Gas exchange in humans — IGCSE Biology (0610) questions by topic
Gas exchange in humans questions identify the thin walls and large surface area shared by gas exchange surfaces, judge the surface area, thickness and blood supply needed for skin-based gas exchange in some animals, name labelled parts of the human gas exchange system, and choose which intercostal muscles contract during breathing in.
Identify, state, explain, describe and complete lead 39 real questions worth 1 to 20 marks from 2023 to 2025 papers. Because inspiration and expiration involve intercostal muscles doing opposite things, submitting a chosen answer for instant marking flags immediately if the contraction and relaxation have been assigned to the wrong muscle group.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Which statements describe the difference between the composition of inspired air and expired air? 1 The percentage of carbon dioxide in inspired air is greater than in expired…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Which substance can be used to test for carbon dioxide? A DCPIP B ethanol C iodine solution D limewater
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
The diagram shows part of the gas exchange system in humans. The diagram of the thorax shows labels T, U, V and W. W points to the cluster of air sacs (alveoli) at the end of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 21
The graph shows how the volume of air in lungs changes when a person is breathing at rest. The trace is a regular wave of volume of air in lungs (y-axis) against time (x-axis);…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 22
The table shows the breathing rate and the average total volume of air breathed by a student when exercising for 20 minutes. time / minutes breathing rate / breaths per minute…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 23
The plotted points, 1 and 2, on the graph show two different types of structure in the breathing system of a human. [Graph: y-axis is "relative diameter of lumen", x-axis is…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 32
Fig. 5.1 is a diagram of some of the muscles and bones found in the human gas exchange system. The diagram shows the rib cage with the sternum in the centre, a dome-shaped…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
Fig. 1.1 shows part of the human gas exchange system. The diagram shows the trachea (with rings of cartilage labelled) dividing into branches that enter the lung. Structure A is…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
Alveoli are the gas exchange surface in humans. State three features of alveoli that make them an effective gas exchange surface.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
Which row matches a gas in expired air with a substance that can be used to test for the presence of that gas? (columns: gas present in expired air; test substance) A carbon…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 13
Which structure connects directly to the alveoli? A bronchus B bronchiole C larynx D trachea
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 21
The intercostal muscles and diaphragm contract and relax during ventilation. Which row shows the actions of muscles that result in the largest volume inside the thorax? (columns:…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 22
What causes air to enter the lungs? (columns: external intercostal muscles; volume of thorax; air pressure in thorax) A contract; decreases; decreases B relax; decreases;…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 23
Muscles are responsible for the ventilation of the lungs during breathing. Which row describes their action during the inspiration of air? (columns: diaphragm muscles; external…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 31
Fig. 5.1 shows part of the human gas exchange system, with a structure labelled F (in the upper airway) and an enlarged view of an alveolus and structure labelled G. Identify the…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 32
Alveoli are the gas exchange surfaces in humans. State two features of gas exchange surfaces in humans.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Fig. 2.1 is a diagram of the gas exchange system in humans, showing the trachea and lungs with structures labelled X, Y and Z. State the names of the parts labelled X, Y and Z in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
What is the pathway of expired air as it travels out of the body? A alveoli → trachea → bronchiole → bronchi B alveoli → bronchiole → bronchi → trachea C trachea → alveoli →…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
What are features of gas exchange surfaces in animals? A thick-walled and large surface area B thick-walled and small surface area C thin-walled and small surface area D…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram represents the exchange of gases during breathing and during respiration in the body, with oxygen and carbon dioxide moving between structure X (with blood) and…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
In some animals, gas exchange occurs through the skin. What are the most likely characteristics of the skin in these animals? Columns: surface area; skin; blood supply. A large;…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram shows an alveolus and part of a blood vessel, with three arrows (1, 2 and 3) showing the direction of movement of gases. Which arrows represent oxygen only and carbon…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
During inspiration, the processes listed take place. P volume of the thorax increases Q air rushes into the lungs R pressure in the thorax decreases S external intercostal muscles…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
Different stages in the process of expiration are listed. 1 Rib cage moves downwards and inwards. 2 Volume of thorax decreases and pressure in lungs increases. 3 Air is pushed out…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 23
What happens when a person breathes in? A The external intercostal muscles and the internal intercostal muscles contract. B The external intercostal muscles and the internal…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
Fig. 3.1 is a photomicrograph of some cells lining the trachea, including a goblet cell and a cell labelled X. Describe the role of goblet cells.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Which table correctly shows the difference in composition of inspired air compared with expired air? Each option A–D is a table with rows oxygen and carbon dioxide and columns…
Answer this question and get it marked →What is the site of gas exchange in humans? A nose B alveoli C bronchus D trachea
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
What is the composition of expired air compared with inspired air? Columns: carbon dioxide; oxygen; water vapour. A decreased; increased; increased B decreased; decreased;…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram shows the human breathing system with three structures labelled 1, 2 and 3. What are the labelled structures? Columns: 1; 2; 3. A bronchus; bronchiole; trachea B…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
Which row shows the composition of expired air from a healthy person? Columns: carbon dioxide %; oxygen %; water vapour. A 0.04; 21; saturated B 0.04; 16; variable C 4; 21;…
Answer this question and get it marked →What is the path of carbon dioxide as it leaves the lungs? A alveolus → bronchiole → bronchus → trachea B alveolus → bronchus → bronchiole → trachea C trachea → bronchiole →…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 21
Which table correctly shows the difference in composition of inspired air compared with expired air? Each option A–D is a table with rows oxygen and carbon dioxide and columns…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which row shows the correct combination of muscle contractions and the pressure in the thorax when breathing out? Columns: internal intercostal muscles; external intercostal…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
What is the composition of expired air compared with inspired air? Columns: carbon dioxide; oxygen; water vapour. A decreased; increased; increased B decreased; decreased;…
Answer this question and get it marked →During exercise, receptors detect a change in the blood and cause the breathing rate to increase. Which change do the receptors detect and where are they found in the body?…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 23
Which row shows the composition of expired air from a healthy person? Columns: carbon dioxide %; oxygen %; water vapour. A 0.04; 21; saturated B 0.04; 16; variable C 4; 21;…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 33
During inspiration air is taken into the lungs. Table 4.1 shows the structures that air passes through during inspiration (not in the correct order): A alveoli, B bronchi, C…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
Complete Table 3.1 by writing in the percentages of carbon dioxide and oxygen in inspired air and in expired air.
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE Biology topics
- Organisms and their environment (126)
- Human nutrition (95)
- Characteristics and classification of living organisms (84)
- Coordination and response (83)
- Reproduction (82)
- Inheritance (74)
- Organisation of the organism (cells) (64)
- Plant nutrition (62)
- Transport in animals (62)
- Transport in plants (59)
- Movement into and out of cells (57)
- Variation and selection (50)