Nutrition and Gas Exchange
Nutrition and Gas Exchange
Nutrition and Gas Exchange
Let us begin this lesson with a set of questions that will prepare us for a discussion on how organisms
obtain energy from the environment. Here are some questions that will be answered by this lesson:
a. What is meant by nutrition? How do organisms obtain nutrients from the environment?
b. What are the processes involved in nutrition and gas exchange?
c. What are the unique characteristics of plants and animals in obtaining nutrients and exchange of
gasses?
Since time immemorial living organisms, including us, have been obtaining energy from the abiotic and
biotic components of the ecosystem. All organisms need energy to perform various life processes. Energy is
necessary in order for organisms to move, reproduce, respire, digest, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of providing or obtaining food necessary for health, survival, and growth of an
organism. In this process, an organism takes in, digests, and uses different substances obtained from various
food sources. These substances, called nutrients, provide energy for the organism’s metabolic processes such as
growth, maintenance, reproduction and also immunity.
Modes of Nutrition
Organisms have different modes of nutrition. They can be classified based on how they obtain food.
1. Autotrophic
Autotrophic organisms can manufacture their own nutrients by synthesizing inorganic materials.
Depending on the energy source, autotrophs are of two types:
a. Photoautotrophic - Photoautotrophic organisms directly harnessed the energy from the sun and other
inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide and water to form organic food. They are called
photoautotrophs. Examples are plants and some forms of bacteria and protists.
b. Chemoautotrophic – Chemoautotrophic organisms use chemicals to produce simpler organic substances
important for their survival. Such organisms are called chemoautotrophs, like Archaea and most bacteria
that live in extreme environments such as volcanoes and deep- sea vents. They synthesized inorganic
substances like hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, and ammonia.
2. Heterotrophic
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
Heterotrophic organisms called heterotrophs cannot make their own food, thus obtain their energy by
digesting organic matter. Heterotrophs include all animals, fungi, and some bacteria. The heterotrophic mode of
nutrition can be classified into saprophytic, parasitic, and holozoic nutrition.
a. Saprophytic or saprotrophic – saprotrophic organisms obtain their nutrients from dead organic matter.
These organisms secrete digestive juices to the surroundings, which will be later absorbed through their
body surface. Saprophytes include fungi and bacteria.
b. Parasitic – Parasitic organisms obtain nutrients from another organism. Parasitic nutrition is exhibited
by some plants and animals.
Parasite is the organism that takes food from the host.
Host is the organism where food is taken.
o Parasite can either be outside or inside the host
Ectoparasitism – this type of parasitism happens when the parasite is outside the body
of the host. Examples are lice in humans, fleas in dogs
Endoparasitism - this type of parasitism involves parasites that live inside the body of
the host. Endoparasite includes tapeworm, pin worms, round worms, and hook
worms. These worms negatively affect the health of humans.
c. Holozoic - In this mode of nutrition, organisms ingest solid or liquid food. The food is then digested
and absorbed by the body. It is subdivided based on the type of matter digested.
1. Herbivorous - organism that in only plants as source of their energy.
2. Carnivorous – organisms that eat other animals.
3. Omnivorous - organism that take in both plants and animals.
Self –check!
Listed in the box are different organisms. For each organism ,identify its mode of nutrition ( specific
level) . Present your work through a graphic organizer. Use the available space below.
Autotrophic Heterotrophic
Parasitic Holozoic
Photoautotrop Chemoautotrop Saprotrop Ectoparasi Endoparas Herbivo Carnivo Omnivo
hic hic hic te ite re re re
Shitake Grizzly
Peace Lily Halophiles Ticks Ascari Antelope Pig
Mushroom Bear
Thermoacidophile Slime
Dumb Cane s
E.coli Vulture
molds
Spider Plant
Algae
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
What do plants need for growth and development?
