Gas Exchange Structures

Discuss the leaf structure of plants

1. What are stoma and where are they located.

o Answer

Specialised structures that allow for gas exchange through the leaves in plants

Each stoma consists of a pore and two guard cells

Located everywhere on a plant, except the roots

Most abundant on the bottom of leaves

2. Explain why plants need stoma.

o Answer

Exchange of gases

They release excess oxygen produced from photosynthesis and take up carbon
dioxide for photosynthesis

3. Distinguish between stoma, stomata, guard cells and lenticels.

o Answer

Stoma

Pores on leaves, where carbon dioxide moves into the plants and oxygen is
released

Stomata

Plural of stoma

Guard cells

Bean-shaped cells in pairs on either side of stomata

Open and close stomata to regulate the exchange of gases

Lenticels

Pores for gas exchange on the woody parts of plants

4. Identify the three gases that are exchanged through stomata.

o Answer

Carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapour

 5. Describe the changes in the guard cells that cause the opening and closing of the
stomata.
o Answer

Fill with water

The thin outer walls stretch outwards while the thick inner walls do not move,
pulling them apart so the pore widens

Lose water (reverse)

The thin outer walls move together with the thick inner walls, moving them
together so the pore closes

6. Compare how gases move in and out of leaf cells with how they are transferred in root
cells.
o Answer

Through stomata in leaf cells

Diffusion in root cells

7. Describe conditions that affect the opening and closing of the stomata.
o Answer

Mainly light

Usually stomata will open at daybreak and close at night

Amount of water in the plant

If water in the plant falls, the stoma will close to conserve water

If there is high humidity, the stomata will stay open as less water is evaporated

Amount of carbon dioxide

High concentration means the stomata will close, low means it will open

Discuss the respiratory systems of heterotrophs

1. What is meant by 'gas exchange'?

o Answer

Movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in a membrane

2. Outline the necessary characteristics of a gaseous exchange surface.

o Answer
 Large surface area
 Moist surface
  Thin surface
 Maintained concentration gradient
 Close proximity to an efficient transport system
3. Where does oxygen enter the bloodstream in humans?
o Answer

In the capillaries that surround alveoli

4. What happens to oxygen once it enters the bloodstream?

o Answer

Attaches to the haemoglobin in red blood cells, forming oxyhemoglobin

Transported to the heart, which pumps the red blood cells containing oxygen
to the rest of the body

5. Identify the respiratory pigment in human blood and outline why it is advantageous
for humans to have this pigment in their blood.
o Answer

Haemoglobin increases the oxygen carrying capacity of blood

Enables cells to be more efficiently supplied with oxygen which enabling

humans to function more efficiently

6. Describe the gaseous exchange surfaces of fish.

o Answer

Fish use gills for gas exchange

Gills are highly folded, giving them a large surface area for gas exchange

Blood flowing in the gill moves in a countercurrent flow to the water moving
over it

Maintains a concentration gradient, as oxygenated blood is constantly moved

away from the gills

7. Describe the gaseous exchange surfaces of insects.

o Answer

Insects use tracheal tubes to carry air directly to cells

The end of the tracheoles are filled with a watery fluid in which gases dissolve
and diffuse easier