Final answer:
In physiological terms, gas transport refers to the movement of gases like O2 and CO2 across cell membranes to enter or exit the blood, driven by diffusion and facilitated by the blood's circulation. Diffusion moves gases from areas of high concentration to low, maintaining homeostasis, whereas effusion lets gases pass through small openings from higher to lower pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physiological terms, gas transport means the biological process through which gases such as oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are transferred across cell membranes to either enter or leave the blood. This process is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and allowing for cellular respiration to occur in living organisms. The medium for this transport is the blood, which is propelled by the heart to create pressure differences that facilitate the movement of these gases.
The natural process by which this happens is diffusion, where molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached. Gas movement, such as the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide, is dependent on the partial pressure of the gases, which causes them to move down their concentration gradients across cell membranes.
Effusion is a process related to diffusion in which gas molecules pass through tiny openings from an area of higher pressure to one of lower pressure or a vacuum. While both effusion and diffusion involve the movement of gases from high to low concentration areas, effusion specifically refers to the escape of gas molecules through a small orifice, such as when gas leaks out of a punctured balloon.