Plants need material resources and energy to grow and develop. Material resources are used as reactants
in chemical reactions involved in the synthesis of new body parts. Energy is needed to drive these chemical
reactions forward. The following is a list of what plants need, how they are obtained and what they are used for.
1. Plants need water and minerals, which they absorb from the soil by means of their root hairs and
distribute throughout the plant through xylem tissues up the stem. Water is lost by transpiration from
the stomatal apparatus of the leaves, thereby regulating water content and temperature of the plant.
Water and mineral absorption routes are either:
Symplast route – route through plasmodesmata and;
Apoplast route – route along cells walls.
2. They need light energy from the sun which they absorb with chlorophyll molecules found in the
mesophyll. Water, carbon dioxide and light energy are used in the manufacture of food in the form of
sugar called glucose.
3. The plants need gases from the air, in the form of carbon dioxide and oxygen which they take up
through the stomata of the leaves epidermis.
4. Plants need oxygen in aerobic respiration. Glucose is broken down in the presence of oxygen through
respiration to produce energy storage molecules called Adenosine triphosphate, ATP. Intermediate
products of respiration and energy for ATP are used in the production of other organic molecules such
as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
5. These organic molecules are used as building blocks to produce new cell parts: cellulose for cell walls,
lipids form membranes, protein for ribosomes and nucleic acids for chromosomes. Addition of new parts
results in increase in cell size and prepares the cell for division. These are physical manifestation of the
overall growth in plants.
6. Other organic molecules serves functions other than building new parts. Nucleic acids serve as
repository of genetic information. Some proteins function as enzymes to speed up life processes
involving chemical reactions. Some organic molecules act as hormones. Hormones elicit specific
changes in structure and function of plants such as germination, flowering, fruit ripening and others.
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
3. Symbiosis of plants and soil microbes – soil bacteria like rhizobia symbiotically interact with legume roots to
form specialized structures called nodules in which nitrogen fixation takes place.
4. Symbiosis of plants and fungi –Mycorrhizae are symbiotic relationships that form between fungi and plants.
The fungi colonize the root system of a host plant providing increased water and nutrient absorption
capabilities while the plant provides the fungus with carbohydrates formed from photosynthesis.
Self – check!
Questions Answers
1. What is the food making process in plants? Photosynthesis
2. Parasitism outside the body of the host. Ectoparasitism
3. They synthesize hydrogen sulfide, sulfur and Chemoautotrophs
ammonia into simpler organic substances for their
survival.
4. Are epidermal outgrowth of root cells thus Root Hair
increasing absorbing capacity of nutrients.
5. Stimulate changes in structure and functions in Hormones
plants necessary for seed germination, flowering and
the like.
6. Glucose is broken down in the presence of oxygen Aerobic Respiration
through the process of _________________.
7. It serves as a repository of genetic information. Nucleic Acids
8. The route of water and mineral along cell walls of Apoplast Route
plants.
9. The mode of nutrition by which organisms ingest Heterotrophic
and digest solid or liquid food.
10. Obtain food from dead materials. Saprotrophic or Saprophytic
Gas Exchange
Gases are important because they are required for different metabolic reactions to proceed. Hence, gas
exchange is also an important biological process that allows organisms to survive. Through this process,
different gases are transferred in opposite directions across a respiratory surface. Gas exchange involves the use
of oxygen produced by photosynthetic organisms and the release of carbon dioxide to the environment as a
waste product of respiration. The table below shows different structures used by animals for gas exchange.
Respiration is simply defined as the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide into the body.
Or, It is an oxidative process in which oxygen is taken into the tissue (from lungs) to oxidize the food in order to release energy and carbon dioxide.
The released energy is utilized to perform various life activities. The metabolic waste like CO2 is removed from the body through lungs.
The compounds oxidized in respiration are called respiratory substrates.
Plants gas exchange mainly occurs in the leaves. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are two
biological processes involved in gas exchange in plants. In photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
the air to make food, during the process, oxygen is released as a by - product. At the same time, plants take in
oxygen to be used in cellular respiration, releasing energy and carbon dioxide as by – products.
