Edexcel GCSE Biology, topic 8
Exchange and transport in animals
Large animals cannot get everything they need by diffusion alone, so they have exchange surfaces such as the alveoli and a transport system made of blood, blood vessels and a heart. This topic also covers how cells release energy by aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
Revision notes
Worksheet
FlashcardsSubtopics
Work through them in order. Each one has notes, exam questions and flashcards, and a PDF of each.
- 1Transport and exchange surfaces Spec 8.1–8.3Why organisms must move substances in and out, why large animals need exchange surfaces and a transport system, and how alveoli work.NotesQuestions 6Flashcards 15
- 2Factors affecting the rate of diffusion Triple onlySpec 8.4B–8.5BHow surface area, concentration gradient and diffusion distance change the rate of diffusion, and how to use Fick’s law.NotesQuestions 4Flashcards 7
- 3Blood and blood vessels Spec 8.6–8.7How red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, platelets and the three types of blood vessel are suited to their jobs.NotesQuestions 7Flashcards 12
- 4The heart and circulation Spec 8.8, 8.12How the structure of the heart, valves and blood vessels allows blood to circulate, and how to calculate cardiac output.NotesQuestions 7Flashcards 13
- 5Respiration Spec 8.9–8.11Aerobic and anaerobic respiration, how they compare, and the core practical to investigate the rate of respiration in living organisms.NotesQuestions 5Flashcards 12
Whole topic
When you have done the subtopics: test yourself on everything, or print the lot.