Chapter 11 Gas Exchange

Gas Exchange
Secondary 3
TRACHEA
•Rings of cartilage surround the trachea

(and bronchi)
•The function of the cartilage is
to support the airways and keep them
open during breathing
•If they were not present then the sides
could collapse inwards when the air
pressure inside the tubes drops
•Muscles are only able to pull on bones, not push on
them
•This means that there must be two sets of intercostal
muscles; one to pull the rib cage up and another set to
pull it down
•One set of intercostal muscles is found on the outside
of the ribcage (the external intercostal muscles)
•The other set is found on the inside of the rib cage
(the internal intercostal muscles)
LUNGS LARYNX BRONCHIOLES
are the main organs in the contains the vocal cords. Smaller tubes which branch off
respiratory system, containing the from the bronchi in the lungs,
surfaces where gas exchange takes TRACHEA leading to the alveoli.
place. connects the throat to the bronchi.
C-shaped cartilage rings are ALVEOLI

RIBS present to provide structural
Where gas exchange occurs;
The ribs also protect the lungs and strength, keeping the trachea open
comprised of tiny air sacs with a
heart from physical damage. so that air can pass through it
capillary network.
BRONCHI Oxygen from the air diffuses into

INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES Bronchi-hollow tubes composed of the capillaries, whilst waste
are found between the ribs. cartilage rings that carry air from carbon dioxide diffuses out.
the trachea to the lungs.
Internal and external intercostal Waste gases are then breathed
muscles work antagonistically in The bronchi splits into two tubes out.
pairs to expand and contract the to enter the left and right lung,
rib cage during breathing. before branching further inside
the lungs
•The passages down to the lungs are lined
with ciliated epithelial cells
•Cilia comes from the Latin for eyelash, so
unsurprisingly these cells have tiny hairs on the
end of them that beat and push mucus up the
passages towards the nose and throat where it
can be removed
•The mucus is made by special mucus-producing
cells called goblet cells because they are shaped
like a goblet, or cup
•The mucus traps particles, pathogens like
bacteria or viruses, and dust and prevents them
getting into the lungs and damaging the cells
there
• Ciliated cells present in the epithelial
lining of the respiratory tract.
• They are in a continually flicking
motion to move the mucus, secreted
by the goblet cells, upwards and away
from the lungs.
• When the mucus reaches the top of
the trachea, it passes down the gullet/
esophagus during normal swallowing.
• Pathogens are present in
the air we breathe in and
are potentially dangerous
if not actively removed.
There are two types of
cells that provide
mechanisms to help
achieve this.
• Goblet cells
• found in the epithelial lining of the trachea,
bronchi and some bronchioles of the
respiratory tract.
• Function: secrete mucus.
• The mucus forms a thin film over the
internal lining. This sticky liquid traps
pathogens and small particles, preventing
them from entering the alveoli where they
could cause infection or physical damage.
•They include:
• Large surface area to allow faster diffusion of gases
across the surface
• Thin walls to ensure diffusion distances remain short
• Good ventilation with air so that diffusion gradients
can be maintained
• Good blood supply to maintain a high concentration
gradient so diffusion occurs faster
•The surfaces where gas exchange occurs in an organism are very

different and different organisms have evolved different mechanisms
for getting the gases to the gas exchange surface depending on size,
where they live etc.
•All gas exchange surfaces have features in common
•These features allow the maximum amount of gases to be exchanged
across the surface in the smallest amount of time
•The diaphragm is a thin sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the
abdomen; it is ultimately responsible for controlling ventilation in the lungs
• When the diaphragm contracts it flattens and this increases the volume of
the chest cavity (thorax), which consequently leads to a decrease in air
pressure inside the lungs relative to outside the body, drawing air in.
• When the diaphragm relaxes it moves upwards back into its domed shape
and this decreases the volume of the chest cavity (thorax), which
consequently leads to an increase in air pressure inside the lungs relative
to outside the body, forcing air out
•The external and internal intercostal muscles work as antagonistic pairs
(meaning they work in different directions to each other)
•During inhalation the external set of
intercostal muscles contract to pull the ribs up
and out:
• This also increases the volume of the
chest cavity (thorax), decreasing air
pressure, drawing air in
•During exhalation, the external set of
intercostal muscles relax so the ribs drop down
and in:
• This decreases the volume of the chest
cavity (thorax) increasing air pressure,
forcing air out
•When we need to increase the rate of gas exchange (for example during strenuous
activity) the internal intercostal muscles will also work to pull the ribs down and in to
decrease the volume of the thorax more, forcing air out more forcefully and quickly –
this is called forced exhalation
• There is actually a greater need to rid the body of increased levels of carbon
dioxide produced during strenuous activity!
•This allows a greater volume of gases to be exchanged
•You may see the terms inhalation OR inspiration (breathing in), and exhalation OR
expiration (breathing out).
•When we breathe in, the air is drawn through
boiling tube A
•When we breathe out, the air is blown into boiling
tube B
•Lime water is clear but becomes cloudy (or milky)
when carbon dioxide is bubbled through it
•The lime water in boiling tube A will remain clear,
but the limewater in boiling tube B will become
cloudy
•This shows us that the percentage of carbon
dioxide in exhaled air is higher than in inhaled air
•Exercise increases the frequency and depth of breathing
•This can be investigated by counting the breaths taken during one minute at
rest and measuring average chest expansion over 5 breaths using a tape
measure held around the chest
•Exercise for a set time (at least 3 minutes)
•Immediately after exercising, count the breaths taken in one minute and
measure the average chest expansion over 5 breaths
•Following exercise, the number of breaths per minute will have increased and
the chest expansion will also have increased
•Frequency and depth of breathing increase when exercising
•This is because muscles are working harder and aerobically respiring more and
they need more oxygen to be delivered to them (and carbon dioxide removed)
to keep up with the energy demand
•If they cannot meet the energy demand they will also respire anaerobically,
producing lactic acid
•After exercise has finished, the lactic acid that has built up in muscles needs to
be removed as it lowers the pH of cells and can denature enzymes catalysing
cell reactions
•It can only be removed by combining it with oxygen - this is known as ‘repaying
the oxygen debt’
•This can be tested by seeing how long it takes after exercise for the breathing
rate and depth to return to normal - the longer it takes, the more lactic acid
produced during exercise and the greater the oxygen debt that needs to be
repaid
•As respiration rates increase, more carbon dioxide is produced and enters the
blood
•Carbon dioxide is an acidic gas in solution and so it can affect the working of
enzymes in the cells and needs to be removed as quickly as possible
•As blood flows through the brain, the increase in carbon dioxide concentration
stimulates receptor cells
•These send impulses to the muscles of the lungs, causing them to contract faster
and more strongly
•This causes the frequency and depth of breathing to increase until the carbon
dioxide concentration of the blood has lowered sufficiently
Stay Safe!
Stay Healthy!
8/ 03/ 20XX P ITCH DECK 23

Chapter 11 Gas Exchange

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Chapter 11 Gas Exchange

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Gas Exchange

•Rings of cartilage surround the trachea

C-shaped cartilage rings are ALVEOLI

BRONCHI Oxygen from the air diffuses into

•The surfaces where gas exchange occurs in an organism are very

8/ 03/ 20XX P ITCH DECK 23

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