3.

1 Exchange

Questions Answers
1) Diffusion and active transport are
two modes of exchange. What are Active transport takes place against a concentration gradient and requires the organism to use
the key differences between the energy. Diffusion takes place down a concentration gradient and does not require energy.
two?

Bacteria are single-celled organisms with small, compact cells. As a result, all bacterial
2) Explain why bacteria do not need cytoplasm is close to the organism’s external surface. Bacteria can exchange substances by
specialised exchange surfaces. active transport or simple diffusion across the cell surface membrane, and these substances
1 Size and Shape

can easily reach all parts of the cytoplasm.

Surface area (1 side) = (side length)2

Surface area (1 side) = 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm = 2.25 cm2
3) i) A cube has sides of 1.5 cm. Total surface area = 6 × surface area (1 side) = 6 × 2.25 cm2 = 13.5 cm2
What is its surface area to
volume ratio? Volume = (side length)3 = 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm = 3.375 cm3
Surface area / Volume = 13.5/3.375 = 4

Surface area = 6 × (side length)2

8 cm × 8 cm = 64 cm2
ii) If the cube had sides of 8 cm,
6 × 64 cm2 = 384 cm2
what would its surface area to
volume ratio be? Volume = (side length)3 8 cm × 8 cm × 8 cm = 512 cm3
Surface area / Volume = 384/512 = 0.75

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 Questions Answers

Larger organisms need specialised surfaces for exchange because their surface area to volume
1 Size and Shape (Continued)

iii) Bearing in mind your answers to ratio is too small, and diffusion and active transport across the outer skin would not be enough
i) and ii), why do larger to meet the body’s needs.
organisms require specialised
exchange surfaces? For example, it would take too long for air diffusing through the skin to reach cells in the inside
of bone tissue, and these cells would be deprived of oxygen and could die.

Possible answers include:

 thin, to allow easy movement of substances across a short diffusion distance
4) State two characteristics common to  selectively permeable, to allow some substances to diffuse across while blocking the
effective exchange surfaces. Explain movement of others
why these characteristics are found  large surface area, to provide a large area across which diffusion can take place
in most exchange surfaces.  regular removal of substances by a transport system (such as the blood vessels), to
maintain a concentration gradient

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 Questions Answers
5) Identify surfaces in the human body
which exchange: i) Alveoli (need to be more specific than lungs)
i) oxygen and carbon dioxide ii) Villi in the small intestine (accept ileum as alternative answer)
1 Size and Shape (Continued)

ii) products of digestion

6) Describe the relationship between
body size and metabolic rate in
animals.

Metabolic rate increases in proportion with body size, but they are not directly proportionate.
Metabolic rate does not increase as quickly as body size does.

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 Questions Answers
1) Place these elements of the respiratory system in
order to show the route that aerial oxygen takes on
its way to cells. trachea, bronchus, bronchiole, alveolus, alveolar epithelium, red blood cell
bronchiole, alveolar epithelium, alveolus, bronchus,
2 Gaseous Exchange in Mammals

red blood cell, trachea

Possible answers: goblet cells produce mucus which traps dirt and bacteria.
2) Name two features of the trachea. What do these
Cilia brush mucus up through the throat to be swallowed. Rings of cartilage
features do?
strengthen and support the trachea.

The bronchi subdivide into bronchioles, which end in bunches of alveoli –

3) Fill in the gaps with these words: tiny air sacs which are enclosed by a thin layer of epithelium. This layer is
cytoplasm, epithelium, surface area, bronchioles, composed of very flat squamous cells which have little cytoplasm and are
alveoli, capillaries surrounded by miniscule blood vessels known as capillaries. The entire
structure ensures a very large surface area for the exchange of gases.

4) Alveoli are found inside, rather than outside the Challenges include: energy is used in breathing, limits surface area of
body, where they cannot interact directly with alveoli.
the air. Advantages include: protection of thin alveolar epithelium and blood
vessels, reduced water loss, ability to filter out bacteria and harmful
Suggest one challenge and one advantage of this substances, it’s easier to keep the blood temperature constant inside the
arrangement. body.

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 Questions Answers

i) Cartilage provides stability and strength to the trachea.

2 Gaseous Exchange in Mammals (Continued)
5) Cartilage is found in C-shaped rings down the length of the trachea.
ii) The cartilage rings are incomplete so that the
i) What is the purpose of cartilage in the trachea? oesophagus can run alongside the trachea. If cartilage
formed complete rings, it would press against the
ii) Why does it not form complete rings?
oesophagus and make it difficult to swallow food.

6) Michael is a teacher feeling frustrated by his class. To remain calm

and collected, he breathes in and then breathes out deeply again.
Put these stages of the process in the correct order.
A) The ribs fall and move inwards, decreasing the chest’s volume.
B) Increased pressure levels push air out of the lungs.
C) The ribs are moved upwards and outwards, increasing the chest’s
volume.
D) The diaphragm rebounds as it relaxes, pushed upwards by the
contents of the abdomen below it. Correct order: E, C, G, F, H, A, D, B, I
E) The external intercostal muscles contract, while at the same time
the internal intercostal muscles relax.
F) Dropping pressure levels pull air into the lungs.
G) The diaphragm muscle contracts, and its membrane becomes
flattened, increasing the thoracic volume.
H) The internal intercostal muscles contract, while at the same time
the external intercostal muscles relax.
I) The abdominal muscles contract to push the abdomen up against
the diaphragm, releasing more air and leaving a residual volume.

