What is the function do the a alveoli perform?
The alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs that have several functions:
1. Gas exchange: The primary function of alveoli is to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream. Oxygen from inhaled air diffuses across the alveoli walls into the capillaries, while carbon dioxide from the bloodstream diffuses into the alveoli to be exhaled.
2. Increase surface area: The large number of alveoli in the lungs provides a large surface area for gas exchange. This increased surface area allows for a higher rate of oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal.
3. Moistening the air: The alveoli are lined with a thin layer of moisture, which helps to humidify the air and prevent the lungs from becoming too dry.
4. Defense mechanism: Alveoli also play a role in the immune system. They contain immune cells called macrophages, which help to engulf and eliminate foreign particles, such as dust and bacteria, that may enter the lungs during breathing.
Overall, the alveoli's main function is to ensure efficient gas exchange, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be removed from the body.
The alveoli are the tiny air sacs in the lungs where the process of gas exchange takes place. Their main function is to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream. Here are the steps involved in the functioning of alveoli:
Step 1: Inhalation - When you breathe in, the diaphragm and chest muscles contract, causing the volume of the chest cavity to increase. This creates a pressure gradient that allows air to rush into the lungs.
Step 2: Gas Exchange - As the inhaled air reaches the alveoli, oxygen molecules diffuse across the thin walls of the alveoli and into the adjacent capillaries. At the same time, carbon dioxide in the blood moves from the capillaries into the alveoli, ready to be exhaled.
Step 3: Oxygen Transport - The oxygen that diffuses into the capillaries binds to hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells. This oxygen-rich blood is then pumped by the heart to various organs and tissues in the body.
Step 4: Carbon Dioxide Elimination - Simultaneously, carbon dioxide produced as a waste product in the tissues diffuses into the capillaries. It is then transported back to the alveoli. During exhalation, carbon dioxide is expelled from the lungs.
Overall, the alveoli play a crucial role in ensuring the exchange of gases between the respiratory system and the bloodstream, allowing oxygen to be delivered to tissues and carbon dioxide to be removed from the body.