The Lungs
Science: KS3, topic 1.1.22
Gas Exchange in the Lungs
To exchange gases with the environment, animals have lungs. Lungs are complex organs that work to maximise the diffusion of useful gases such as oxygen into, and harmful gases such as carbon dioxide out of, the body.
The gas exchange system
- It is important that multicellular organisms can exchange substances with the outside world, such as nutrients as well as gases.
- To make this happen efficiently and quickly, some animals have evolved gas exchange surfaces called lungs.
- The lungs can absorb oxygen from the environment into the body as well as remove carbon dioxide from the blood back out into the air.
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Parts of the gas exchange system
- The gas exchange system is more than just the lungs - it contains all the bones and tubes that carry air around your body.
- The parts are:
- The trachea.
- The bronchus.
- The bronchioles.
- The left and right lungs.
- The alveoli.
- The diaphragm.
Test yourself on The Lungs
Which of these is NOT a part of the gas exchange system?
Which of these are true of the gas exchange system?
A person's alveoli are damaged and cannot work properly. What would most likely happen to the amount of oxygen entering their blood?
A bronchiole becomes blocked, stopping air from passing through it. What would most likely happen to the amount of air reaching the alveoli it supplies?