Gas Exchange in Humans

W
O
R
K

T
O
• Why do we breathe? Think G
E
T
of all the reasons why we H
E
need a respiratory system. R
 Gas exchange by Diffusion

• Some animals simply

allow gases to diffuse
through their skins.
• These animals have a
low metabolic rate.
Why?

• All of these are aquatic

animals. Why?
 Specialized structures
• Structures
specialized for gas
exchange include:

• gills (aquatic
animals)

• spiracles
(terrestrial insects)

• lungs (most
terrestrial
vertebrates)
Gas exchange is the interchange of O2 and CO2
between an organism and its environment
-It is also called respiration
 Investigate and explain why your
choice
• What are the features of
gas exchange surfaces in
humans?
What are advantages of gas exchange surfaces in humans?

1. Good ventilation with air

2. Thin
surface

3. Large surface area (alveoli) 4. Good blood supply

Copyright © 2014 Henry Exham

Features of gas exchange

surfaces in humans
• They have a large surface area for diffusion.
• Fluid to help dissolve gases and increase diffusion rate.
• A rich blood supply to maintain a steep diffusion
gradient between the alveoli and the blood.
• Due to both the alveoli and the capillary only having
walls one cell thick (Thin surface) there is a short
diffusion distance between the air and the blood
which increases diffusion rate.
• good ventilation with air (constant ventilation –
breathing in and out)
Lungs capillaries
(circulatory system)
 trachea
 bronchi
 bronchioles
alveoli
 alveoli
Copyright © 2014 Henry Exham

The Gaseous Exchange System

larynx Nose

Mouth

Lungs Trachea
Pleural membranes

Bronchi
Ribs

Bronchiole

Intercostal muscles

Alveoli
Diaphragm
Structure of the lungs

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Parts of the respiratory system
Copyright © 2014 Henry Exham

The Gaseous Exchange System

Structure Function
Trachea Tube with incomplete rings of cartilage carries air to lungs; lined
with cells making mucus, and cells with cilia to move the mucus
away.
Bronchi Carries air to lungs
Bronchioles Carry air to lungs
Alveoli Tiny air sacs adapted for gas exchange
Diaphragm Sheet of muscle with a fibrous middle part which is domed; it helps
make breathing movements and separates the thorax from the
abdomen
Ribs Bones that protect and ventilate the lungs
Intercostal muscles Move ribs for ventilation
Pleural membranes Thin moist membranes forming an airtight seal around the lungs
and separating inside of thorax from lungs
State the functions of the cartilage in the
trachea
•At the top of the trachea is a piece of
cartilage called the epiglottis
–This closes the trachea and stops food
going down the trachea when you
swallow.
•The trachea has rings of cartilage around
it which keep it open.
Typical Epithelium in respiratory system
The mechanism of ventilation

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Gas exchange in the alveoli

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Gas Exchange on the Cellular Level
1) When the blood
reaches the cells,
oxygen from
oxyhaemoglobin
diffuses into the body
cells

2) At the same time,

carbon dioxide from
the cells diffuse into
the plasma to be
exhaled from the lungs
The job of the LUNGS is to
transfer OXYGEN to the blood
and to remove waste CARBON
DIOXIDE from it.

To do this, the lungs contain

millions of ALVEOLI where GAS
EXCHANGE takes place.
 small artery

bronchiole

alveoli

small vein

capillary network
The alveoli are an ideal exchange surface.
They have:

1. An huge surface area (about 70cm2)

2. A moist lining for dissolving gases.

3. Very thin walls.

4. Copious blood supply.

A=alveoli

B=capillary

C=bronchiole
Composition of inhaled/exhaled air
In one breathing cycle, the air in the lungs loses only some
of its oxygen content. This is why mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation can be effective.

90 78% 78%
80
composition (%)

inhaled air
70
60
exhaled air
50
40
30 21%
15%
20
10 0.04% 4% <1% 3% <1% <1%
0
N2 O2 CO2 H 2O other

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 State and Explain the differences in
composition between inspired and expired air
Inspired air Expired air Reason for
difference
Oxygen (O2) 21% 16% Oxygen is absorbed
across the gas
exchange surface,
then used by cells in
respiration
Carbon dioxide 0.04% 4% Carbon dioxide is
made inside respiring
(CO2) cells, and diffuses out
across the gas
exchange surface.
Argon and 1% 1%
other noble
gases
Water vapour Variable Always high Gas exchange
surfaces are made of
(humidity) living cells, so must
be kept moist; some
of this moisture
evaporates into the
air.
 How to test for CO2?

