Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

40. Circulatory System

Circulatory and Respiratory Anatomy

General Biology

40. Circulatory System

Circulatory and Respiratory Anatomy

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1:15 minutes

Problem 8

Textbook Question

What do the alveoli of mammalian lungs, the gill filaments of fish, and the tracheal tubes of insects have in common?
a. Use of a circulatory system to transport gases
b. Respiratory surfaces that are infoldings of the body wall
c. Countercurrent exchange
d. A large, moist surface area for gas exchange

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the function of the alveoli in mammalian lungs: Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs. They provide a large surface area and are moist to facilitate the diffusion of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of the blood.

Examine the structure of gill filaments in fish: Gill filaments are thin, feathery structures that increase the surface area for gas exchange. They are kept moist by water passing over them, which is essential for oxygen to diffuse into the blood and carbon dioxide to diffuse out.

Analyze the tracheal tubes in insects: Insects have a network of tracheal tubes that deliver oxygen directly to their tissues. These tubes branch into smaller tracheoles, which end in moist surfaces where gas exchange occurs directly with cells.

Identify the common feature: All three structures (alveoli, gill filaments, and tracheal tubes) are specialized to maximize gas exchange by providing a large surface area and maintaining a moist environment, which are critical for efficient diffusion of gases.

Eliminate incorrect options: a) Not all use a circulatory system (e.g., insects rely on direct diffusion). b) Not all are infoldings (e.g., gill filaments are outfoldings). c) Countercurrent exchange is specific to fish gills, not universal. The correct answer is d) a large, moist surface area for gas exchange.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Gas Exchange Surfaces

Gas exchange surfaces are specialized structures in organisms that facilitate the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the organism and its environment. In mammals, alveoli provide a large surface area for gas exchange, while fish utilize gill filaments, and insects have tracheal tubes. These surfaces are typically moist to enhance diffusion, allowing for efficient respiratory processes.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

The surface area to volume ratio is a critical factor in biological systems, particularly for gas exchange. As organisms increase in size, their volume grows faster than their surface area, making it challenging to exchange gases efficiently. Structures like alveoli, gill filaments, and tracheal tubes maximize surface area, ensuring that even small organisms can meet their respiratory needs effectively.

Moisture in Gas Exchange

Moisture is essential for effective gas exchange as it allows gases to dissolve and diffuse more readily across respiratory surfaces. In the alveoli of lungs, the presence of a thin layer of moisture facilitates the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Similarly, gill filaments and tracheal tubes also rely on moisture to optimize gas diffusion, highlighting the importance of a moist environment in respiratory systems.

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Textbook Question

One feature that amphibians and humans have in common is

a. The number of heart chambers.

b. A complete separation of circuits for circulation.

c. The number of circuits for circulation.

d. A low blood pressure in the systemic circuit.

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Textbook Question

If a molecule of CO₂ released into the blood in your left toe is exhaled from your nose, it must pass through all of the following except

a. The pulmonary vein.

b. The trachea.

c. The right atrium.

d. The right ventricle.

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Textbook Question

In which of the following organisms does oxygen diffuse directly across a respiratory surface to cells, without being carried by the blood?

a. A grasshopper

b. A whale

c. An earthworm

d. A mouse

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Textbook Question

What is the function of the cilia in the trachea and bronchi?

a. To sweep air into and out of the lungs

b. To increase the surface area for gas exchange

c. To dislodge food that may have slipped past the epiglottis

d. To sweep mucus with trapped particles up and out of the respiratory tract

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Textbook Question

The diaphragm is a large sheet of muscle that helps move air in and out of your lungs. Breathing is automatically controlled by the brain, but you can choose to hold your breath or breathe deeper. What kind of muscle do you suppose makes up the diaphragm? (Explain your answer.)

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Textbook Question

Which of the following is not a true statement about open and closed circulatory systems?

a. Both systems have some sort of a heart that pumps a circulatory fluid through the body.

b. A frog has an open circulatory system; other vertebrates have closed circulatory systems.

c. The blood and interstitial fluid are separate in a closed system but are indistinguishable in an open system.

d. Some of the circulation of blood in both systems results from body movements.

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Textbook Question

Trace the path of blood starting in a pulmonary vein, through the heart, and around the body, returning to the pulmonary vein. Name, in order, the heart chambers and types of vessels through which the blood passes.

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Textbook Question

Predict how Antarctic icefish can transport enough oxygen in their blood to meet their needs even though they lack hemoglobin.

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