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;