Plants have different mechanisms for gas exchange. Gas enter the leaves through specialized pores
called stomata ( singular: stoma). Each stoma contains guard cells that control the opening and closing of the
pores. When light strikes the leaves in the morning, the stomata opens and closes at night. This happens the
guard cells are pushed against the cell wall, causing a change in turgor pressure . The closing and opening of
the guard cells allow the exchange of gases between the leaves of the plant and the environment.
Roots and stems also contribute to gas exchange but only with a minimal effect .Cork cells of woody
stems and mature roots are impregnated with suberin , a waxy, water proof substance that does not allow gases
and water to pass through. However, these woody stems and mature roots are perforated by nonsuberized pores
called lenticels. Lenticels provide a pathway for the direct exchange of gases between the internal tissue of the
plants and the atmosphere.
CO2 out
Body Surface/Skin It is a respiratory surface covered with thin and moist
epithelial cells that allow oxygen and carbon dioxide
exchange. Gases can only cross the cell membrane
when they are dissolved in an aqueous solution, and
thus the surface should be moist.
Gills They gently increase the surface area for gas
exchange in aquatic organisms. Gills are convoluted
outgrowths containing blood vessels covered by a
thin layer of epithelial cells. They can be found
either externally or internally.
Tracheal systems They are composed of a series of respiratory tubes that carry the gases directly
to the cells for gas exchange. Gases enter and exit through the openings at the
body surfaces called spiracles.
Spiracle air
Tracheae
Lungs These are ingrowths of the body wall that connect to the outside environment
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
by a series of respiratory tubes and small openings. The lungs are one of the
most complex respiratory organs of animals.
Self –Check!
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
1. Pulmonary ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs (breathing). This involves gas
pressures and muscle contractions.
2. External respiration is the exchange of O2 (loading) and CO2 (unloading) between blood and alveoli (air
sacs).
3. Transport of respiratory gases between lungs and tissues.
4. Internal respiration is gas exchange between blood and tissue cells.
Cellular respiration - the includes the metabolic pathways which utilize O2 and produce CO2, which will not
be included in this unit.
Upper Respiratory System Structures
The upper respiratory tract consists of the nose and the pharynx, or throat.
I. Nose
a. Divided into the external nares and the internal nasal cavity.
b. Nasal cavity is divided in half by the nasal septum.
c. Floor of the nasal cavity is formed by the palate.
i. Anterior is the hard palate.
ii. Posterior is the soft palate. It is primarily composed of skeletal muscle.
iii. Cleft palate – genetic defect where failure of the palatine bones &/or the palatine processes of the
maxillary bones fuse medially; it causes difficulty in breathing & oral cavity functions such as sucking &
mastication & speech. A cleft lip is a separation of the two sides of the lip. Sometimes this includes the maxilla
bone of the upper jaw.
d. On the lateral walls of the nasal cavity we find the 3 pairs of nasal conchae (turbinals).
i. The superior and middle and inferior nasal conchae.
ii. The nasal conchae make airflow within the nasal cavity turbulent. The turbulence slows the flow of
air down which increases the available time for inspired air to be filtered, warmed, and humidified. Also,
provide a sensory surface for olfaction.
e. The majority of the nasal cavity is lined by respiratory epithelium.
i. Respiratory epithelium is pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells.
ii. The mucus secreted by goblet cells, as well as mucous glands, helps filter and trap inspired
particulate matter. The mucus also contributes to the humidification of inspired air.
iii. The cilia help sweep mucus to the pharynx where it can be swallowed.
iv. The respiratory epithelium is underlain by a dense vasculature. The blood helps warm inspired
air. Cold, dry air can damage the delicate alveolar tissue.
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
v. Mucus also contains enzymes and IgA’s, which help prevent
infection.
f. The nasal cavity is continuous with the nasopharynx via the internal nares.
