Deck 22: Gas Exchange

Question 1

Which of the following is false?

A) Oxygen diffuses much more slowly in water than in air.
B) At the same altitude and temperature the concentration of oxygen in water is higher than in air.
C) Water is about 1,000 times more dense than air.
D) Air and water contain oxygen available for cellular respiration.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following statements about gas concentrations in air and water is true?

A) Carbon dioxide is not found in water.
B) Carbon dioxide occurs in similar concentrations in air and water.
C) Oxygen occurs in similar concentrations in air and water.
D) Oxygen occurs in higher concentrations in air than in water.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

When we inhale, air moves in through the mouth or nose and next moves into the

A) bronchi.
B) alveoli.
C) lungs.
D) pharynx.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Air entering the lungs has

A) a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than the air in an alveolus.
B) a higher concentration of both carbon dioxide and oxygen than an alveolus.
C) a higher concentration of oxygen and a lower concentration of carbon dioxide than in an alveolus.
D) a lower concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide equal to the concentrations in an alveolus.

Question 5

The tiniest bronchiole extensions open into the

A) trachea.
B) bronchi.
C) alveoli.
D) pharynx.

Question 6

Examine the table below.
Based on the data in this table, which of these fish is probably the fastest swimmer?

A) rudderfish
B) eel
C) flounder
D) goosefish

Question 7

Which of the following would have the smallest diameter?

A) the pharynx
B) the trachea
C) the bronchi
D) the bronchioles

Question 8

When you exercise intensely, your rate of gas exchange rises because

A) muscle contraction requires oxygen to lessen the amount of ATP that is produced.
B) the amount of carbon dioxide required for cellular respiration increases.
C) the muscle cell mitochondria require more oxygen.
D) the surface area-to-volume ratio of the lungs decreases.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about the size of an organism's gas exchange surface is true?

A) Organisms with small demands generally still have large gas exchange surfaces.
B) The lungs of active mammals have smaller gas exchange surfaces than the lungs of less active mammals.
C) The surface area of a gas exchange surface is sized to match the needs of the organism.
D) Extra gill surface area in a fish would help lower the drag forces in water.

Question 10

A mitochondrion in a cell undergoing cellular respiration would

A) have a higher concentration of oxygen than the surrounding cytosol.
B) lose oxygen by diffusion.
C) lose carbon dioxide by diffusion.
D) gain oxygen by being in direct contact with hemoglobin.

Question 11

The liquid portion of human blood cannot absorb enough oxygen to meet the body's demands. However, _______ in our red blood cells greatly increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of human blood.

A) carbon dioxide
B) alveoli
C) nodules
D) hemoglobin

Question 12

What tube connects the pharynx to the bronchi?

A) the trachea
B) the alveoli
C) the bronchioles
D) the tracheoles

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Oxygen moves into cells by diffusion, but carbon dioxide is moved by active transport.
B) Oxygen and carbon dioxide move into and out of cells and alveoli passively by diffusion.
C) Carbon dioxide and oxygen are actively transported into and out of blood by diffusion.
D) Oxygen moves into cells by diffusion, but in the alveoli it is actively transported.

Question 14

Once oxygen has entered the blood stream, its ultimate destination is the

A) alveoli.
B) lungs.
C) cells.
D) mitochondria.

Question 15

In human lungs, gases are exchanged in tiny sacs called

A) gills.
B) tracheoles.
C) alveoli.
D) spongy parenchyma.

Question 16

For a human to inhale, the rib muscles and diaphragm must

A) contract, decreasing the pressure inside the lungs.
B) relax, raising the pressure inside the lungs.
C) contract, raising the pressure inside the lungs.
D) relax, decreasing the pressure inside the lungs.

Question 17

Air leaving the lungs has

A) a higher concentration of both oxygen and carbon dioxide than outside air.
B) a lower concentration of oxygen and a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than outside air.
C) equal concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen.
D) a lower concentration of oxygen and a lower concentration of carbon dioxide than outside air.

Question 18

Air enters the lungs through a pair of tubes known as

A) bronchi.
B) alveoli.
C) bronchioles.
D) pharynx.

Question 19

Which of the following describes the journey of a molecule of oxygen from the pharynx to an alveolus?

A) pharynx to trachea to bronchus to bronchiole to alveolus
B) pharynx to trachea to bronchiole to bronchus to alveolus
C) pharynx to bronchiole to bronchus to trachea to alveolus
D) pharynx to bronchus to bronchiole to trachea to alveolus

Question 20

Which of the following would contain the lowest concentration of oxygen?

A) a lake covered by a sheet of ice
B) air at sea level
C) air 1,000 ft. above sea level
D) a warm pond

Question 21

Which of the following would not be a characteristic of an organ used for gas exchange?

