can someone explain how gases are exchanged between the alveoli and capillaries that surround them?
i tried to look but i didn't get the correct answers
2007-12-23 11:27:51 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
There are two levels of concentration of CO2 in the lung, the inspired, outside air, with low levels of CO2, and the capillary blood within the alveolar tissue, with slightly higher levels of CO2. CO2 is exchanged for O2 across the membranes using carbonic anhydrase as a catalyst. CO2 moves from the higher concentration (capillary) to lower (lung air) and in exchange, O2 goes in the reverse direction, from air to the capillary. In doing so it oxygenates our blood, which is then taken to the heart via the pulmunory vein, and then out to the body.
Hope this simplified explanation helps.
2007-12-23 13:26:21 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check this out
http://science.nhmccd.edu/biol/respiratory/alveoli.htm
2007-12-23 11:36:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