Question

In which area(s) below are oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanged with the blood?

1) Alveoli
2) Capillaries
3) Bronchi
4) Trachea

Answer 1

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood takes place in the alveoli and capillaries. The bronchi and trachea are parts of the airway but are not involved in this gas exchange.

Step-by-step explanation:

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood occurs primarily in two key locations within the respiratory system:

1. The alveoli, which are tiny sac-like structures at the end of the respiratory tree, are the primary site of gas exchange. When you inhale, air containing oxygen enters the alveoli.
2. The capillaries, which are small blood vessels that line the alveoli. They facilitate the transfer of oxygen into the blood and the removal of carbon dioxide from it.

These two areas work together to ensure that oxygen is delivered to the body's cells, and carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, is exhaled. The bronchi and trachea, while being part of the airway that delivers air to the lungs, do not directly partake in the exchange of gases with the blood.