Gas Exchange Year 9 Biology

Topics

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

GAS EXCHANGE

AEROBIC RESPIRATION

EXERCISE, ASTHMA & SMOKING

Learning objectives
❑ The structure and function of the respiratory system
❑ The mechanisms of ventilation
❑ Measuring breathing rate
❑ Measuring lung volume
❑ Gas exchange in the alveoli
❑ Aerobic respiration
❑ The effects of exercise
❑ Anaerobic respiration
❑ The effects of asthma
❑ The effects of smoking
The respiratory system
The respiratory system is compromised of the following structures

TRACHEA BRONCHI

RIBS
ALVEOLI

INTERCOSTAL
DIAPHRAGM MUSCLES
Trachea

The trachea is sometimes referred to as the

‘windpipe’
CARTILAGE
Cartilage rings in the walls of the trachea
help to keep it open MUSCLE

The cartilage is supported by muscle

Exam question
 slido

When a person breathes in cigarette smoke, the goblet cells

produce extra mucus and the cilia are damaged.

What will be the four consequences of this?

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 slido

These cells work together to keep the lungs free of bacteria and
dust particles.

What word describes a grouo of similar cells which work

together?

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Bronchi
The trachea branches into two main bronchi

The right bronchus splits into two secondary

bronchi

The bronchi split further bronchioles which

end in microscopic air sacs called alveoli
Lungs

The right lung is formed of three lobes

The left lung is formed of two lobes

Pleural membranes surround each lung

The lungs are inflatable like a balloon

Diaphragm

There is a muscular diaphragm below the lungs

It is made up of skeletal muscle

The diaphragm is shaped like a parachute

It helps to draw air into the lungs

Ventilation Breathing in is also known as inhalation

The internal intercostal muscles relax and the

external intercostal muscles contract

This pulls the ribcage upwards and outwards

The diaphragm contracts and pulls downwards

Lung volume increases and the air pressure

inside decreases

Air is pushed into the lungs

Ventilation Breathing out is also known as exhalation

The external intercostal muscles relax and the

internal intercostal muscles contract

This pulls the ribcage downwards and inwards

The diaphragm relaxes and moves back upwards

Lung volume decreases and the air pressure

inside increases

Air is pushed out of the lungs

 slido

From the diagram, give the letter which labels the trachea

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 slido

From the diagram, give the letter which labels the alveoli

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 slido

What gas passes into the blood from the alveoli?

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What gas passes out of the blood into the alveoli?

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What gas passes out of the blood into the alveoli?

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The walls of the capillaries and the alveoli are very thin. Why do
they need to be thin?

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There are millions of alveoli in the lungs. They provide a very
large surface area. Why is a large surface area necessary?

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Exam question
Breathing rate
Breathing rate can simply be measured by counting the number of breaths
in one minute

BREATHING RATE GOES UP BREATHING RATE GOES DOWN

• Exercise • Chest pain

• Anxiety • Shock
• Infection • Nerve/muscle disorders
Spirometry
Breathing can be measured using a spirometer

This device can measure the volume of inhaled and exhaled air

It can also measure tidal volume – the volume of air inhaled and exhaled
in one breath
Spirometry
The spirometer works my measuring the amount of air breathed
into a machine using a mouthpiece

Some can contain water, so the air displaces it, and the amount of
air can be measured

The computer can then generate a trace

Spirometry
The maximum amount of
Let’s take a closer look at a trace additional air that can be
forced out of the lungs
The amount of air after a normal breath
breathed in with each
normal breath
Expiratory
Tidal volume reserve volume

The amount of air left in

the lungs after a maximal
Inspiratory out breath
reserve volume Residual volume
The maximum amount of
additional air that can be
taken into the lungs after a
normal breath
How confident are you with the respiratory system?

