Question

1) Trace the flow of gas in/out of the body via the respiratory system, including the pathway of airflow and the ultimate function to respiration.

type the answer please.

Answer 1

The primary organs of the respiratory system are the lungs, which function to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide as we breathe. Once in the lungs, oxygen is moved into the bloodstream. Blood carries the oxygen through the body to where it is needed. Red blood cells collect carbon dioxide from the body’s cells and transports it back to the lungs.

An exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the alveoli. The carbon dioxide is exhaled and the cycle begins again with the next breath.

Gas exchange during respiration occurs primarily through diffusion. Diffusion is a process in which transport is driven by a concentration gradient. Gas molecules move from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration. Blood that is low in oxygen concentration and high in carbon dioxide concentration undergoes gas exchange with air in the lungs. The air in the lungs has a higher concentration of oxygen than that of oxygen-depleted blood and a lower concentration of carbon dioxide. This concentration gradient allows for gas exchange during respiration.

The structure of the lung maximizes its surface area to increase gas diffusion. Because of the enormous number of alveoli, the surface area of the lung is very large. Having such a large surface area increases the amount of gas that can diffuse into and out of the lungs.