Based on observations above, what can you conclude?

 Use limewater as a test for carbon dioxide to
investigate the differences in composition between
inspired and expired air
The mechanism of ventilation
 Negative Pressure Breathing
Breathing = alternation of inhalation (active) and exhalation (passive)
Inspiration Expiration
 The exchange of gases
Aerobic respiration is the process of releasing energy
through the oxidation of glucose molecules:

carbon
glucose + oxygen  dioxide + water ( + energy)

Oxygen is breathed Carbon dioxide and water are formed as waste

products in cells. They can be excreted when we
into the lungs and is breathe out.
transported in blood.

The respiratory system carries out gas exchange. It is made

up of the lungs, intercostal muscles, diaphragm and airways.
 Exercise, respiration and ventilation
Energy is used up by the active
muscles during exercise.
The rate of respiration must
therefore increase to supply
enough energy to the muscles.
This means that more oxygen
must be breathed in and more
carbon dioxide breathed out.

During exercise, why does:

 the heart rate increase
 the rate and depth of breathing increase
 the arteries supplying the muscles dilate?
 Connection: The human fetus exchanges
gases with the mother’s bloodstream
• A human fetus depends on Placenta, containing
maternal blood vessels
the placenta for gas exchange and fetal capillaries

• A network of capillaries
exchanges O2 and CO2 with Umbilical cord,
maternal blood that carries containing fetal
gases to and from the blood vessels
mother’s lungs
Amniotic
• At birth, increasing CO2 in the fluid
fetal blood stimulates the
fetus’s breathing control
centers to initiate breathing
Uterus
Connection: Smoking is one of the deadliest
assaults on our respiratory system
• Mucus and cilia in the
respiratory passages
protect the lungs
– Pollutants, including
tobacco smoke, can
destroy these protections
• Smoking kills about
430,000 Americans each
year
Connection: Smoking is one of the deadliest
assaults on our respiratory system
• Smoking causes lung cancer
and contributes to heart
disease
• Smoking also causes
emphysema
– Cigarette smoke
makes alveoli
brittle, causing
them to rupture
– This reduces the
lungs’ capacity
for gas exchange
 Disorders of the Respiratory system
• Asthma: a severe allergic reaction in which contraction of the
bronchioles makes breathing difficult
• Bronchitis: an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial
tubes. The passageways to the alveoli become swollen and
clogged with mucus
• Emphysema: lungs lose their elasticity, deterioration of the
lung structure
• Pneumonia: alveoli become filled with fluid. Caused by
bacterial or viral infection
• Lung Cancer: a disease in which tumors form in the lungs as a
result of irregular and uncontrolled cell growth
 Why do breathing rate need to
increase with exercise?

1. Supply more O2 (for

aerobic respiration) All of this is
2. Respiration releases controlled
energy by your
3. Remove CO2 brain
Copyright © 2014 Henry Exham

Investigate the effect of exercise on

breathing rate.
• First you must determine your resting
breathing rate.
• Count how many times you inhale in a minute.
• Do this three times and take an average.
• This will make your data more reliable.
Copyright © 2014 Henry Exham

Investigate the effect of exercise on

breathing rate.
• Then you must calculate your breathing rate
carrying out exercise.
• Jog on the spot for one minute and count the
breaths you inhale in that time.
• Then take a minute to rest.
• Once again repeat the experiment
two more times and take the average
of all three results.
Copyright © 2014 Henry Exham

Investigate the effect of exercise on

breathing rate.
• You should find that breathing rate increases
as you exercise.
• This is to provide your muscles with more
oxygen which it can use for aerobic
respiration to release energy.
 Investigate and describe the effects of physical activity on rate and depth of
breathing
Explain the link between physical activity and rate and depth of breathing in terms of the increased
carbon dioxide concentration in the blood, detected by the brain, causing an increased rate of breathing

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