Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · The gas exchange system

The gas exchange system — practice question

Fig. 5.1 shows a photomicrograph of a transverse section of part of the bronchus in the human gas exchange system. The picture has good resolution for a light microscope. The bronchial epithelium is a single layer of cells that lines the lumen of the bronchus.
(a)[1]

The luminal surface in Fig. 5.1 is not sharply outlined and looks a little blurred. State why the luminal surface of the bronchial epithelium looks slightly blurred, even though the image resolution is good.

(b)[2]

In Fig. 5.1, some bronchial epithelial cells look darker than others. For instance, cell D is darker than cell L. With reference to the bronchial epithelium in Fig. 5.1, explain why certain cells, such as cell D, appear darker, while others, such as cell L, appear lighter.

(c)[3]

In Fig. 5.1, the tissue in box B is cartilage. The tissue in box A is not the same as the tissue in box B. Outline how the structure and function of tissue A differ from those of tissue B.

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