Chapter 11 Gas Exchange Note

Name :

1. Gas exchange needs :

 A respiratory surface – membranes lining the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs
 A set of tubes – to allow air from the outside to reach the respiratory surface –
bronchial tree
 A blood supply – pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein to carry dissolved gases to
and from the respiratory surface.
 A ventilation system – the intercostal muscle and diaphragm, to keep a good flow of
air over the respiratory surface.

2. Adaptations of surface area of gas exchange to increase the efficiency of gas exchange at
alveolus:
Adaptation of Alveoli Improve efficiency by
 Thin/one cell thick  Gases have a short distance over which to
membrane diffuse/ gas exchange rapidly
 Large surface area  Many molecules of gas can diffuse across at the
same time
 Moist surface area  Allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to dissolve in it
 Well ventilated  Concentration gradients for oxygen and carbon
dioxide are kept up by regular fresh supplies of
air.
 Rich network of blood  Gases can be carried to and from the cells rapidly
capillaries

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3. Respiratory System
 Respiratory system consists of :
o Nostril, nasal cavity, trachea, bronchus, bronchiole, alveolus, blood capillary
o Trachea has a C- shaped cartilage which is important to prevent the trachea
from collapsing during breathing.
o Ribs, internal and external intercostal muscles and diaphragm (Respiratory
muscles
o During swallowing, epiglottis will closed. This will prevent the food bolus
from entering into the trachea.

4. Ciliated epithelium that line the trachea, bronchus and bronchiole

5. Breathing mechanism
Inhalation Exhalation
External intercostal muscle Contract Relax
Internal intercostal muscle Relax Contract
Ribcage movement Move upwards and Move inwards and
outwards downwards
Diaphragm muscle Contract and become Relax and curve upwards
flatten
Volume of thoracic cavity Increase Decrease
Pressure of thoracic cavity Lower than the atmospheric Increased and higher than
pressure the atmospheric pressure
Movement of air Enter the lungs via nostrils Leave the lungs

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 6. Component of air during inhalation and exhalation
Experiment

Only lime water in Flask B turn cloudy. This is because the air that enter flask A is the inhaled
air, which contain 21% of oxygen and 0.4% of carbon dioxide. Air that flow through flask B is
exhaled air, which contain 16% of oxygen and 4% of carbon dioxide.

Component of air Inhaled air Exhaled air Reason

Oxygen (%) 21 16-18 Oxygen has diffused from air, to the
blood until it reached the alveoli
Carbon dioxide (%) 0.04 4 Carbon dioxide is make during aerobic
respiration in cell. Diffuse from cell into
the blood, then enter alveoli
Nitrogen (%) 78 78 Nitrogen is not used in the body
Water vapour variable Saturated Water evaporates from the surface of the
lungs
Temperature (°C) variable 37 Heat is lost to the air from the lungs
 In the blood, oxygen is always transported by haemoglobin in the form of oxyhaemoglobin.
 In the blood, most of the carbon dioxide is transported in blood plasma as bicarbonate ions.

7. Spirometer is used to evaluate the efficiency of the lungs. Spirometer will generate a spirogram.

 Lung volumes and lung capacities refer to the volume of air in the lungs at different
phases of the respiratory cycle.

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  The average total lung capacity of an adult human male is about 6 litres of air.
 Tidal breathing is normal, resting breathing; the tidal volume is the volume of air
that is inhaled or exhaled in only a single such breath.
 Vital capacity: the volume of air breathed out after the deepest inhalation.
 The average human respiratory rate is 30-60 breaths per minute at birth, decreasing
to 12-20 breaths per minute in adults
 Lung capacity can be expanded through flexibility exercises such as yoga, breathing
exercises, and physical activity. A greater lung capacity is sought by people such as
athletes, freedivers, singers, and wind-instrument players.
 A stronger and larger lung capacity allows more air to be inhaled into the lungs. In
using lungs to play a wind instrument for example, exhaling an expanded volume of
air will give greater control to the player and allow for a clearer and louder tone.
 When a person perform vigorous exercise, the volume of air breath in with each breathe and
the rate of breathing also increased. This will then increase the total volume of air breathed
in per minute.
 Explanation :
 During vigorous exercise, muscle contract faster. Thus, it needs more ATP energy
that is released from aerobic respiration. Heart muscle also contract faster, to
circulate blood rapidly to cells especially muscles to supply oxygen and glucose and
removed carbon dioxide.
 Increasing of breathing rate maintain pH of blood, concentration of oxygen and
carbon dioxide in the muscle cells.

8. Comparison between the spirogram of a person who rest and exercise.

 The volume of air in the lungs and frequency of breath per minute increases during and
immediately after exercise. When exercise stops, the frequency still last for a while, but
the volume will start to decrease.
 When a person perform vigorous exercise,
 the volume of air breath in with each breathe increase
 the rate of breathing also increase
 total volume of air breathed in per minute increase.
 Temperature of air breathe out also increase
 Blood pH drop
 Heart beat rate increase
 Explanation :
 During vigorous exercise, muscle contract faster. Thus, it needs more ATP energy
that is released from aerobic respiration.

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  Heart muscle also contract faster, to circulate blood rapidly to cells especially
muscles to supply oxygen and glucose to muscle and removed carbon dioxide from
muscle to the lungs.
 Aerobic respiration in the muscle produce CO2 that will dissolves in blood plasma to
form carbonic acid or anaerobic respiration will produce lactic acid. With these, the
blood pH will drop after vigorous exercise.
 Increasing of breathing rate maintain pH of blood, concentration of oxygen and
carbon dioxide in the muscle cells.

9. Disease that is related to respiratory membrane – asthma

 Breathing difficult, air cannot move along the windpipe because :
 The muscles in the wall of the bronchi contract
 The lining of the bronchi “leaks” a sticky mucus
 Causes of asthma attack :
 Allergy to pollen, dust
 Emotion,
 Breathing in cold air
 Smoke
 Air pollution
 Treatment :
 Removal of the factor that cause asthma attack
 Use Bronchodilator – a spray which contain a chemical to relax the bronchial
muscles.

10. Respiratory system and smoking

 Cigarette smoke contain carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, tar, nicotine and heat.
 Carbon monoxide is poisonous gas which will bind permanently with haemoglobin and
form carboxyhaemoglobin. This will decrease the efficiency of blood to deliver enough
oxygen to all body cells.
 Oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide will dissolve in water and form acid. This will
corrodes the lining of respiratory tract and membrane of alveolus. This may lead to lung
Emphysema
 Tar is carcinogenic. It will cause mutation at lungs cell and lead to lungs cancer
 Nicotine will increase risk of high blood pressure, which also increase chance of
arteriosclerosis.
 Heat will paralysed cilia and cause it difficult for the mucus to be sweep out of the lungs.
 Smoke particles irritates respiratory system and cause asthma attack, prone to lungs
infection.

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11. Lungs emphysema

 Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness
of breath due to over-inflation of the alveoli (air sacs in the lung).
 In people with emphysema, the lung tissue involved in exchange of gases (oxygen and
carbon dioxide) is impaired or destroyed.