08. Efficient gaseous exchange requires the respiratory surface to be thin-walled.
Answers
The three characteristics of the lungs are:
a. Large surface area: Lungs provide a large surface area in the form of alveoli inside for the exchange of gases by diffusion. This helps in the absorption of oxygen.
b. Thin walls: The air sacs/alveoli are thin which allows the quick diffusion of the gases through it.
c. Rich in capillary supply: The alveoli are richly supplied with the capillaries that bring blood with the carbon dioxide and absorbs oxygen
An excellent respiratory surface should have :
A high surface area: to move the large amounts of oxygen required by the human body
Moist and thin walls: It allows easy exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Cell membranes can be crossed by the gases when in an aqueous solution. It should be moist.
Many blood capillaries: A better network of capillaries is essential for an efficient mode of transport.