Gas Exchange

in Human
Features of gas exchange surface in human :

They are thin to allow gases to diffuse across them quickly

They are close to an efficient transport system to take gases

to and from the exchange surface

They have large surface area so that a lot of gas can diffuse
across at the same time

They have a good supply of oxygen (often brought by

breathing movement).
 Respiratory Organ
The most important organ that plays a role in gas exchange are
Lungs.

The air follows these following pathway :

Air → Nose and mouth → pharynx → larynx → trachea →bronchi → bronchiole → Alveoli
1. Nose and Mouth
• Nose and mouth are
separated by the palate so that
food will not enter the nasal
cavity.

• The structure in nose allows

the air to become warm,
moist, and filtered before it
gets to lungs.

• Hairs in the nose trap the dust

•The turbinal bones inside the

nose lined with thin layer of
cell that produce mucus.
These called the Goblet cell.
2. Trachea

• at the top of the trachea is a piece of

cartilage called the Epiglottis which
closes the trachea when you swallow
and prevent the food from entering the
air pathways.

• Below the epiglottis there is the voice

box or larynx that contains vocal cords.

•The vocal cords can be tightened by

muscles so that it makes sounds when
air passes over .

• The trachea has rings of cartilage

which keep it open.
• Other cells have a very
tiny hair like projections
called cilia. The cilia
always moving and
bacteria or particles of dust
get trapped in them and in
the mucus.

• Cilia are found all along

the trachea and bronchi
too. It pushes the mucus
containing bacteria and
dust outside the respiratory
tract so it wont block the
air pathways.
3. Bronchi

In the thorax the trachea

divides into two and these two
branches are called the bronchi
(singular : bronchus)

Inside the lungs the bronchus

will make smaller branches
called bronchioles
4. Alveoli

• Tiny air sacs at the end of

each bronchiole.
• This is the place where the
gas exchange occur.
• Tiny capillaries are
closely wrapped around the
outside of alveoli.
Oxygen diffuse across the
wall of alveoli into the
blood.
Gas Exchange in Lungs

Characteristics of Alveoli
walls
1. They are very thin, only
one cell thick.
2. Have excellent transport
system
3. Have large surface area
4. Have good supply of
oxygen
Breathing Movement
There are two muscle that help to control the volume of human’s
thorax in order to make air able to move in and out of the lungs.
They are intercostal muscle between the ribs and muscle in the
diaphragm.
Breathing in (Inspiration)

The muscle of External

diaphragm contract intercostal muscle
contract
Diagram moves
downward

Thorax volume Ribcage moves

increase upwards and
outwards
Pressure inside the
lung decrease

Air enters
Breathing out (Expiration)

The muscle of
diaphragm relax External intercostal
muscle relax
Diagram moves
upwards

Thorax volume Ribcage moves

decrease downward to
normal position
Pressure inside the
lung increase

Air leaves the lung

 When someone coughing the
internal intercostal muscles
contact strongly making the
ribcage drop down further. The
muscle of abdomen wall will
contract, making extra air is
squeezed out more.
 Inspired Air Expired Air Reason for difference

Oxygen 21 % 16% Oxygen is absorbed across the gas

exchange surface, then used by cells
in respiration

Carbon dioxide 0.04% 4% Carbon dioxide is made inside

respiring cells, and diffuses out across
the gas exchange surface

Argon and other 1% 1%

noble gas

Water content Variable Always high Gas exchange surfaces are made of
(humidity) living cells, so must be kept moist;
some of this moisture evaporates into
the air
Temperature Variable Always Air is warmed as it passes through the
warm respiratory passages