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Learning objectives

❑ The structure and function of the respiratory system

❑ The mechanisms of ventilation
❑ Measuring breathing rate
❑ Measuring lung volume
 Audience Q&A Session

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Gas exchange
In comparison to atmospheric
air, exhaled air contains:
Gas exchange in the lungs happens in the alveoli Less oxygen
More carbon dioxide
air out air in Slightly more nitrogen
deoxygenated
blood
oxygenated
blood
Gas exchange
The alveoli are adapted to optimise gas exchange

Thin walls (just one cell thick)

Large surface area

Moist surface

Many blood capillaries

Aerobic respiration
The body needs oxygen to undergo aerobic respiration

This is a process that occurs in the mitochondria

It produces energy in the form of ATP

Aerobic respiration

glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O

Remember ventilation is not respiration

Aerobic respiration
Energy is needed for many processes

Body temperature Muscle contraction

Cell division

Growth Nerve impulses

Protein synthesis
How comfortable are you with gas exchange, and aerobic
respiration?

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Learning objectives

❑Gas exchange in the alveoli

❑ Aerobic respiration
Exercise
During exercise there is an increase in physical activity and muscle cells
respire more than they do when the body is at rest

This is because they need more energy

Breathing rate increases due to an increase in oxygen requirement

Heart rate also increases

Exercise
The pH of blood is usually between 7.35 and 7.45

During exercise the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood increases

This would make the blood more acidic! acidic neutral alkali

Substances in blood plasma react with the excess

carbon dioxide
The increased rate and depth of breathing helps to
remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream
Anaerobic respiration
During hard exercise the body goes into anaerobic respiration

This is because oxygen may become insufficient

glucose → lactic acid

C6H12O6 → 2C3H6O3

Glucose is not broken down completely and there is a build up of lactic

acid in muscles
Anaerobic respiration
The lactic acid needs to be oxidised to carbon dioxide and
water for removal
Oxygen dept is also known as
This causes an oxygen debt excess post-exercise oxygen
consumption

This needs to be ‘repaid’ after the exercise stops

This is why we keep on breathing deeply for a few minutes

after we have finished exercising
 This is the difference between
Oxygen debt the amount the body required
Oxygen deficit and what was actually obtained

O2 consumption
Oxygen debt
This amount
required to remove
the lactic from the
time
Resting O2 body
consumption
Exercise starts
Oxygen debt
How much more air did Joanna breath in with each breath
during exercise?

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Exam question
Why does breathing become easier when an inhaler is used?

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Learning objectives

❑The effects of exercise

❑ Anaerobic respiration
Asthma
Asthma is a condition which causes the airways to constrict

When and if this happens, then less air can enter the lungs

During an asthma attack

• The lining of the airways becomes inflamed
• Fluid builds up in the airways
• The muscles around the bronchioles contract,
which constricts the airways
Asthma
Asthma can be treated with inhalers Relievers are usually blue
They act fast so are used
Some are taken to prevent attacks when attacks happen

Some are taken when attacks occur

Preventers are usually brown

They are slower acting and last
longer so are used to prevent
attacks from happening
Learning objectives

❑ The effects of asthma

Smoking
Smoking can cause damage to the lungs, heart and even contributes to
some cancers

Cigarettes also contain nicotine which is an addictive substance

These substances change the levels of neurotransmitter (messengers) in

the brain

This is why people have cravings and may even depend on the substance
Smoking
Smoking has affects on the air passages

Sticky mucus in the lungs traps pathogens

The mucus is normally swept out of the lungs by the cilia (like
hairs) on the cells lining the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles

Cigarette smoke contains harmful chemicals that damage these

cells, leading to a build-up of mucus and a smoker’s cough

Smoke irritates the bronchi, causing bronchitis

Smoking
Smoking also has affects on the alveoli by
damaging the walls

The alveoli walls break down and join together,

forming larger air spaces than normal

This reduces the efficiency of gas exchange, so

people with the lung disease carry less oxygen
in their blood

This makes even mild exercise difficult

Smoking
There are even effects on the blood

Carbon monoxide combines with the haemoglobin in

red blood cells

This reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen

and puts a strain on the circulatory system

This also increasing the risk of heart disease and

strokes
Which three problems can be caused by smoking?

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Exam question
People in group B are likely to have similar health problems to
people in group C. Explain why...

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Which two groups will help scientists find out the effects of
passive smoking?

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Lung cancer
Carcinogens are substances that cause cancer

Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens, including tar

Smoking increases the risk of cancers of the lung, mouth, throat and
oesophagus
Do you feel you understand asthma, smoking and exercise?

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Learning objectives

❑The effects of smoking

 Audience Q&A Session

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