II. Pharynx
Divided into 3 sections: nasopharynx, oropharynx, & laryngopharynx.
a. Nasopharynx
i. Continuous with the nasal cavity via the internal nares.
ii. Lined by respiratory epithelium.
iii. Contains the opening to the auditory tube (a.k.a. the Eustachian tube).
1. The auditory tube connects the pharynx to the middle ear cavity.
2. It functions to ensure that the air pressure within the middle ear cavity is equal to
atmospheric pressure.
iv. Contains the pharyngeal tonsil.
b. Oropharynx
i. Inferior to the uvula and superior to the epiglottis
ii. Lined by nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium b/c it is a common pathway for food and air.
iii. The palatine tonsils are located near the opening of the oral cavity into the pharynx.
c. Laryngopharynx
i. Inferior to the epiglottis and superior to the split between the larynx and the esophagus.
ii. Lined by nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium b/c it is a common pathway for food and air.
iii. Continuous with the larynx inferiorly.
iv. Lingual tonsils are located on the posterior surface of the tongue, which also places them near the
opening of the oral cavity into the pharynx.
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
III. Larynx
a. Routes food and air down their correct passages.
b. Contains the vocal cords, which function in voice production.
c. Structure
i. Arrangement of 9 cartilages connected by membranes and ligaments and lined by respiratory
epithelium.
ii. Cartilages include thyroid, cricoid, epiglottis and 3 small paired cartilages.
iii. All cartilages are hyaline with the exception of the epiglottis, which is elastic cartilage.
iv. Thyroid cartilage is the largest and its midline laryngeal prominence is the male “Adam’s apple.”
v. Inferior to the thyroid is the signet-ring shaped cricoid cartilage.
vi. The 3 pairs of small cartilages form much of the posterior and lateral larynx.
vii. The epiglottis extends from the base of the tongue to its hinge on the superior thyroid
cartilage. During swallowing, the epiglottis tips and covers the entrance to the larynx and ensures that food
enters the esophagus.
d. Deep to the laryngeal mucosa in the lateral walls of the larynx are the vocal ligaments. These are the core
of the lower vocal folds or true vocal cords.
i. Vibration of the vocal ligaments creates sounds that are then modified by the tongue, lips, etc., to
produce the sounds with which we are familiar.
ii. Superior to the vocal folds are the vestibular folds or false vocal cords. These play no role in voice
production.
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
iii. The space between the vocal folds on the left and those on the right is known as the glottis.
Lower Respiratory System Structures
Consists of the parts found in the thoracic cavity: the lower trachea and the lower trachea and the lungs.
IV. Trachea
a. Extends from the larynx to the mediastinum, where it splits into 2 primary bronchi.
b. Lined by respiratory epithelium and associated with abundant mucus secretion.
Note: smoking destroys cilia. Without cilia, it becomes difficult to sweep the mucus up and out of the
trachea. The individual coughs violently.
The persistent mucus may lead to chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi).
c. The trachea is reinforced by about 18 C-shaped rings of cartilage.
i. These rings prevent the trachea from collapsing during inspiration.
ii. The open portion of the cartilage rings is posterior and there you find the trachealis muscle. The
lack of posterior cartilage is important b/c it provides the esophagus with room to expand when a large bolus of
food is swallowed.
d. Carina - the point where the trachea divides into the left and right primary bronchus.
V. The Bronchial Tree
a. The trachea divides into 2 primary bronchi.
i. The right primary bronchus is wider, shorter, and more
vertical than the left. Thus, it’s more likely to be obstructed by a foreign object.
b. Air reaching the bronchi has been significantly filtered, warmed, and humidified.
c. Within the lungs, each primary bronchus divides into secondary bronchi. There are 3 secondary bronchi
on the right (one for each of the 3 lobes of the right lung) and 2 secondary bronchi on the left (one for each of
the 2 lobes of the left lung).
