Adaptations to gas exchange in insects
- Created by: Emily Cartwright
- Created on: 28-05-14 09:30
View mindmap
- Insects
- To reduce water loss, insects have evolved a rigid exoskeleton made of chitin
- Insects have a relatively small surface area to volume ratio, so cannot use their body surface to exchange gases by diffusion
- They have evolved a different system of gas exchange to other land animals
- Gas exchange occurs through paired holes called spiracles, running along the side of the body
- The spiracles lead into a system of chitin lined air tubes called tracheae
- Spiracles can open and close like valves. This allows gas exchange to take place but reduced water loss
- The ends of the tracheal branches are called tracheoles. The tracheoles are the gas exchange surfaces, they come into contact directly with every tissue
- Spiracles can open and close like valves. This allows gas exchange to take place but reduced water loss
- The spiracles lead into a system of chitin lined air tubes called tracheae
- Gas exchange occurs through paired holes called spiracles, running along the side of the body
- Every cell in an insect is only a short distance from the tracheoles so the diffusion pathway is short
- At rest, gas exchange takes place simply by passive diffusion via the spiracles
- During activity, muscles in the thorax and abdomen contract and relax, causing movements of the abdomen which help ventilate the tracheae and maintain a concentration gradient
- At rest, gas exchange takes place simply by passive diffusion via the spiracles
- Advantages of insect adaptations
- Every tissue is directly supplied with oxygen
- No haemoglobin is needed
- Reduced water loss
Comments
No comments have yet been made