The Rate of Diffusion

Get Revising

Created by: lx1234
Created on: 03-03-18 11:58

What are Alveoli?

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place

1 of 11

How does oxygen diffuse inside Alveoli?

From the air into the blood

2 of 11

How does carbon dioxide diffuse inside Alveoli?

From the blood into the air.

3 of 11

What is each Alveoli closely associated with?

A capillary

4 of 11

Why is a large surface area important for gas exchange?

Allows more room for gas exchange to occur.

5 of 11

Why is ventilation and continual blood flow important?

Maintains high concentration gradients to maximise the rate of diffusion.

6 of 11

In some lung infections, fluid builds up inside the Alveoli. Explain why this makes it harder to breathe

It reduces the surface area of the alveoli over which diffusion can take place and so decreases the rate of gas exchange.

7 of 11

Explain why you breathe faster when you exercise

More oxygen is needed for respiration so more carbon dioxide is pushed out.

8 of 11

What are the factors which effect the rate of diffusion?

Increased surface area, shorter diffusion distance and a high concentration gradient (Air and bloodflow)

9 of 11

What is ficks law?

Rate of diffusion is directly proportional to surface area x concentration difference / thickness of membrane.

10 of 11

People who smoke develop a disease in which the walls of the alveoli break down. These people become breathless easily, explain why.

People have fewer alveoli in their lungs, so there is a lower surface area for diffusion, so the rate of diffusion of oxygen into their blood is lower.

11 of 11

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How does oxygen diffuse inside Alveoli?

Back

From the air into the blood

Card 3

Front

How does carbon dioxide diffuse inside Alveoli?

Back

Card 4

Front

What is each Alveoli closely associated with?

Back

Card 5

Front

Why is a large surface area important for gas exchange?

Get Revising

The Rate of Diffusion