Alveoli Adaptations

All gas exchange systems have...

• large surface areas

• small surface areas

All gas exchange systems have...

• moist surfaces

• dry surfaces

All gas exchange systems have...

• thick walls

• thin walls

All gas exchange systems have...

• a good blood supply

• a poor blood supply

Many tiny, rounded alveolar sacs maximise gas exchange by providing

• providing large surface area to volume ratio

• minimising diffusion distance

• maintaining a steep concentration gradient 

• maximising diffusion rate

Good blood supply maximise gas exchange by providing

• providing large surface area to volume ratio

• minimising diffusion distance

• maintaining a steep concentration gradient 

• maximising diffusion rate

Thin alveolar and capillary walls maximise gas exchange by providing

• providing large surface area to volume ratio

• minimising diffusion distance

• maintaining a steep concentration gradient 

• maximising diffusion rate

Moist alveolar surface maximise gas exchange by providing

• providing large surface area to volume ratio

• minimising diffusion distance

• maintaining a steep concentration gradient 

• maximising diffusion rate

Lung ventilation maximise gas exchange by providing

• providing large surface area to volume ratio

• minimising diffusion distance

• maintaining a steep concentration gradient 

• maximising diffusion rate

Gas exchange in the alveoli is driven by

• diffusion gradients

• active transport gradient

• osmosis gradient

• convection gradient