External respiration

Definition

External respiration is the exchange of gases between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the pulmonary capillaries. This process primarily involves the diffusion of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of the blood.

Related terms

Alveoli:

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where external respiration occurs, facilitating gas exchange with the bloodstream.

Pulmonary Capillaries:

Small blood vessels that envelop alveoli, allowing for efficient gas exchange during external respiration.

Diffusion:

A process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, crucial for the gas exchange in external respiration