Gas Exchange and Circulation

IGCSE Biology
One alveolus
Network of
blood capillaries
Blood low in
oxygen and high
in carbon dioxide
Blood high in
oxygen and low
in carbon dioxide
Gas exchange in
the lungs
Copy any relevant
informtion onto
your gas exchange
diagram
Making Gas Exchange Efficient
Moist
surface as
dissolved
gases
diffuse
quicker
Large
surface area
to increase
the
efficiency of
gas
exchange
One cell
thick so a
short
diffusion
path
making
gas
exchange
faster
Copy any relevant
informtion onto
your gas exchange
diagram
Haemoglobin
gives red blood cells
their colour

can carry up to 4
molecules of O
2


associates and
dissociates with O
2

contains iron

Role of Haemoglobin
Haemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells

Haemoglobin + Oxygen Oxyhaemogobin
Carrying oxygen
Types of Blood Vessel
Artery: blood vessel that carries blood
away from the heart

Vein: blood vessel which returns blood
towards the heart

Capillary: blood vessel that connects arteries to
veins and allows exchange of material
between blood and cells of the body
Try and fill in your
worksheet on blood
vessels as we go
through the next few
slides!
Arteries
Thick muscular walls
Pump out blood at high pressure
This can be felt as a pulse
Veins
Pumps blood at low pressure
Wider space inside than
arteries
Have valves to prevent
backflow of blood
Carry de-oxygenated blood
Capillaries
Microscopic and highly branched vessels
Walls are only one cell thick to allow efficient
diffusion
-glucose
-water
-oxygen
-carbon dioxide etc.
Colour in your Circulatory System diagram!