CHAPTER 2:

RESPIRATION
2.2 MOVEMENT AND EXCHANGE OF GASES IN THE HUMAN
BODY
 Gaseous Exchange in Human Body

1. Oxygen gas diffuses into the blood capillaries to be

transported to all the body cells due to the high
concentration of oxygen in the alveoli and low concentration
of oxygen in the bloodstream.
2. In the blood, oxygen will combine with haemoglobin in the
red blood cells to form oxyhaemoglobin to be transported to
the body cells
Gaseous exchanges across the alveolus and blood capillary in
the lungs
• The oxygen combines with haemoglobin in the red blood
cells, producing oxyhaemoglobin.

• Blood containing oxyhaemoglobin is called oxygenated

blood, which is bright red.

Haemoglobin + oxygen oxyhaemoglobin

• At the same time, the carbon dioxide in the blood capillaries diffuse into
the alveoli.
• This carbon dioxide is expelled from the alveoli during exhalation.
Adaptation of the alveoli for efficient gas
exchange

1. Large surface area

2. Very thin walls
3. Moist inner surface
4. Surrounded by a
network of blood
capillaries
 Millions of alveoli –
to provide a very
large surface area
for gaseous
exchange.
A layer of moisture
on the inner surface
of the alveolus

Adaptation of
the alveoli

A network of Thin epithelium that

capillaries is one-cell thick to
surrounds the outer allow rapid diffusion
surface of the of gases to and from
alveoli the alveoli.