How Oxygen gets in and Carbon Dioxide Gets out.
Respiratory Block
The physiology of respiration.
In simple terms, the job of the respiratory system is to oxygen into the body and Carbon Dioxide (Co2) out of the body.
What causes us to breathe in and out?
Our body has special receptors that measure the level of oxygen and and Carbon Dioxide in our system. In the healthy individual when carbon dioxide regulates our breathing.
In people who have problems like Chronic obstructive disorders (emphysema and bronchitis) oxygen regulates their breathing.
Inhalation and exhalation
Inhalation
The diaphragm contracts and flattens out making more room in the chest cavity and the intercostal muscle expands, helping make the chest bigger. This is a difference in air pressure. The outside air pressure is greater so the air goes into the respiratory tract to the alveoli.
Exhalation
For exhalation to occur the diaphragm relaxes and pushes up against the chest cavity and the intercostal muscles relax causing oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in the blood by Red Blood cells that are in the plasm of the blood. Red Blood cells have hemoglobin that oxygen and carbon dioxide bond too.Oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in the blood by Red Blood cells that are in the plasm of the blood. Red Blood cells have hemoglobin that oxygen and carbon dioxide bond too.he chest cavity to become smaller so the air pressure inside the chest is greater than the outside air and that change in pressure forces the air out of the lungs.
Diffusion How are oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) exchanged in the alveoli?
Oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in the blood by Red Blood cells that are in the plasm of the blood. Red Blood cells have hemoglobin that oxygen and carbon dioxide bond too.
Oxygen diffuses across the alveolar membrane into the blood while carbon dioxide diffuses the other way from blood across the alveolar membrane into the Alveoli. The partial pressure of oxygen is what causes the oxygen to cross over into the blood and bond with hemoglobin. When you breathe in the partial pressure of oxygen is 104 mmhg* while the blood in the pulmonary artery is 65mmhg*. The oxygen moves from a higher level of concentration to a lower level of concentration. Carbon dioxide does a similar thing as oxygen but in the opposite direction.
*mmhg= millimetre of mercury