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What is the process of diffusion where the lungs mix the oxygen with the Blood

The process where oxygen mixes with the blood in the lungs is called gas exchange and involves diffusion. Here’s how it works:

  1. Inhalation Brings Oxygen into the Lungs:
    • When you inhale, air containing oxygen enters the lungs and travels down to the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles.
  2. Structure of the Alveoli:
    • Alveoli are surrounded by a network of capillaries, which are very thin blood vessels. The walls of both the alveoli and capillaries are extremely thin, only one cell thick, to facilitate diffusion.
  3. Diffusion of Oxygen:
    • Oxygen from the air in the alveoli diffuses across the alveolar wall and the capillary wall into the blood. This happens because there is a higher concentration of oxygen in the alveoli compared to the blood in the capillaries.
  4. Binding to Hemoglobin:
    • Once oxygen enters the blood, it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, forming oxyhemoglobin, which transports oxygen to the rest of the body.
  5. Removal of Carbon Dioxide:
    • At the same time, carbon dioxide (CO₂), a waste product of cellular metabolism, diffuses from the blood (where its concentration is higher) into the alveoli to be exhaled.

This exchange is driven by concentration gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide and does not require energy, as it is a passive process. The entire system is designed to maximize efficiency and ensure that oxygen is delivered to the tissues while carbon dioxide is removed from the body.

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