Blood goes:
Back to the heart then from the heart around the body.
That's why humans are dual circulation, there's one side of the heart for 'heart to lungs' and another for 'heart to body'. The body side has more muscle because more blood needs to be moved.
Gas exchange in gills occurs in water, where oxygen diffuses from the water into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the water. This process relies on a countercurrent exchange system, maximizing oxygen absorption. In contrast, gas exchange in lungs occurs in air, where oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the blood and carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled. Lungs utilize a tidal flow mechanism, which is less efficient than the continuous flow in gills.
Blood flow to a group of alveoli will decrease if there is a decrease in oxygen levels in the surrounding lung tissue, triggering a process known as hypoxic vasoconstriction. This mechanism directs blood away from poorly ventilated areas to better-ventilated regions, optimizing gas exchange. Additionally, factors such as increased airway resistance, lung diseases, or changes in pulmonary artery pressure can also lead to reduced blood flow to specific alveoli.
The flow of blood in the body is facilitated by the pumping action of the heart, which carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the rest of the body and returns deoxygenated blood to the lungs for reoxygenation. Gas exchange occurs primarily in the alveoli of the lungs, where oxygen from the air diffuses into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is released from the blood into the air to be exhaled.
Capillaries surrounding the alveoli play a crucial role in gas exchange by facilitating the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air in the alveoli and the blood. Their thin walls allow for efficient diffusion of gases; oxygen from the alveoli enters the blood while carbon dioxide from the blood is released into the alveoli to be exhaled. Additionally, these capillaries help regulate blood flow and maintain proper oxygenation levels in the body. This close association between capillaries and alveoli is essential for effective respiratory function.
Most gas exchange between blood and tissues takes place in the capillaries. This is where oxygen diffuses from the blood into the tissues, and where carbon dioxide diffuses from the tissues into the blood. The thin walls of the capillaries allow for efficient exchange of gases.
The alveoli are the sites of respiration: the oxygen in them provided by the inhaled air diffuses into the blood cells that flow through the capillaries. Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and into the alveoli so it can be exhaled. The capillaries provide a way for the blood to reach the alveoli. Hope this helps
The alveoli are the sites of respiration: the oxygen in them provided by the inhaled air diffuses into the blood cells that flow through the capillaries. Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and into the alveoli so it can be exhaled. The capillaries provide a way for the blood to reach the alveoli. Hope this helps
The lungs maximize gas exchange through a large surface area provided by the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs that increase the interface for oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer. They are also highly vascularized, allowing for efficient diffusion of gases between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the surrounding capillaries. Additionally, the thin walls of the alveoli facilitate rapid gas exchange, while the constant ventilation and blood flow maintain concentration gradients essential for efficient gas diffusion.
The tissue lining the blood vessels and alveoli of the lungs is primarily composed of simple squamous epithelium. This thin layer of flat cells facilitates efficient gas exchange in the lungs and allows for smooth blood flow in the vessels. The thinness of this tissue is crucial for its functions, enabling rapid diffusion of gases and nutrients.
Matching the amount of gas reaching the alveoli to the blood flow in pulmonary capillaries
Of course, the lungs receive a full flow of blood straight from the heart, because the entire blood supply must be oxygenated and have it's carbon dioxide removed continuously. The alveolis' function is to provide a large surface area for the gas exchange to take place. These millions of tiny air sacs have a surface covered in very fine capillaries.Their combined surface area is about the same as a tennis court,co-incidently similar to the surface area in the small intestine.
The pulmonary capillary plexus is a network of tiny blood vessels located in the lungs, primarily surrounding the alveoli (air sacs) where gas exchange occurs. Its main function is to facilitate the transfer of oxygen from the inhaled air into the bloodstream while allowing carbon dioxide to be expelled from the blood into the alveoli for exhalation. This efficient exchange is crucial for maintaining proper oxygenation of the body and removing metabolic waste gases. The plexus also helps regulate blood flow and pressure within the pulmonary circulation.