CHAPTER 11 GAS EXCHANGE IN HUMANS
ROXY
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Identify and explain the different parts of gas exchange systems in diagrams with their
features and functions
2. Describe the features of gas exchange surface in humans
3. Investigate and describe the differences between the components of inspired and expired
air
4. Investigate and describe the effects of physical activity on the rate and depth of breathing
11.1 GAS EXCHANGE SYSTEM
STRUCTURE OF GAS EXCHANGE SYSTEM
Air gets into the lung through the nasal cavity
and mouth
Pass through larynx and trachea
*Epiglottis controls the food and air enter
different pathway (oesophagus and trachea)
STRUCTURE OF GAS
EXCHANGE SYSTEM
C-shaped cartilage
Trachea
Bronchus
Bronchioles
Intercostal muscle
Ribs
Diaphragm
C-SHAPED CARTILAGE
Cartilage is a supportive
tissue to hold the shape of
trachea, bronchi and
bronchioles
To keep the airway open
DEEPER IN LUNGS
Air pathway: trachea => bronchus / bronchi /
bronchioles => alveoli
Alveoli is surrounded by a large network of
capillary
For quicker gas exchange
11.2 GAS EXCHANGE
GAS EXCHANGE
Carbon dioxide is a waste gas made during respiration
Accumulation of carbon dioxide might affect the pH of the cell
We need a good gas exchange system to transport CO2 out and O2 in.
Here is the different composition of inspired and expired air:
INVESTIGATION OF EXPIRED AIR
Carbon dioxide in inspired and expired air:
Use limewater to examine the CO2 :
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 => CaCO3 (turn cloudy)
When breathe in:
Air comes into A tube => no cloudy
formed
When breathe out:
Expired air into B tube => cloudy
formed
GAS EXCHANGE SURFACE
During gas exchange
O2 from air into blood
CO2 from blood into air
By opposite direction
Alveolus wall helps
alveolus stretching during
breathing
Moist surfaces allows
gases can dissolve before
efficient diffusion
ALVEOLI FEATURES
1. Large surface area
A thousand of alveoli in the lung for gas
exchange at the same time = faster
diffusion
2. One-cell thick both alveoli and
capillary
Short distance = faster diffusion
3. Good blood supply and air ventilation
Always keep high O2 concentration in the
alveoli and high CO2 concentration in the
blood
Keep steep concentration gradient =
faster diffusion
11.3 BREATHING
BREATHING
Breathing is changing the volume of
lung for gas exchange.
It relates the movement of
diaphragm, ribcage, internal
intercostal muscles & external
intercostal muscles
It separates into:
Inspiration (breathing in) =>
increase the volume of lung
Expiration (breathing out) =>
decrease the volume of lung
INSPIRATION
Inspiration:
Internal intercostal muscles relax
External intercostal muscles
contract
Diaphragm contracts and
flattens
Increase the volume inside the
thorax => decrease the pressure
Air move into the lungs
EXPIRATION
Expiration:
Internal intercostal muscles
contract
External intercostal muscles relax
Diaphragm relax
Decrease the volume inside the
thorax => increase the pressure
Air move out from the lungs
Inspiration Expiration
Internal Relax Contract
intercostal
muscle
External Contract Relax
intercostal
muscle
Diaphragm Contract Relax
Volume inside Increase Decrease
Pressure Decrease (air Increase (air
inside in) out)
CLEANING THE AIR
As breathing, air is warmed and
moistened by evaporation of water from
the lining.
Hairs inside the nose filter the air to
remove particles and some pathogens
Trachea, bronchi and bronchioles also
have:
Goblet cells
Produce mucus to trap dust and
pathogens
Ciliated epithelial cells
Cilia beat the mucus to remove
RATE & DEPTH OF BREATHING
The rate and depth of breathing increase with exercise.
Purposes of increasing:
Require more oxygen for aerobic respiration
To produce more energy, using same amount of glucose
Remove more carbon dioxide that respiration producing
To prevent the blood become to acidic
CONTROL OF BREATHING
During exercise and respiration
Produce more carbon dioxide => dissolve in water to release carbonic acid
If anaerobic respiration (chapter 12) => produce lactic acid in muscle
Both product can make the blood into acidic solution / lower pH => harmful to
body
The CO2 concentration increasing and pH decreasing can be detected by brain
Send nerve impulse to diaphragm and intercostal muscles to contract faster
and further
Increase the rate of depth of breathing to remove rapidly
When the CO2 concentration and pH back to normal, the rate of breathing turn back
The increasing of breathing is an example of homeostasis
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Gas exchange system: C-shaped cartilage, trachea, bronchus, bronchioles,
intercostal muscle, ribs, diaphragm
Gas exchange surface: alveoli features: short distance, large surface area,
good blood supply and air ventilation => better for gas diffusion
During exercise, the rate and depth increase to remove CO2 and lactic
acid, increase O2 supply for aerobic respiration => provide more energy
and control the pH of blood