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
d. Secondary bronchi divide to yield tertiary bronchi which then divide to yield quaternary bronchi and so
forth until about 23 branchings have occurred.
e. Once the passageways have a diameter <1mm they are known as bronchioles.
f. The terminal bronchioles are the last bronchioles without alveoli.
g. Bronchioles with alveoli are known as respiratory bronchioles and lead into alveolar ducts, which lead
to alveolar sacs and to alveoli where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
h. As the bronchial tree progresses (divides), its histology changes noticeably.
i. Cartilage rings are replaced by cartilage plates and within the bronchioles, cartilage is absent entirely.
ii. The epithelium changes from pseudostratified columnar to simple columnar to simple cuboidal.
iii. The number of cilia declines.
iv. The number of goblet cells declines.
v. The amount of smooth muscle increases.
VI. Lungs
a. Occupy the entire thoracic cavity except for the mediastinum.
b. Each lung is cone-shaped and suspended within its own pleural cavity and connected to the mediastinum
by bronchial and vascular attachments.
c. Anterior, lateral, and posterior surfaces hug the ribs and form the costal surface.
d. Deep to the clavicle is the apex, the narrow superior lung tip.
e. Base the concave diaphragmatic surface of the lung.
f. On the medial side of each lung is an indentation known as the hilus. Pulmonary vessels, nerves, and
lymphatics enter/exit at this point.
g. Left lung is slightly smaller than the right and contains a concavity known as the cardiac notch – which
normally accommodates the bulk of the heart.
h. Left lung has only 2 lobes – superior and inferior separated by an oblique fissure. In cat left lung has 3
lobes – anterior , middle , and posterior .
i. Right lung has 3 lobes – superior, middle, and inferior separated by oblique and horizontal fissures
respectively. In cat right lung has 4 lobes – anterior , middle , posterior, and mediastinal .
j. Lungs largely consist of air space. The remainder is mostly elastic connective tissue. Allows recoiling.
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
VII. Pleurae
a. Thin, double-layered serosa that covers each lung.
b. Parietal pleura covers the thoracic wall and superior surface of the diaphragm. Continues around the heart
and between the lungs as well.
c. Visceral pleura covers the external surface of the actual lungs themselves.
d. Pleurae produce pleural fluid which fills the slit-like pleural cavity between them. Pleural fluid allows for
friction-free movement and helps the parietal and visceral pleurae adhere to one another.
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
Breathing Mechanism of Humans
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020
Self –Check!
a) Cilia - They have a rythmic waving or beating motion that keeps the airways clear of mucus and dirt,
allowing us to breathe easily and without irritation
b) External intercostal muscle - Responsible for forced and quiet inhalation. They raise the ribs and expand the
chest cavity.
c) Breathing - It sustains life by providing oxygen needed for metabolism and removing the by-product of these
reactions, carbon dioxide .
d) Pleura - Produce pleural fluid which fills the slit-like pleural cavity between them. Pleural fluid allows for
friction-free movement and helps the parietal and visceral pleurae adhere to one another.
a) A tube which contains passage ways for both food and water. Pharynx
b) Main air track from the mouth into the lungs. Pharynx
c) The voice box. Larynx
d) These are the two branches of the trachea. Left and right bronchi
e) Millions of tiny air sacs at the end of the lungs. Alveoli
f) A flap of muscle that moves up during exhalation and down during
inhalation. Diaphragm
3. Name the substance in the red blood cell which transports carbon dioxide and oxygen between the lungs and
the body cells. Hemoglobin
References:
http://fau.pearlashes.com/anatomy/Chapter%2036/Chapter%2036.htm
https://microbiologynotes.com/respiration-and-respiratory-organs/
http://fode.education.gov.pg/courses/Science/Grade%2011/biology/Grade.11.Biology.Module4.pdf
General Biology 2 Learning Module: Nutrition and Gas Exchange SLU –SHS 2020