Gas Exchange In The Body

Question 1

What is the role of oxygen in the body?

Answer 1

All cells in the body need oxygen for cellular respiration as well to remove the carbon dioxide that they produce.

Question 2

How is oxygen transported in the lungs?

Answer 2

In the lungs, oxygen is taken from air into the blood, and the blood transports the oxygen to the cells in all tissues of the body

Question 3

How is oxygen transported in the tissues?

Answer 3

In the tissues, the blood picks up carbon dioxide and takes it to the lungs where it is passed into the air

Question 4

How do the circulatory and respiratory system work together?

Answer 4

To ensure all cells have a constant supply of oxygen and that carbon dioxide is continually removed from the cells - the amounts of oxygen/carbon dioxide in tissues are kept relatively constant

Question 5

How is blood brought to the lungs?

Answer 5

The blood in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli is brought to the lungs by the pulmonary arteries

Question 6

What happens to the blood that’s taken to the lungs?

Answer 6

This blood has been through the capillaries of the body, where much of the oxygen has been taken up by the body cells.

Question 7

What is the concentration of blood that’s taken to the lungs?

Answer 7

The blood that comes into the capillaries around the alveoli has a low concentration of oxygen – lower than the concentration in the air in the alveolus.

Question 8

How does the oxygen diffuse into the blood?

Answer 8

Oxygen dissolves in the moisture on the inside of the alveolus and diffuses through the membrane, the walls of the capillaries and into the blood.

Question 9

Where does blood arriving at the capillaries of the alveoli come from?

Answer 9

Blood arriving at the capillaries of the alveoli has come from the body circulation where it has picked up carbon dioxide produced by respiration in the cells.

Question 10

What is the concentration of carbon dioxide in the alveolar capillaries?

Answer 10

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the alveolar capillaries is higher than the concentration in the air in the alveolus.

Question 11

How does carbon dioxide diffuse into the alveolus?

Answer 11

Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and into the air in the alveolus.