Gas Exchange not just in the lungs

Gas exchange starts in the lungs......but it happens everywhere! The heart and blood vessels make up the cardiovascular system, which takes oxygen nearly everywhere in the body.

Inspiration (inhale) ●lungs fill with air ●air moves through bronchi into alveoli ●oxygen moves down concentration gradient into the blood stream

Concentration Gradient Review There are differences in “concentration” within and between cells- different numbers of molecules in a given space. Molecules will try to distribute themselves evenly, even on different sides of membranes. It takes energy to move a molecule against its concentration gradient!

Circulation ●Oxygen binds with hemoglobin, which is located in red blood cells (RBCs) ●Now we’ll trace an RBC through circulation ●From the lungs, the RBC moves through the pulmonary veins to the heart O2 is blue, bound in center of hemoglobin molecule

Sending oxygen to the hand Our RBC exits the left ventricle, travels up the aorta, through the brachial (latin for ‘arm’) artery, and on to the hand.

Hand muscles need O 2 to operate

Blood vessels permeate muscle tissue ●The RBC reaches the tiniest blood vessels, known as capillaries ●Concentration gradients are now the opposite of what they were in the lungs- lots of CO 2 in the tissue and O 2 in the blood stream ●Both move down their concentration gradients

CO 2 crosses membranes CO 2 delivered to RBCs CO 2 delivered to lungs for expiration From cells in organ tissue to capillaries, CO 2 moves down its concentration gradient and enters RBCs. capillary in skeletal muscle

Our RBC now carries CO 2 - “deoxygenated” ●The RBC travels back through veins towards the heart ●Once back in the heart, the heart pumps it back to the lungs

Expiration (Exhaling) CO 2 moves down its concentration gradient, into the alveoli of the lungs. O 2 is moving from alveoli into the bloodstream. We’re back at the start!

Questions?