A) high surface area
B) covered by waterproofing layers
C) moist surfaces
D) very thin tissues

Question 22

Blood arriving at a cell that is performing cellular respiration would

A) contain red blood cells with oxygen bound to most of its hemoglobin and a lower concentration of carbon dioxide than the cell.
B) contain little remaining hemoglobin and a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than the cell.
C) deposit its hemoglobin onto the plasma membrane of the cell to release oxygen and pick up carbon dioxide.
D) contain hemoglobin largely depleted of oxygen and a lower concentration of carbon dioxide than the cell.

Question 23

Blood in a capillary leaving a nearby cell would contain

A) a lower concentration of carbon dioxide than when it arrived.
B) a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than when it arrived.
C) a higher concentration of oxygen than when it arrived.
D) less hemoglobin than when it arrived.

Question 24

Hemoglobin

A) is an enzyme involved in the process of cellular respiration.
B) transports oxygen from cells undergoing cellular respiration to red blood cells.
C) binds to oxygen and releases it near cells performing cellular respiration.
D) makes the blood more acidic, enabling it to absorb more oxygen.

Question 25

Where would you expect hemoglobin to release oxygen?

A) when it is inside an alveolus
B) near red blood cells that are undergoing cellular respiration
C) at the terminal ends of bronchioles
D) near body cells that are undergoing cellular respiration

Question 26

The figure below illustrates the respiratory surface of an animal relative to its body surface.
Would you expect this respiratory surface to be found in an aquatic or terrestrial animal?

A) Aquatic; having the respiratory surfaces inside the body saves energy since water is less dense than air and can therefore be more easily moved through an internal respiratory organ.
B) Aquatic; having an external respiratory surface allows the animal to create a larger surface area for gas exchange.
C) Terrestrial; by having the respiratory surface inside the body, terrestrial animals reduce water loss.
D) Terrestrial; having the respiratory surfaces inside the body prevents gases other than oxygen from entering the body.

Question 27

Why do many large animals rely on internal transport systems (like the circulatory system) to distribute oxygen?

A) Diffusion does not occur in organisms with more than about 300 cells.
B) Large organisms do not need as much oxygen as small organisms so they utilize inefficient transport systems like the circulatory system rather than diffusion.
C) The internal transport system is needed to quickly replace oxygen lost due to the high surface area of the skin.
D) Diffusion is very slow over all but the shortest distances, so oxygen must be delivered to cells to speed up the process.

Question 28

While observing your goldfish, you notice that its gill flaps move up and down in a constant rhythm. This movement

A) helps the fish take in small gulps of air and store them in lung-like sacs.
B) requires less energy than moving air over the gills.
C) is unnecessary when the fish is swimming constantly.
D) ensures that the fish's gas exchange organs are surrounded by oxygen-rich water.

Question 29

Unlike aquatic organisms, humans have their gas exchange surfaces on the inside rather than the outside. This adaptation evolved to

A) reduce water loss during gas exchange.
B) allow better uptake of carbon dioxide.
C) prevent the loss of oxygen during gas exchange.
D) allow more efficient production of carbohydrates.

Question 30

Which of the following best describes the environment around a cell performing cellular respiration?

A) The concentration of oxygen around the cell is constantly being lowered.
B) The concentration of oxygen around the cell causes more carbon dioxide to diffuse out of the cell.
C) The release of products of cellular respiration causes oxygen to diffuse into the blood plasma.
D) The carbon dioxide concentration outside the cell constantly decreases.

Question 31

The concentration of oxygen in blood plasma near an alveolus is lowered when

A) nearby red blood cells release carbon dioxide.
B) oxygen diffuses into red blood cells and binds to hemoglobin.
C) carbon dioxide diffuses into an alveolus.
D) oxygen diffuses out into the alveolus.

Question 32

Which of the following statements about oxygen-binding pigments is false?

A) They float freely in the liquid portion of human blood.
B) They increase the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
C) They are made of a complex protein bound to iron atoms.
D) They bind reversibly to oxygen.

Question 33

People with sickle-cell anemia have deformed hemoglobin molecules and often suffer muscle pains, even at low levels of exertion. These symptoms might come about because the deformed hemoglobin

A) is unable to carry the oxygen required for normal activities of muscles.
B) cannot diffuse across the cells' membranes from the blood plasma.
C) causes damage to the muscle cells as it enters the muscle.
D) decreases the person's surface area-to-volume ratio.

Question 34

Which of the following responses will not be temporarily expressed by visitors to high altitudes?

A) increased blood flow
B) increased concentration of hemoglobin in the blood
C) increased heart rate
D) increased attraction of hemoglobin to oxygen

Question 35

Which of the following best describes the journey of an oxygen molecule in a lung?

