BRAINCAKELimitations of the Tracheal System
Reducing Water Loss
Gases enter and leave through tiny pores called spiracles. These can be closed by a valve to reduce water loss. Much of the time insects keep their spiracles closed to prevent water loss. Periodically, the valve opens the spiracles to allow gas exchange.
Diffusion Distance
Most systems of gas transport are able to supply enough oxygen to the tissues and remove the carbon dioxide produced by respiration in spite of great distances between the environment and the individual cells of the tissues by using a combination of mass transport and diffusion.
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Key terms in this lesson
- diffusion
- The net movement of molecules or ions from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, down a concentration gradient.
- tracheole
- A fine, thin-walled tube branching from the tracheae in an insect's tracheal system, which carries gases directly to respiring tissues.
- spiracle
- A small pore in the exoskeleton of an insect through which air enters and leaves the tracheal system.
More in Exchange Surfaces and Breathing
- Gas Exchange in Unicellular Organisms
- Gas Exchange in Insects
- Diffusion Gradient
- Mass Transport
- Increasing the Rate of Diffusion
- Gas Exchange in Fish
- Structure of the Gills
- Counter Current Exchange
All 24 lessons in Exchange Surfaces and Breathing · All OCR AS-level Biology topics