CHAPTER 11.
1 – GAS EXCHANGE IN
HUMANS (CORE + SUPPLEMENT)
IGCSE Biology
1. Features of Gas Exchange Surfaces in
Humans (Core)
Gas exchange happens in the alveoli of the lungs.
They are efficient because they have:
1. Large surface area
● Millions of alveoli increase surface area for diffusion of gases.
2. Thin surface
● Alveoli walls are one cell thick.
● Capillary walls are also one cell thick.
→ Short diffusion distance for O₂ and CO₂.
3. Good blood supply
● Dense network of capillaries around each alveolus.
● Maintains steep concentration gradient.
4. Good ventilation
● Breathing constantly brings in fresh air and removes used air.
→ Maintains strong diffusion gradients.
2. Parts of the Human Breathing System
(Core)
Be able to identify on diagrams:
● Lungs
● Diaphragm
● Ribs
● Intercostal muscles
● Larynx
● Trachea
● Bronchi (left & right)
● Bronchioles
● Alveoli
● Capillaries surrounding alveoli
(If you want, I can create a labelled diagram description.)
3. Investigating Differences in Inspired &
Expired Air (Core)
Limewater test for carbon dioxide
● Air blown out (expired air) into limewater
→ turns cloudy/milky faster
● Air sucked in (inspired air)
→ little/no effect
Because expired air has more CO₂.
4. Differences Between Inspired and
Expired Air (Core)
Gas Inspired Air Expired Air Reason
Oxygen (O₂) 21% 16% Used in respiration
Carbon dioxide 0.04% 4% Produced in respiration
Water vapour Low High Air is humidified in lungs
5. Effects of Physical Activity on Breathing
(Core)
During exercise:
● Breathing rate increases
● Breathing depth increases
Reason: muscles need more oxygen for respiration and produce more CO₂.
SUPPLEMENT
6. Internal and External Intercostal
Muscles
On diagrams:
● External intercostal muscles: outside layer between ribs
● Internal intercostal muscles: inside layer between ribs
7. Function of Cartilage in the Trachea
● C-shaped rings of cartilage keep the trachea open.
● Prevent collapse when air pressure drops during inhalation.
8. Mechanism of Ventilation (Breathing In
& Out)
A. Inhalation (breathing in)
● External intercostal muscles contract
● Ribs move up and out
● Diaphragm contracts → moves down → flattens
● Thorax volume increases
● Pressure decreases
● Air flows into the lungs
B. Exhalation (breathing out)
● External intercostal muscles relax, internal intercostal may contract (forced
exhalation)
● Ribs move down and in
● Diaphragm relaxes → domes upward
● Thorax volume decreases
● Pressure increases
● Air flows out of the lungs
9. Explanation of Differences Between
Inspired & Expired Air (Supplement)
Expired air has:
● Less oxygen → used for aerobic respiration
● More carbon dioxide → waste product of respiration
● More water vapour → air becomes humid in the gas exchange surface
10. Physical Activity and Breathing
(Supplement)
During exercise:
1. Muscle cells produce more CO₂.
2. CO₂ is detected by receptors in the medulla (brain).
3. Brain increases:
○ Breathing rate
○ Breathing depth
Purpose:
● Remove extra CO₂
● Supply more oxygen for increased respiration
11. Protection of the Breathing System
(Goblet Cells, Mucus, Cilia)
Goblet cells
● Produce mucus.
Mucus
● Sticky substance that traps pathogens and dust.
Ciliated cells
● Have hair-like cilia that beat rhythmically to move mucus:
○ Up the throat → swallowed → destroyed in stomach acid.
Function:
→ Prevent pathogens/dirt from entering alveoli.
⚠️ 1. You need stronger conceptual
understanding of ventilation mechanics
I gave you the steps of inhalation/exhalation, but IGCSE often asks WHY the ribs move and
HOW volume → pressure → airflow changes.
Most students memorize:
“Ribs go up, diaphragm goes down, volume increases.”
That is not enough for high-level answers.
You need to be able to explain:
“Increasing thoracic volume decreases air pressure below atmospheric pressure.
Air flows from high pressure (outside) to low pressure (inside).”
If you cannot explain this in your own words, you will lose 2–3 marks in a structured question.
So no — you aren’t fully ready until you can answer:
Why does air enter the lungs when you inhale?
⚠️ 2. Your explanation of exercise and
breathing must be linked to carbon
dioxide detection
Many students say:
“During exercise you breathe more because you need more oxygen.”
This is half true and gets 1 mark only.
IGCSE wants:
“CO₂ concentration increases → detected by the brain → increases rate & depth of
breathing.”
If you forget this link, it’s a big loss in the Supplement section.
So again — you aren’t fully ready until you can explain:
What triggers faster breathing: oxygen need or carbon dioxide rise?
(Answer: CO₂ rise triggers it.)
🟢 What you know is correct, but what
you know is not yet ENOUGH
As a mentor, I’m not here to say “yes good job” — I’m here to make you dangerous in the exam
room.
So here’s my verdict:
✔ Content = Complete
✘ Understanding = Needs strengthening in 2 critical areas
❗ Now I want to actually test your
understanding
Answer these three mentor-level questions without looking at notes:
Q1.
Why does air enter the lungs during inhalation?
Explain in terms of volume, pressure, and air movement.
Q2.
During exercise, the breathing rate increases.
What exactly triggers this increase?
(Be specific — which chemical changes? Where detected?)
Q3.
State TWO reasons why the alveoli have a very efficient gas exchange surface, and explain the
importance of each.