BRAINCAKEAdaptations of the Human Gas Exchange System
Large Surface Area, Short Diffusion Distance, Steep Concentration Gradient
These are the three key adaptations that make the human lungs so efficient at gas exchange.
Large surface area. The lungs contain hundreds of millions of alveoli, which together give a total surface area of about 70 m2. Each alveolus is covered by many capillaries, so the area in contact with blood is also very large.
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More in Gas Exchange
- Factors Affecting the Rate of Diffusion
- Effective Gas Exchange Systems
- The Human Gas Exchange System
- Gas Exchange in the Alveoli
- Breathing
- Inhalation
- Exhalation
- Protecting the Lungs
All 23 lessons in Gas Exchange · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics