The Gas Exchange System
The Gas Exchange System
Animals inhale oxygen for aerobic respiration and exhale CO2.
Respiratory surface:
The surface through which diffusion of gases occurs is called the respiratory surface. The following are the conditions that make a surface good for respiration.
• Large surface area.
• Thin
• Wet or moist.
Human Gas Exchange System
The human respiratory system is composed of the following structures.
• External Nares
Air enters the body through nostrils or mouth. The cilia present in the nose filters the air.
• Pharynx
The air from the nose enters the pharynx.
• Larynx
The larynx is a tube made up of cartilage that receives the air and transfers it to the trachea. The opening of larynx is guarded by cartilage called epiglottis. During swallowing the epiglottis is pushed over larynx to prevent food from entering the trachea.
• Trachea
The trachea is also made up of C shaped cartilage.
• Bronchi
The trachea then bifurcates into two tubes called bronchi. Right bronchus enters the right lung the same for left bronchus.
• Bronchioles
Bronchi then further divide into small branches called bronchioles.
• Alveoli
At the end of bronchioles is a sac-like structure called alveoli. Alveoli is the respiratory surface in humans. It is supplied by a rich network of capillaries.
Lungs
Lungs are the respiratory organ. It is surrounded by a sac-like structure called pleural. The space between the pleura is called the pleural cavity which is filled with pleural fluid.
Cartilage
The wall of trachea and bronchi is made up of cartilage. It prevents the walls from collapsing during expiration.
Elastic fibers
Walls of all airways and alveoli are made up of elastic fibers. It helps the wall to expand during inspiration and recoil during expiration.
Smooth muscles
They are present in the wall of trachea bronchi and bronchioles. They can contract and relax changing the diameter of airway.
Ciliated epithelium
It is a single cell layer that has numerous hair-like structures on them. These cilia beat to keep the dust and other particles out of the airway.
They line the trachea bronchi and bronchioles.
Goblet cells
These cells are present in the lining of the airway. They produce mucus. This mucus traps foreign particles and bacteria.
Gas Exchange At The Alveolar Surface
The blood reaching alveoli are high in CO2 concentration and low in O2. This is because this blood is coming from the body. The air in alveoli has higher O2 and low Co2. Thus, a diffusion gradient is formed.
Oxygen diffuses from alveoli into blood and Co2 diffuses from blood to alveoli. This gradient is maintained by breathing action.