Gas Exchange in humans

Page 156-158
Features of Gas Exchange Surfaces
 The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide across a
respiratory surface, as in the lungs, depends on the diffusion
of these two gases.

 Diffusion occurs more rapidly if:

• There is a large surface area exposed to the gas.
• The distance across which diffusion has to take place is
small.
• There is a good blood supply.
• There is a big difference in the concentrations of the gas at
two points brought about by ventilation.
Ventilation
Ventilation of the lungs:
•The movement of air into and out of the lungs, called
ventilation, renews the oxygen supply in the lungs and removes
the surplus carbon dioxide.
•Horseshoe-shaped hoops of cartilage are present in the trachea
and bronchi to prevent them collapsing when we breathe in.
•The lungs contain no muscle fibres and are made to expand
and contract by movements of the ribs and diaphragm.
 
Lung structure
•The lungs are enclosed in the thorax.
•They have a spongy texture and can be expanded and
compressed by movements of the thorax in such a way that air
is sucked in and blown out.
•The lungs are joined to the back of the mouth by the windpipe
or trachea.
•The trachea divides into two smaller tubes,
called bronchi, which enters the lungs and divide
into bronchioles.
•These small branches end in microscopic air sacs called
alveoli.
•The epiglottis and other structures at the top of the trachea stop
food and drink from entering the air passages when we swallow.
•The larynx manipulates pitch and volume.
•The diaphragm is a sheet of tissue that separates the thorax
from the abdomen.
•Ribs form a cage to protect the lungs and heart, and to move to
ventilate the lungs.
•Intercostal muscles are muscles between the ribs which raise
the ribcage by contracting and lower it by relaxing.
Inhale
When we inhale:
1.the internal intercostal muscles relax and the external
intercostal muscles contract, pulling the ribcage upwards and
outwards
2.the diaphragm contracts, pulling downwards
3.the volume in the thorax gets bigger, forcing the lungs to
expand, and the air pressure inside decreases
4.air is pushed into the lungs
 
Exhale
When we exhale :
1.the external intercostal muscles relax and the internal
intercostal muscles contract, pulling the ribcage downwards and
inwards
2.the diaphragm relaxes, moving back upwards
3.The lungs are elastic and shrink back to their relaxed volume
and the air pressure inside increases
4.air is pushed out of the lungs
Gaseous exchange
Gaseous exchange refers to the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide, which takes place between the air and the blood vessels
in the lungs.
Gas exchange in the lungs happens in the alveoli. Some of the
features of alveoli include:
•thin walls (just one cell thick)
•large surface area
•moist surface
•many blood capillaries