Transcript Slide 1

Mammalian Lungs
• List the features of the mammalian lung that
adapt it to efficient gaseous exchange
• Describe, with the aid of diagrams and
photographs, the distribution of cartilage, ciliated
epithelium, goblet cells, smooth muscle and
elastic fibres in the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles
and alveoli of the mammalian gaseous exchange
system;
• Explain the functions of cartilage, cilia, goblet
cells, smooth muscle and elastic fibres in the
mammalian gaseous exchange system;
Gaseous Exchange
• Gaseous Exchange is the movement of gases
by diffusion between an organism and its
environment across a barrier such as the
alveolus wall
The lungs are a large pair of
inflatable structures lying in the
chest cavity
Air can pass into the lungs through
the nose and along the trachea,
bronchi and bronchioles
Finally the air reaches tiny, air-filled
sacs called alveoli. The walls of the
alveoli are the surface where the
exchange of gases takes place
The lungs are protected by the ribs. Movement of the ribs
together with the action of the diaphragm (a layer or muscular
tissue beneath the lungs) help to produce breathing
movements (ventilation)
Task
• View the selection of lung slides
• Complete a lung dissection
• Then answer the following questions as fully as
you can.... (you can use Biology 1 p55 to help you)
1. State 3 ways in which the structure of the lungs
allows efficient gas exchange (4).
2. Explain why the barrier to diffusion must be as
thin as possible (1).
3. Describe how a steep diffusion gradient is
achieved in the lungs (4).
Answers
1.
2.
3.
State 3 ways in which the structure of the lungs allows efficient gas exchange
(4). Large surface area (1) provides more space for molecules to pass
through (1), plasma membranes surrounding the cytoplasm create a
permeable barrier allowing diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide (1),
alveolus wall is one cell thick creating a thin barrier for diffusion (1)
Explain why the barrier to diffusion must be as thin as possible (1). It reduces
the distance gases have to diffuse (1)
Describe how a steep diffusion gradient is achieved in the lungs (4). Blood
brings carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs ensuring the carbon
dioxide concentration in the blood is higher than that of the air in the alveoli
(1), it also carries oxygen away from the lungs ensuring that the
concentration of oxygen in the blood is kept lower than air inside the alveoli
(1), the movement of the lungs (ventilation) ensures there is a fresh supply
of oxygen entering the lungs increasing the concentration of oxygen in the
alveoli (1), carbon dioxide is also removed by ventilation ensuring that the
concentration in the alveoli is lower than that of the blood (1)
Think!
Read the sentence below... Is it correct? If not,
why not?
Alveoli have thin cell walls- this decreases the
distance that gases have to travel and speeds up
rates of diffusion
Alveoli have thin walls- their walls are one
cell thick!
Mammalian Lungs
• List the features of the mammalian lung that
adapt it to efficient gaseous exchange
• Describe, with the aid of diagrams and
photographs, the distribution of cartilage, ciliated
epithelium, goblet cells, smooth muscle and
elastic fibres in the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles
and alveoli of the mammalian gaseous exchange
system;
• Explain the functions of cartilage, cilia, goblet
cells, smooth muscle and elastic fibres in the
mammalian gaseous exchange system;
Mammalian Lungs
• List the features of the mammalian lung that
adapt it to efficient gaseous exchange
• Describe, with the aid of diagrams and
photographs, the distribution of cartilage, ciliated
epithelium, goblet cells, smooth muscle and
elastic fibres in the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles
and alveoli of the mammalian gaseous exchange
system;
• Explain the functions of cartilage, cilia, goblet
cells, smooth muscle and elastic fibres in the
mammalian gaseous exchange system;