Gaseous exchange across the

alveolus by DIFFUSION
The greater the CONCENTRATION
GRADIENT of respiratory gases
across the respiratory surface
the greater the rate of diffusion
IN THE LUNG
Concentration of oxygen in the air
of the alveoli is higher compared
to the partial pressure of the
oxygen in the blood capillaries
oxygen dissolves in the film of
water in the surface of alveoli
and diffuses across the blood
capillaries into the blood
In the blood capillaries
Blood that enter the blood capillaries
surrounding the alveoli has higher
partial pressure of carbon dioxide
than that of the air in alveoli
Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the
blood capillaries into the alveoli and is
expelled through the nose or mouth
into the atmosphere
Gaseous exchange across the
surface of the alveolus and blood
capillaries in the lungs
Oxygen dissolve in the films of water
lining the surfaces of the alveoli
Oxygen then diffuse through the
epithelium of the capillary wall
In the bloodstream, oxygen diffuses
into the red blood cell
Forming oxyhaemoglobin
Carbon dioxide diffuses from the
blood into the alveoli

Oxygen combines with haemoglobin to
form oxyhaemobglobin
Oxygen is carried to every part of
the body
When blood passes through tissues
with low partial pressure of oxygen,
the oxyhaemoglobin disassociates to
release oxygen
A haemoglobin molecule consists of 4
subunit
Each with heme group that has a ferum
atom at its centre
Each haemoglobin molecule can carry 4
molecules of oxygen
7 % dissolved in blood plasma

23% combine with haemoglobin to form
carbaminohemoglobin

70% transported in the blood in the form
of bicarbonate ions (HCO3
-
)
Body cells release carbon dioxide
CO2 diffuses into the blood plasma and
combine with red blood cells
CO2 react with water to form carbonic
acid using carbonic anhydrase
Carbonic acid disassociates into H+ and
bicarbonate ion
Bicarbonate ions diffuse into blood
plasma aand carried to lung

Bicarbonate ions diffuse from the
blood into the red blood cells and
form carbonic acid again
Carbonic acid breaks down to CO2 and
water
CO2 diffuses from the blood
capillaries into the alveoli
Expelled during exhalation