Alveoli