9.

Gas Exchange
(Short notes - Revised – Text book based)

 Human gas exchange links the circulatory system with the atmosphere and has
adaptations :-
1. Clean and warm air that enters
2. Maximize surface area of diffusion of O2 and CO2 between blood and
atmosphere
3. Reduce diffusion distance
4. Maintain adequate gradients for diffusion
 Multi cellular organisms have a gas exchange surface, so that O2 and CO2 can
diffuse in and out.
 Our gas exchange surface = Alveolus
 Gas exchange occurs across body surface of organisms with large surface area:
volume ratios, and specialized for small ones.

Lungs
 Located in the chest (thoracic) cavity surrounded by pleural membranes.

Trachea, Bronchi and Bronchioles

 These are the branching system of airways

 From throat to lungs = Trachea
 At the base of trachea are the two bronchi.
 These bronchi subdivide into smaller bronchioles and branch
extensively.
 Terminal bronchioles divide to form even narrower respiratory
bronchioles that supply alveolar ducts with air.
  Cartilage (in trachea and bronchi) keep airway open and of low
resistance.
 Prevents collapsing or bursting.
 In Trachea, C-shaped rings of cartilage.
 In Bronchi, irregular blocks of cartilage.

Q) Explain the role of smooth muscles in the gas exchange system?

 Smooth muscle in the airways contracts to reduce the diameter and

relaxes to increase the diameter so adjusting the passage of air in and out
of the lungs.
 When demand for oxygen increases, smooth muscle relaxes to allow
more air into the alveoli per breath.

Q) Explain why there are so many alveoli in the lungs?

 Each alveolus is very small (about 250μm in diameter).

 Gas exchange requires a huge surface area so that sufficient oxygen can
diffuse into the blood and carbon dioxide can diffuse out.
 Diffusion is a passive process relying on maintaining concentration
gradients between air and blood.
 Oxygen is not very soluble in water so large surface compensates for
this.

Warming and Cleaning Air

 When air flows through the nostrils it is warmed to body temperature.

 It is moistened by evaporation from lining that also protects the delicate
surfaces of the lung from desiccation (drying out).
 Particles larger than 5-10µm get caught in hairs inside nose and on mucus
lining nasal passages and airways.
  In trachea and bronchi, mucus is produced by goblet cells of the ciliated
epithelium.
 Goblet Cells – A cell found in epithelial lining parts of gas system and other
systems (digestive and reproductive), that secretes mucus.
 Ciliated Epithelium – Consists mainly of ciliated cells and goblet cells.
 Upper part of each goblet cell is swollen with mucin secreted by it.
 Mucus is a slimy solution of mucin, composed of glycoproteins with many
carbohydrate chains that make them sticky.
 Rest of the cell contains, Golgi, RER, mitochondria and a nucleus.
 Pollutants like SO2 and NO2 can dissolve in mucus to form an acidic solution
that can irritate airway linings.
 Cilia beat to move the mucus upwards towards the larynx.
 Mucus gradually swallowed to destroy pathogen by stomach acid. (PHEW!
Done with that )

Alveoli

 Alveolar walls contain elastic fibres which stretch during inspiration and recoil
during expiration to force air out.
 Elasticity allows alveoli to expand.
 Walls also have collagen fibres for support and prevention of bursting.

Adaptations of the alveoli for fast diffusion

 They have thin wall made of squamous epithelial cells to decrease diffusion
distance. (one cell thick wall)
 They are surrounded by a network of blood capillaries so that gasses can easily
diffuse in and out.
 They have a large surface area when expanded.
  They have a thin water layer/ moisture layer so that gases can dissolve in them
on entry.
 It maintains a constant steep concentration gradient of gases with the
atmosphere. (ex:- O2 is higher outside than in lungs so it diffuses in from high
to low concentration down the gradient)

Q) What are the similarities and differences between cilia and microvilli?

Cilia Microvilli
extensions of the cell surface extensions of the cell surface
 surrounded by cell surface membrane surrounded by cell surface membrane

cilia move back and forth microvilli do not

cilia move fluid over the surface of an microvilli do not
epithelium
cilia have a 9+2 arrangement of microvilli do not
microtubules
microvilli increase surface area of cell cilia are not used for absorption
surface membrane for absorption

Q) What is the advantage of being able to adjust the diameter of bronchioles?

 During exercise the bronchioles are wider to allow more air to reach the alveoli
to supply the large quantities of oxygen needed during exercise and to remove
carbon dioxide.

Q) Tick to show if present or not.

Structure Trachea Respiratory

Bronchiole
Smooth muscle ✓ ✗
Ciliated ✓ ✓
epithelium
Mucous glands ✓ ✗
Cartilage ✓ ✗
Elastic fibres ✓ ✓

Q) Describe to show how alveoli are protected against infection?

 Mucus secreted by mucous glands (in the trachea) / goblet cells (in trachea and
bronchi) bacteria / viruses / pathogens, stick to mucus.
 Cilia move mucus, upwards towards the throat. Mucus and pathogens
swallowed and destroyed by acid in stomach.
 Macrophages / phagocytes, in the alveoli; engulf and digest any pathogens.

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By: - ReshFResh™