The Importance of Diffusion to Living Organisms
Diffusion is basically the movement of chemical species (ions or
molecules) under the influence of concentration difference. The
species will move from the high concentration area to the low
concentration area till the concentration is consistent in the whole
system. Diffusion mostly occurs in gases and liquids as these can move
freely.
The main features of an efficient diffusion system would be that it
has a large surface area, thin membrane and a continuous supply of
substances. A large surface area is needed so that high amount of
substances can be exchanged at a time while the thin membrane means
that the diffusion pathway would be short so that it is more
efficient. The continuous supply would help in maintaining a
concentration gradient which is essential for diffusion to take place.
The 2 main types of diffusion are simple and facilitated. Simple
diffusion is when a small, non-polar molecule passes through a lipid
bilayer. In this type of diffusion, a hydrophobic molecule moved into
the hydrophobic region of the membrane without getting rejected. A key
feature is that it does not need a carrier protein to take place. An
example of simple diffusion is osmosis.
Facilitated diffusion on the other hand is dependant on carrier
proteins to transport it across the membrane.
Diffusion is essential for many organisms as it is a feature of a
number of processes which control and supply vital substances to the
body in order for basic survival. A few of these are discussed below.
Gas exchange is one of these processes. It is when much needed oxygen
is obtained by the body in order for respiration to take place and the
waste CO2 is taken out of the body. In us mammals, the exchange takes
place in the lungs which contain a large number of alveoli. These are
sponge-like structures in which the diffusion takes place. They are
highly adapted to diffuse the gases as they give a large surface area
for exchange of the gases.
I only chose respiratory as an answer. However, the correct answers are respiratory and cardiovascular because of the pulmonary circulatory system. Gas exchange occurs at pulmonary capillary beds.
Investigating the Effect of Concentration on the Rate of Diffusion Aim: To find out if concentration affects the rate of diffusion. Prediction: I predict that the higher the concentration of acid the faster the reaction will be. Hypothesis: Diffusion is the spreading out of a gas or liquid from an area of low concentration to another area where it has a lower concentration until the overall concentrations are balanced. The Hydrochloric acid (HCl) diffuses into the gelatine cube of which contains Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), which is an alkali. When the Hydrochloric acid combines with the Sodium Hydroxide they form salt and water, which is neutral therefore turning the pink cube to clear.
This cell membrane plays an important part in Diffusion. Cell membrane and Diffusion Diffusion is the movement of the molecules of gas or liquids from a higher concentrated region to a lower concentration through the partially permeable cell membrane along a concentraion gradient. This explanation is in the diagram shown below: [IMAGE] Turgor When a plant cell is placed in a dilute solution or a less concentrated solution then the water particles pass through the partially permeable membrane and fill the cell up with water. The cell then becomes Turgor or hard. An example of this is a strong well-watered plant.
The side of the membrane that has the higher concentration is said to have the concentration gradient. It drives diffusion because substances always move down their concentration gradient. The pressure gradient also plays a role in diffusion. Where this is a pressure gradient there is motion of molecules. The pressure gradient is a difference in pressure between two different points.
Healthy lung tissue is predominately soft, elastic connective tissue, designed to slide easily over the thorax with each breath. The lungs are covered with visceral pleura which glide fluidly over the parietal pleura of the thoracic cavity thanks to the serous secretion of pleural fluid (Marieb, 2006, p. 430). During inhalation, the lungs expand with air, similar to filling a balloon. The pliable latex of the balloon allows it to expand, just as the pliability of lungs and their components allows for expansion. During exhalation, the volume of air decrease causing a deflation, similar to letting air out of the balloon. However, unlike a balloon, the paired lungs are not filled with empty spaces; the bronchi enter the lungs and subdivide progressively smaller into bronchioles, a network of conducting passageways leading to the alveoli (Marieb, 2006, p. 433). Alveoli are small air sacs in the respiratory zone. The respiratory zone also consists of bronchioles and alveolar ducts, and is responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide (Marieb, 2006, p. 433).
