B5 Gaseous Exchange in Animals

Larynx The voice box which makes sound used in speaking. Trachea The windpipe, its held open by rings of cartilage. Epiglottis A flap of skin which drops over the top of the windpipe to prevent food getting into the lungs. Alveoli Tiny air sacs in the lungs which allow gaseous exchange to occur at the ends of the bronchioles. Pleural membrane A slippery skin lining the thoracic cavity which protects the lungs as it rubs against the ribs. Thoracic cavity The spaces within the chest. Diaphragm The sheet of muscle below the lungs which helps breathing in and out. Intercostals muscle Muscles between the ribs which raise and lower the rib cage during breathing. The body takes in oxygen from the air for respiration. At the same time it gives out the carbon dioxide produced from respiration. This exchange of gases takes places in the lungs in the alveoli. As blood flows to the lungs from around the body through the pulmonary artery. It carries carbon dioxide produced by respiration in the cells of the body through the pulmonary artery and carbon dioxide passes from the blood into the alveolus which is then breathed out of the body. Meanwhile, oxygen from the lungs is carried away to the rest of the body, where it is used for respiration. The oxygen is breathed into the lungs. It dissolves in the moist lining the alveoli. From there is passes into the blood by diffusion. This process is only able to occur because of diffusion, carbon dioxide is able to pass from the blood into the alveoli because the blood has a higher concentration of carbon dioxide, and thus its able to pass into the alveoli by diffusion. The same occurs for oxygen. Alveoli are especially adapted for gaseous exchange because of their thin walls, large surface area, and moist walls which allow the oxygen to dissolve in the lining. Goblet cells are found inside the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. They produce mucus which traps dirt and dusts from gaseous exchange. The cilia which are found in the trachea help remove the trapped dirt out of the body by moving the mucus to the back of the throat to swallow which keeps the lungs clean as well as keeping the lungs free from infection.

Inhalation
The intercostal muscles contract so the ribcage is pulled upwards. So the chest increases in volume. The diaphragm also contract which flattens it out making the chest even larger. Therefore the chest gets larger and the internal air pressure in the lungs become less than outside atmospheric pressure. This pressure difference forces air down the windpipe into the lungs, inflating them.

Exhalation
When the intercoastal muscles relax, the ribcage lowers. This decreases the volume of the chest. The diaphragm also relaxes so it bulges upwards and decreases the volume of the chest even more. Because the chest got smaller, air is forced out of the lungs because the internal air pressure becomes more than the outside air pressure.

Gas
Oxygen Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Water Vapor

Inhaled Air
21% 0.04% 79% a little

Exhaled Air
16% 4% 79% a lot

Reasons
Needed for respiration Waste product of respiration Not used within the body Water is also produced by respiration

Smoke & Pollution

Nicotine Damages the heart, blood vessels, and nerves. Tar Causes cancer Carbon monoxide Reduces amount of oxygen that can be carried around the body since carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin in an irreversible reaction carboxyhaemoglobin. Smoking can lead to various diseases such as heart disease, emphysema, cancers, and bronchitis. Tiny particles in smoke increase the amount of mucus produced and chemicals in smoke paralyze the cilia which normally clean the lungs from the mucus. This causes the air passages to narrow and coughing must occur to keep it clean if not it can lead to chest infections. However, heavy coughing can damage the alveoli so less surface area is free for gaseous exchange. Smoking also damages the alveoli by breaking down the walls, so there are fewer alveoli for gaseous exchange and the walls become thicker as tar is deposited.