Gas Exchange

Gas exchange
•Movement of Oxygen from the air into the blood and
movement of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction, into to
the air.

•The alveoli are covered with blood capillary network to

facilitate gas exchange
•The blood coming into lungs from the body contains high concentration of
Carbon dioxide and low concentration of Oxygen .
•The air in the alveoli contains high concentration of oxygen and low
concentration of Carbon dioxide than the blood .
• Therefore, oxygen molecules move into the blood (diffuse) by diffusion from
their high concentration to low concentration and Carbon dioxide molecules
diffuse into the air in the alveoli
Gas exchange- the position and structure of alveoli
How alveoli are adapted for gas exchange
• Alveoli are very good at exchanging gases because…

1)They have a number of alveoli - LARGE surface area

2)Walls of capillaries and alveoli are one cell thick. Gasses can cross
this short distance quickly.
3)They have a good blood supply to maintain steep concentration
gradient
4)They are moist, Gasses dissolve in moisture layer to speed up
diffusion
Gas exchange surfaces of other organisms
• Fish
• Gill filaments are
numerous and thin
to provide large
surface area
• Have a good supply
of blood
Insects
• Tiny holes called spiracles
in their abdomen to get
air
• Spiracles connected to
network of tracheae.
• Tracheae carry oxygen
directly to cells and
muscles
• And remove carbon
dioxide away from cells
Plants
• Tiny holes on the
surface of leaves
called stomata
Breathing process
 Inhale Exhale

Rib muscles contract , ribcage move up and out Rib muscles relax , ribcage moves down and in
Diaphragm contract and moves down Diaphragm relax and moves up to curve shape

The volume of the chest cavity increases The volume of the chest cavity decrease

The air pressure in the chest cavity decreases The air pressure in the chest cavity increases
Air is forced into lungs Air is forced out of the lungs
Model of the lungs
• When the rubber sheet is
pulled down the volume in
the bell jar increases and the
pressure decreases.
• Air moves in and balloons
inflate. Similar to inhalation

• When the rubber sheet

pushed up the volume in the
bell jar decreases and the air
pressure increases.
• Air move out from the
balloons and the balloons
deflate , same like exhalation