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 Questions Answers
7) The graphs below show changes in lung volume over time. The
first graph shows changes for a woman who has just finished
watching television. The second graph shows changes for the
same woman two hours later, when she has just completed a fast-
paced tennis match.
Lung volume
3 More Gaseous Exchange in Mammals

i) When the subject is at rest,

A
her metabolic rate is lower,
and less oxygen must be
consumed. Breathing is
slower and less air is inspired
with each breath.
Just after the subject has
Time exercised intensively, her
body will have developed an
oxygen debt. In order to
repay this debt, the subject
breathes faster, and more air
Lung volume

is inspired in each breath.

B
ii) Intense exercise increases
the oxygen uptake, because
it increases both the volume
of air inspired and the
breathing rate.

Time

i) Explain the differences between the two graphs.

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 Questions Answers

8) Frank is a student who is using a spirometer to measure

his classmate Dora’s breathing. He says:  Lung volume is three-dimensional, and should be measured in
3 More Gaseous Exchange in Mammals

decimetres cubed (dm3) not dm2

From the spirometer, we can see that Dora’s total lung  Likewise, oxygen uptake should be measured in dm3 min-1.
volume is 4.6 dm2. Her breathing rate is 11 breaths per  A spirometer cannot be used to measure total lung volume – this
minute. From this, we can calculate that Dora’s oxygen must be known beforehand or estimated.
uptake is 50.6 dm2 min–1.  An incorrect formula has been used. Multiplying tidal volume (not
total lung volume) by breathing rate gives oxygen uptake.
Identify three things that are wrong with this statement.

i) Tidal volume is the amount of air inhaled during a normal, unforced

9) i) Define the term ‘tidal volume’.
breath.
ii) Explain how tidal volume could be calculated from a
ii) Tidal volume is the difference between the peak and trough of a
graph such as those shown in question 8).
wave, while the individual being measured is breathing normally.

Oxygen uptake = tidal volume (dm3) × breathing rate

10) A resting subject has an oxygen uptake of 8.096 dm 3
(min–1)
min–1 and a tidal volume of 0.460 dm3.
8.096 = 0.460 × b
How many breaths per minute does the subject take at b = 8.096/0.460
rest? Breathing rate = 17.6 breaths per minute

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 Questions Answers
1) In insects, what is a spiracle, and
A spiracle is a pore in an insect’s skin, leading to a trachea, which allows respiratory gases to
how does it support exchange of
diffuse in and out of the insect’s body.
substances?
2) Each respiratory unit of spiracle,
trachea and tracheoles is repeated No cell in the insect’s body is far from the gaseous exchange system, making exchange of
4 Strategies for Obtaining Oxygen

several times across the insect’s oxygen and carbon dioxide more efficient. This allows the insect to have a faster metabolic
body. Suggest one advantage of rate and to be more active.
this.
Some insects have a high demand for oxygen because they are very active, e.g. bees, locusts
and large beetles. These insects can rhythmically contract their thorax (upper body) and
3) Fill in the gaps to complete the abdomen (lower body), changing the volume of the body and forcing air into the tracheoles.
paragraph.
The tracheoles also contain tracheal fluid;water from the fluid moves out of the tracheoles
by osmosis when lactic acid builds up, increasing the surface area for exchange of gases.

4) Why does the tracheal system Gases are exchanged by diffusion. This is only efficient over short distances, and in larger
limit the size of insects? animals it would not allow exchange at a fast enough rate to keep the body functioning.

5) When a bony fish closes its mouth, The volume of the buccal cavity drops, and water Did you know?
Certain sharks use ram ventilation,
this facilitates ventilation. Explain in the mouth is, therefore, placed under greater meaning they swim with their mouths
how. pressure. Water is forced across the gills and out permanently open, using the power of their
through the operculum under pressure, increasing movement to force water across their gills.
These sharks find it difficult to stop
the rate of flow and, therefore, causing more swimming. It’s a common misconception
oxygen to be absorbed by the blood. that all sharks have to keep swimming to
stay alive, but most species use a mix of

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 Questions Answers

Gill filament
Water
Lamella

6) Label the following on the gill:

4 Strategies for Obtaining Oxygen

filament, gill arch, lamella. Blood

Draw arrows to indicate the

direction of water and blood flow. Gill arch

Counter-current flow is a process in which two liquids flow across each other in opposite
directions, separated by a membrane. In fish, blood flows in the opposite direction to the
water filtered through the gills.

7) What is counter-current flow? Oxygen concentration is lower in water than in air, which means fish must adapt to maximise
oxygen absorption.
Why is it useful to fish in their
environment? Counter-current flow ensures that highly oxygenated water meets the most oxygenated blood,
while less oxygenated water meets deoxygenated blood coming from the body.

This maintains a diffusion gradient, so that the maximum possible oxygen can be absorbed
from the water.

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