Biology·Organisation & maintenance · NSSCO 3.9
Gas exchange in humans
Narrated lesson · press play
How you breathe and swap gases with the air — the difference between breathing and respiration, the perfect design of the alveoli, how your ribs and diaphragm move air, and how smoking damages your lungs.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Biology 3.9):
- Distinguish between breathing and respiration
- List the features of a gas exchange surface (large surface area, thin, good blood supply, good ventilation)
- State the functions of the intercostal muscles and the cartilage in the trachea
- Explain the differences between inspired and expired air, and the effect of exercise on breathing
- Describe the effects of tobacco smoke (carbon monoxide, nicotine, tar) and COPD
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Quick revision
Revise this in 5 minutes
Miss Rachel and Mike talk through the whole topic — with the figure and working drawn live.
Hands-on lab
Test exhaled air for carbon dioxide with limewater in 3D