Extra Pulmonary Stuff

What happens to the blood during external respiration?

deoxygenated blood in the pulmonary capillaries exchanges gases with the alveoli in the lungs

What do red blood cells do in the lungs?

They go through gas exchange within the pulmonary capillaries surrounding the alveoli

What do red blood cells leave in the lungs?

carbon dioxide

What happens during the oxygenation part as the red blood cells move through the lungs?

As RBCs pass through capillaries, oxygen moves from the air sacs (alveoli) into the blood, where it attaches to hemoglobin, a protein containing iron

What happens during the “unloading” part when the RBC’s pass through the lungs?

The blood brings CO2 from body tissues, which is unloaded from the RBCs and plasma into the alveoli to be breathed out