Question

To ensure sufficient oxygen diffusion, the lungs contain hundreds of millions of miniature balloon-like projections. This increases the lungs' surface area to approximately how many square meters?

Answer 1

The lungs contain about 300 million alveoli, which significantly increases the surface area to approximately 75 square meters, aiding efficient gas exchange with a surface area comparable to a tennis court.

Step-by-step explanation:

The lungs are adapted to maximize oxygen diffusion by ensuring a large surface area through structures known as alveoli. Human lungs contain approximately 300 million alveoli, which increase the lungs' surface area to around 75 square meters. This extensive network of alveoli is surrounded by capillaries and provides an area for efficient gas exchange roughly equivalent to the size of a tennis court. The alveoli's walls are only one cell thick, enabling quick diffusion of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of the blood. This large surface area is crucial, as it allows a sufficient amount of oxygen to diffuse into the bloodstream to meet the body's needs and for adequate expulsion of carbon dioxide.