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Breathing creates an exchange surface
Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse across the thin alveolar-capillary barrier.
The idea
Differences in partial pressure drive gases in opposite directions between air and blood.
An example
Oxygen passes from alveolar air into blood while carbon dioxide moves from blood toward the air to be exhaled.
Put it into practice
Separate moving air from exchanging gases.
Further reading: OpenStax · Anatomy and Physiology 2e ↗
Test yourself: Where does most lung gas exchange occur?
Across the alveolar-capillary barrier
The thin barrier allows diffusion between alveolar air and blood.
Explanation and illustrative examples by One Card Wiser. Source linked for further reading.
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