New
New
Year 9

Adaptations of the human lungs for gas exchange

I can describe how the human lungs are adapted to increase the amount of gas exchange.

New
New
Year 9

Adaptations of the human lungs for gas exchange

I can describe how the human lungs are adapted to increase the amount of gas exchange.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The lungs are made up of tiny air sacs called alveoli.
  2. Gas exchange takes place between air in alveoli and blood in capillaries.
  3. There are millions of alveoli to increase the surface area of the lungs for gas exchange.
  4. The walls of the alveoli are one cell thick to create a short diffusion distance for gas exchange.
  5. The alveoli are surrounded by capillaries carrying blood, to maintain a concentration gradient for gas exchange.

Common misconception

Pupils often refer to the walls of the alveoli as "cell walls".

This lesson makes the scale of different parts of the gas exchange system clear (e.g. whether a structure is a tissue or cell).

Keywords

  • Alveoli - Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs that carry out gas exchange.

  • Capillary - A capillary is a narrow blood vessel that allows the exchange of substances between tissues and blood.

  • Diffusion - The movement of particles from a high concentration to a low concentration is known as diffusion.

  • Surface area - Surface area is the total area of all the exposed surfaces of an object.

Introduce adaptations by considering how a football boot has adaptations which suit its function. Then introduce the idea that cells, tissues, organs and organisms can have adaptations for their function as well.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the option which correctly finishes the sentence: Gas exchange is the process of…
…air moving in and out of the lungs by inhaling and exhaling.
…using sugar and oxygen to provide energy for life processes.
Correct answer: …oxygen and carbon dioxide diffusing between the lungs and the blood.
Q2.
The diagram shows the human gas exchange system. Which letter on the diagram represents the bronchioles?
An image in a quiz
A
Correct answer: B
C
D
E
Q3.
The diagram shows the human gas exchange system. Which letter on the diagram represents the alveoli?
An image in a quiz
A
B
Correct answer: C
D
E
Q4.
A is a group of cells working together to perform a specific function.
Correct Answer: tissue, tisue
Q5.
In diffusion, the net movement of particles is...
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: ...from areas of high concentration to low concentration.
...from areas of low concentration to high concentration.
...between areas of equal concentration.
Q6.
Which of the following are features of diffusion?
Correct answer: The particles are randomly moving.
It requires energy from respiration.
Correct answer: It is a passive process.
Once the particles are evenly spread they stop moving.

6 Questions

Q1.
The diagram shows two structures in the lungs. What is the name of structure A in the diagram?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: alveolus, alveoli
Q2.
What type of blood vessel is labelled B?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: capillary, capilary
Q3.
What level of organisation are alveoli?
organ
cell
Correct answer: tissue
organ system
molecule
Q4.
There are many alveoli in the lungs in order to increase the area of the lungs.
Correct Answer: surface, Surface
Q5.
Select the option which correctly finishes the sentence: the walls of the alveoli are one cell thick in order to…
Correct answer: create a short diffusion distance for oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged.
increase the surface area of the lungs for gas exchange.
maintain the concentration gradient between the alveoli and the capillary.
Q6.
Match the adaptation to its property.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:One cell thick walls,creates a short diffusion distance.

creates a short diffusion distance.

Correct Answer:A large amount of alveoli,provides a large surface area for diffusion.

provides a large surface area for diffusion.

Correct Answer:Capillaries carry blood,maintains a concentration gradient of gases.

maintains a concentration gradient of gases.