What is Gas Exchange?
Gas exchange is when an organism takes in oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide. Oxygen is required for respiration, so must get to every cell in the organism. Carbon dioxide is a waste product of respiration that must be taken out of the body. Gas exchange occurs by diffusion on the gas exchange surface. Oxygen diffuses from air or water, either into the blood to be transported to the cells, or directly into the cells. Carbon dioxide diffuses from the cells or the blood back into the air or water.
All animals have to carry out gas exchange in order to get the oxygen they need to produce energy for living through respiration. On this site there is information about gas exchange in fish, insects and mammals.
Factors that Affect the Efficiency of Gas Exchange
Moisture
The gas exchange surface needs to be moist, because gasses must dissolve into water before they can diffuse through the cell membrane. This means gas exchange will be more efficient if the gas exchange surface is moist than if it is dry.
Surface Area:Volume Ratio
A larger SA:Vol ratio leads to more efficient gas exchange because more particles can diffuse at one time.
Thin
The gas exchange surface has to be thin to reduce the distance that gasses have to diffuse. The thinner the gas exchange surface, the more efficient gas exchange will be.
All animals have to carry out gas exchange in order to get the oxygen they need to produce energy for living through respiration. On this site there is information about gas exchange in fish, insects and mammals.
Factors that Affect the Efficiency of Gas Exchange
Moisture
The gas exchange surface needs to be moist, because gasses must dissolve into water before they can diffuse through the cell membrane. This means gas exchange will be more efficient if the gas exchange surface is moist than if it is dry.
Surface Area:Volume Ratio
A larger SA:Vol ratio leads to more efficient gas exchange because more particles can diffuse at one time.
Thin
The gas exchange surface has to be thin to reduce the distance that gasses have to diffuse. The thinner the gas exchange surface, the more efficient gas exchange will be.
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