In: Nursing
Answer: The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli is an important function of the respiratory system. Millions of alveoli are found in the lungs. These alveoli are lined by blood vessels, which collect impure blood from the whole body. This impure blood is carboxygenated blood having carboxyhemoglobin in it. This impure blood reaches the alveoli and pure oxygen gets diffused to this impure blood, carbon dioxide is released in the alveoli and fresh oxygen from alveoli is diffused from alveolar sacs to blood vessels.
O2 (alveoli) ---------> Hb+O2 = HbO2 (blood vessel)
HbCO2+O2 ---------> HbO2+ CO2 ( in avleoli)