* We would have to leave one end open to fill it up with the different
When a cell membrane is said to be selectively permeable, it means that the cell membrane controls what substances pass in and out through the membrane. This characteristic of cell membranes plays a great role in passive transport. Passive transport is the movement of substances across the cell membrane without any input of energy by the cell. The energy for passive transport comes entirely from kinetic energy that the molecules have. The simplest type of passive transport is diffusion, which is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. Diffusion
Glucose is the primary source of energy for the cells and consequently is necessary for all cellular functions that require energy. Facilitated diffusion plays a significant role in the management of concentrations of glucose, both intracellular and extracellular, providing a balance of glucose in the cells that when poorly utilized upsets the body’s homeostasis.
The circulatory system and respiratory system share a highly important relationship that is crucial to maintaining the life of an organism. In order for bodily processes to be performed, energy to be created, and homeostasis to be maintained, the exchange of oxygen from the external environment to the intracellular environment is performed by the relationship of these two systems. Starting at the heart, deoxygenated/carbon-dioxide (CO2)-rich blood is moved in through the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium, then into the right ventricle when the heart is relaxed. As the heart contracts, the deoxygenated blood is pumped through the pulmonary arteries to capillaries in the lungs. As the organism breathes and intakes oxygenated air, oxygen is exchanged with CO2 in the blood at the capillaries. As the organism breathes out, it expels the CO2 into the external environment. For the blood in the capillaries, it is then moved into pulmonary veins and make
When you breathe in, air containing carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) it moves down your trachea; a tunnel containing cartilage and smooth tissue. Air then travels through two hollow tubes called bronchi; narrow branches lined with smooth muscle, mucosal and ringed cartilage to support the structure. The bronchi divide out into smaller tunnels called bronchioles; are small branches 0.5-1mm, lined with muscular walls to help dilate and constrict the airway. At the end of the bronchioles are little air sacs called alveoli; which assist in gas exchange of O2 and CO2. (Eldridge, 2016) Towards the end of alveoli are small blood vessel capillaries. O2 is moved through the blood stream through theses small blood vessels (capillaries) at the end of the alveoli and the CO2 is then exhaled. (RolandMedically,
Diffusion and osmosis are necessary for the efficient transport of substances in and out of living cells. Diffusion is the most common and effective transportation process between cells and their surroundings, the movement of a substance along a concentration gradient from high to low, allowing essential nutrients and compounds to be transported without expending energy. Osmosis is a special kind of diffusion, specific to water. In order to observe diffusion and osmosis in real and artificial cells, a series of experiments was put together to observe how the surface area to volume ratio effects the rates of diffusion by using agar in different shapes with different ratios, next the rate of diffusion due to tonicity was observed using different solutions with different tonicities. And lastly live plant cells were submerged in different solutions with varying water potentials to observe how was potential effects the rate of osmosis and diffusion. It was concluded that the larger surface area to volume ratio, the faster rate of diffusion, the hypertonic solutions caused water to leave a cell and the hypotonic solutions allowed water to enter a cell, and that water potential will move from high to low in an attempt to maintain equilibrium.
The purpose of this lab was to see firsthand the diffusion of a substance across a selectively permeable membrane. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration until both concentrations are equal, or as you could more professionally call it, equilibrium. This concept is one that we have been studying in depth currently in Biology class.
of the air spaces and drops the air pressure in the lungs so that air
Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration. Osmosis is used to transfer water between different parts of plants. Osmosis is vitally important to plants. Plants gain...
The roles of the circulatory and respiratory system both carry important responsibilities and are essential in their jobs to the human body. The circulatory system is one, if not the, most important system in the human body. The circulatory system is made up of the heart, blood, and blood vessels. Within the blood vessels, there are three types: arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart is an organ made up of cardiac muscle that has a role similar to a pump. When the muscles in the heart contract, it pumps fresh blood away from the heart, through a main artery called the aorta, and to the organs and cells of the body. Nutrients and oxygen then enter the cells through diffusion of the tissues. The respiratory system transports oxygen to the circulatory system. When transporting oxygen to the circulatory system, this will in turn transport oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body. Aside from transporting oxygen to the body, the respiratory system also plays a role in the removal of carbon dioxide and other contaminants in the body. These two systems effectively and efficiently work together in order to supply the body with oxygen and remove carbon dioxide and any other