Gas Exchange and Effects of Smoking

Vocabulary review covering alveoli adaptations for gas exchange and the adverse physiological effects of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar.

Alveoli

Structures on a bronchiole that provide a large surface area to volume ratio, are thin to reduce diffusion distance, and are surrounded by capillaries to transport blood.

Oxygen Diffusion in Alveoli

The movement of oxygen easily out of the alveoli driven by a high concentration of oxygen creating a steep concentration gradient.

Nicotine

A substance that causes plaques in blood vessels, reducing the volume of oxygenated blood being pumped and causing heart rate and blood pressure to increase, which can lead to heart attacks.

Carbon Monoxide

A gas that binds to haemoglobin, reducing the flow of oxygenated blood; this triggers an increase in breathing rate and faster blood pumping, raising blood pressure which can cause a stroke.

Tar

A carcinogenic substance that increases the chances of cancerous cells developing in the lungs.

Carcinogenic

A property of a substance describing its ability to increase the chances of cancerous cells developing.