Human Gas

Exchange
 G A S E XC H A N G E
IN
HUMANS

 All the processes carried out by the body, such as

movement, growth and reproduction, require energy.
 In animals, this energy can be obtained only from the
food they eat.
 Before the energy can be used by the cells of the
body, it must be set free from the chemicals of the
food by a process called ‘respiration’
 Aerobic respiration needs a supply of oxygen and
produces carbon dioxide as a waste product.
 In humans and other mammals, the oxygen is
obtained from the air by means of the lungs. In the
lungs, the oxygen dissolves in the blood and is carried
to the tissues by the circulatory system
L U N G S T RU C T U R E
L U N G S T RU C T U R E
LU N G STRUCTURE
 The lungs are enclosed in the thorax (chest region)
 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 (singular = bronchus), which enter the lungs
and divide into even smaller branches. When these
branches are only about 0.2 mm in diameter, they are
called bronchioles
 These fine branches end in a mass of little, thin-
walled, pouch-like 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.
LU N G STRUCTURE
Ribs
They form a cage and have two functions
⚫ to protect the lungs and heart
⚫ to move to ventilate the lungs.
 The alveoli have thin elastic walls, formed from a
single-cell layer or epithelium. Beneath the
epithelium is a dense network of capillaries
supplied with deoxygenated blood.
 In humans, there are about 350 million alveoli,
with a total absorbing surface of about 90 m .
2

This large absorbing surface makes it possible to

take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide at a
rate to meet the body’s needs.
F E AT U R E S O F G A S E XC H A N G E
S U R FAC E S
 All gas exchange surfaces have features in common.
These features allow the maximum amount of gases
to be exchanged across the surface in the smallest
amount of time. They include:
 Large surface area to allow faster diffusion of gases
across the surface.The presence of millions of alveoli
in the lungs provides a very large surface for gaseous
exchange.
 Thin walls to ensure diffusion distances remain
short
 Good ventilation with air so that diffusion
gradients can be maintained
 Good blood supply to maintain a high
concentration gradient so diffusion occurs faster
THIN WALLS – THIN EPITHELIUM
 There is only a two-cell layer, at the most,
separating the air in the alveoli from the blood in
the capillaries. One layer is the alveolus wall; the
other is the capillary wall. Thus, the distance for
diffusion is very short.
G O O D BLOOD SUPPLY
 The alveoli are surrounded by networks of blood
capillaries.
 The continual removal of oxygen by the blood in
the capillaries lining the alveoli keeps its
concentration low. In this way, a steep diffusion
gradient is maintained, which favours the rapid
diffusion of oxygen from the air passages to the
alveolar lining.
 The continual delivery of carbon dioxide from the
blood into the alveoli, and its removal from the
air passages by ventilation, similarly maintains a
diffusion gradient that promotes the diffusion of
carbon dioxide from the alveolar lining into the
bronchioles.
VENTILATION
 Ventilation of the lungs helps to
maintain a steep diffusion gradient
between the air at the end of the air
passages and the alveolar air. The
concentration of the oxygen in the
air at the end of the air passages is
high, because theair is constantly
replaced by the breathing actions.
P E RC E NTAG E OF GAS E S IN
ATMOSPHERIC
AIR
 G AS E O U S EXCHANGE
 Ventilation refers to the
movement of air into and out of
the lungs.
 Gaseous exchange refers to the
exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide, which takes place
between the air and the blood
vessels in the lungs.
 The capillaries carrying
oxygenated blood from the
alveoli join up to form the
pulmonary vein which returns
blood to the left atrium of the
heart. From here it enters the
left ventricle and is pumped all
around the body, so supplying
the tissues with oxygen.
 TH E AIR YO U BREATHE OUT ALWAYS
CONTAINS MORE WATER VAPOUR THAN
THE AIR YO U BREATHE IN
 The oxygen dissolves in a film of moisture that
lines the alveoli.
 Some of this moisture evaporates in to the alveoli
and saturates the air with water vapour.
 So, The air you breathe out always contains more
water vapour than the air you breathe in.
 You can show the presence of water vapour in
expired air by breathing on to a cold mirror;
condensation quickly builds up on the glass
surface.
 The exhaled air is warmer as well, so in cold
climates, you lose heat to the atmosphere by
breathing.
D I F F E R E NC E BETWEEN
RESPIRATION AND
B R E AT H I N G
LU N G CAPACITY AND
BREATHING RATE
 The total volume of the lungs when fully inflated is

about 5 litres in an adult.

 However, in quiet breathing, when asleep or at
rest, you normally exchange only about 500 cm3.
 During exercise you can take in and expel an extra 3
litres.
 There is a residual volume of 1.5 litres, which
cannot be expelled no matter how hard you breathe
out.
 At rest, you normally inhale and exhale about 12
times per minute.
 During exercise, the breathing rate may rise to over
20 breaths per minute and the depth also increases.
BREATHING RATE AND EXERCISE
The increased rate and depth of breathing
during exercise allows more oxygen to dissolve in
the blood and supply the active muscles.
 The extra carbon dioxide that the muscles put

into the blood is detected by the brain, which

instructs the intercostal muscles and diaphragm
muscles to contract and relax more rapidly,
increasing the breathing rate.
 Carbon dioxide will be removed by the faster,

deeper breathing.
PRACTICAL WORK (PAGE 144-147)
Experiments
 1 Oxygen in expired air

 2 carbondioxide in expired air

 3 volume of air in the lungs

 4 Investigating the effect of exercise on carbon

dioxide production
 5 investigating the effect of exercise on rate and

depth of breathing
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.
 The diaphragm is a sheet of tissue that separates
the thorax from the abdomen.
 When relaxed, it is domed slightly upwards. The ribs
are moved by the intercostal muscles. The external
intercostals contract to pull the ribs upwards and
outwards. The internal intercostals contract to pull
them downwards and inwards
INSPIRATION OR
INHALATION
EXHALATION OR
EXPIRATION
B E L L JA R MODEL
 A piece of apparatus known as the
‘bell-jar model’ can be used to show the
way in which movement of the
diaphragm results in inspiration and
expiration.
 The balloons start off deflated. When
the handle attached to the rubber sheet
is pulled down, the balloons inflate.
 If the handle is released, the balloons
deflate again.
 When the rubber sheet is pulled down,
the volume inside the bell jar
increases. This reduces the air
pressure inside, making it lower than
outside. The air rushes in, through the
glass tubing, to equalise the air
pressure, causing the balloons to infl
ate.
 PROTECTION O F THE GAS E XC H A N G E
SYSTEM F RO M
PAT H O G E N S A N D PA RT I C L E S
 Pathogens are disease-causing organisms. Pathogens, such
as bacteria, and dust particles are present in the air we
breathe in and are potentially dangerous if not actively
removed.
Goblet cells
They are found in the epithelial lining of the trachea, bronchi
and some bronchioles of the respiratory tract. Their role is to
secrete mucus. The mucus forms a thin fi lm over the
internal lining. This sticky liquid traps pathogens and small
particles, preventing them from entering the alveoli where
they could cause infection or physical damage.
Ciliated cells
They are also present in the epithelial lining of the
respiratory system. They are in a continually flicking motion
to move the mucus, secreted by the goblet cells, upwards and
away from the lungs. When the mucus reaches the top of the
trachea, it passes down the gullet during normalswallowing.