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Gas Exchange

The Primary function of the respiratory system is to obtain oxygen for use by body's cells & eliminate carbon dioxide that cells produce:

Each red blood cell contains 280,000,000 hemoglobin molecules. Hemoglobin is folded protein with four iron containing Haem groups. Each Haem unit binds with one oxygen unit. As a Hemoglobin unit becomes oxygenated its color changes to a brighter red. Collectively, this molecular color change is evident in the bright red color associated with arterial blood.

The exchange of gases (O2 & CO2) between the alveoli & the blood occurs by simple diffusion: O2 diffusing from the alveoli into the blood & CO2 from the blood into the alveoli. Diffusion requires a concentration gradient. So, the concentration (or pressure) of O2 in the alveoli must be kept at a higher level than in the blood & the concentration (or pressure) of CO2 in the alveoli must be kept at a lower lever than in the blood. We do this, of course, by breathing - continuously bringing fresh air (with lots of O2 & little CO2) into the lungs & the alveoli.

Exchange of gases - summary:

  • External respiration:
    • exchange of O2 & CO2 between external environment & the cells of the body
    • efficient because alveoli and capillaries have very thin walls & are very abundant (your lungs have about 300 million alveoli with a total surface area of about 75 square meters).
  • Internal respiration - intracellular use of O2 to make ATP
  • occurs by simple diffusion along partial pressure gradients
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