gas exchange
Lungs swap air
Gas exchange is the transfer of gases between an organism and its environment—oxygen in, carbon dioxide out.
In humans, this happens in the lungs, where blood releases carbon dioxide and absorbs oxygen across thin membranes.
Plants perform gas exchange through tiny pores called stomata.
The term appears in biology and medicine: The patient's gas exchange was compromised by fluid in the lungs.
Lung's gas-exchange chambers
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- capillariesTiniest blood vessels
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- perfusionFluid delivery to tissue
oxygenation · hemoglobin · bronchioles · lungs · inhalation · exhalation · trachea · diaphragm
Microscopic plant pores
- chloroplastLight-harvesting cell structure
- mesophyllPhotosynthetic tissue in leaves
- transpirationBotanical water vapor release
- leafPlant's photosynthetic organ
Aquatic respiratory organs
- lamellaeThin parallel plates
- countercurrentFlow opposing main direction
- operculumAnatomical lid structure
- dissolved oxygenOxygen in water
swim bladder · cutaneous · spiracles · water flow · blood flow
Cell's energy-producing organelles
- cellular respirationCell-level fuel burning
- aerobicRequiring free oxygen
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
- ATPCell's energy molecule
glucose · oxygen consumption · metabolic rate · tissues · cytochrome · glycolysis · NADH · matrix
Substances released into air
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- oxygen levelsConcentration of breathable gas
climate change · carbon sink · anthropogenic · deforestation · afforestation · ocean acidification · carbon capture · fossil fuels
alveoli
Lung's gas-exchange chambers
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- capillariesTiniest blood vessels
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
perfusion · oxygenation · hemoglobin · bronchioles · lungs · inhalation · exhalation · trachea · diaphragm · pulmonary
stomata
Microscopic plant pores
- chloroplastLight-harvesting cell structure
- mesophyllPhotosynthetic tissue in leaves
- transpirationBotanical water vapor release
gills
Aquatic respiratory organs
- lamellaeThin parallel plates
- countercurrentFlow opposing main direction
- operculumAnatomical lid structure
dissolved oxygen · swim bladder · cutaneous · spiracles · water flow · blood flow
mitochondria
Cell's energy-producing organelles
- cellular respirationCell-level fuel burning
- aerobicRequiring free oxygen
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
ATP · glucose · oxygen consumption · metabolic rate · tissues · cytochrome · glycolysis · NADH · matrix · inner membrane
emissions
Substances released into air
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
oxygen levels · climate change · carbon sink · anthropogenic · deforestation · afforestation · ocean acidification · carbon capture · fossil fuels · air quality
- breathingbreathing, inhalation, breath, exhalation, breathe
- Lungslungs, lung, bronchi, bronchus, alveoli
- Respirationbreathing, lungs, inhalation, inhaling, exhalation
- body functionsbreathing, digestion, heartbeat, circulation, respiration
- cardiopulmonaryheart rate, lungs, blood pressure, circulation, breathing
- physiologymetabolism, circulation, respiration, homeostasis, digestion
gas exchangedigestion
Bodily food breakdown
nutrient absorption · excretion · circulation · filtration · secretion
gas exchangeasphyxiation
Death from oxygen loss
respiratory failure · suffocation · apnea · respiratory arrest · airway obstruction
gas exchangehypoxia
Insufficient tissue oxygenation
anoxia · oxygen deprivation · ischemia · anaerobic metabolism · fermentation
exchange, gases, exchanged, gassed, gaseous, exchanging, gassing, exchangeable, exchanger