A) It travels from an alveolus to a bronchiole to a capillary to a red blood cell to hemoglobin.
B) It travels from a bronchiole to an alveolus to a capillary to hemoglobin to a red blood cell.
C) It travels from a bronchiole to an alveolus to a capillary to a red blood cell to hemoglobin.
D) It travels from a bronchiole to an alveolus to a red blood cell to a capillary to hemoglobin.

Question 36

In what way, if any, is the circulatory system of humans important to the process of gas exchange?

A) It has no importance to gas exchange.
B) It allows air to be taken into the lungs.
C) It increases the area available for gas exchange.
D) It carries oxygen to cells that are not in direct contact with air.

Question 37

At high altitudes you may gasp for air, because

A) the surface area of your lungs will be decreased.
B) the amount of hemoglobin in your blood will decrease.
C) hemoglobin will not be able to bind to oxygen as well at a higher altitude.
D) the amount of oxygen that could diffuse into your blood will be decreased.

Question 38

In blood arriving at an alveolus, the concentration of

A) oxygen is lower in the alveolus than in the blood.
B) carbon dioxide is higher in the alveolus than in the blood.
C) carbon dioxide is higher in the blood than in the alveolus.
D) carbon dioxide in the blood is equal to the concentration of oxygen in the alveolus.

Question 39

Which of the following is not a genetic adaptation that has evolved in people who live at high altitudes?

A) large lungs
B) rapid breathing
C) higher hemoglobin concentration in their blood
D) ability of the hemoglobin in their blood to pick up oxygen more readily from the plasma

Question 40

Carbon dioxide

A) is carried by a different binding pigment in the blood than oxygen is.
B) lowers the acidity of the blood plasma, causing hemoglobin to release oxygen.
C) moves from regions of cellular respiration to the alveoli dissolved in the cytoplasm of red blood cells.
D) attaches to hemoglobin, causing structural changes that make oxygen binding more efficient.

Question 41

When a cell is performing cellular respiration, the higher concentration of __________________ in nearby blood plasma causes the plasma to become slightly more acidic.

Question 42

Gasses move from an area of ____ concentration to an area of ___ concentration.

Question 43

The human _______ system is used for the internal transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 44

Bubbles form in a glass of water, because it contains dissolved _____.

Question 45

The lungs of organism A have a surface area of 10 square cm. The lungs of organism B have a surface area of 5 square cm. Based on this information, the rate of gas exchange must be higher in organism _____.

Question 46

More gas will diffuse through a _____ surface area than a _____ surface area.

Question 47

Human red blood cells contain the red pigment __________.

Question 48

The figure below illustrates the inhalation step of gas exchange in humans.

In this figure, the diaphragm and the muscle of the ribcage are _________ [relaxed or contracted?].

Question 49

In humans and many other animals gases are transported in ____ , which travels rapidly in a circulatory system.

Question 50

One way animals carry large amounts of oxygen to cells is by means of oxygen-binding _______ that bind reversibly to oxygen.

Question 51

Insects breathe through a system of tubes, the smallest of which are called __________.

Question 52

You would expect a child who has just had an asthma attack to have ________ levels of carbon dioxide in their blood than a normal child would.

Question 53

Hemoglobin, like many other oxygen-binding pigments, contains the metallic element ____.

Question 54

_________ is the process of expelling carbon dioxide from the lungs and taking oxygen into the lungs.

Question 55

The higher the gas concentration in the environment relative to the gas concentration inside an organism, the more quickly the gas will passively enter the organism.

Question 56

The _______ of insects are tubes that allow oxygen in the atmosphere to reach the gas exchange surfaces inside the insects.

Question 57

The process of inhalation requires more energy than the process of exhalation.

Question 58

The _______ that aquatic animals use for gas exchange have evolved several times, but they are always structured to provide the maximum surface area for gas exchange.

Question 59

In humans, the equivalent of an insect's tracheoles in terms of size would be ___________.

Question 60

The breaking open of alveoli in people with emphysema decreases their rate of gas exchange because

A) the distance between the air they breath in and the blood is decreased.
B) there is less pressure in the lungs to force the oxygen to dissolve in the blood.
C) the concentration of oxygen in the lungs becomes much greater than that in the blood.
D) their lungs have less surface area available for diffusion.

Question 61

Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse much more slowly in water than in air.

Question 62

You have been asked to design a man-made version of hemoglobin that could be used to help high mountain rescuers acclimate to high altitudes more rapidly. What is the most important property your protein has to exhibit?

Question 63

The smaller the distance over which a gas must diffuse, the more slowly it will diffuse.

Question 64

Gills were the first gas exchange organ to evolve in animals.

Question 65

Internal surfaces, such as those found in our lungs, reduce water loss during gas exchanges.

Question 66

Ectothermic animals have a larger surface area available for gas exchange than endothermic animals.

Question 67

If our skin were our gas exchange surface, it would have sufficient surface area to support our need for oxygen.

Question 68

Blood plasma contains dissolved oxygen when it leaves alveoli.