Final Answer:
At location "D," carbon dioxide (CO₂) will move both into the blood and into the alveoli. C. both of these
Step-by-step explanation:
This process occurs during respiration, specifically during the exchange of gases in the lungs. The alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. When we breathe in, oxygen enters the bloodstream, and when we breathe out, carbon dioxide exits the bloodstream to be expelled from the body.
In the lungs, oxygen from inhaled air diffuses into the blood in the capillaries surrounding the alveoli, binding to hemoglobin in red blood cells for transport to tissues. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, produced as a waste product in cells, is transported in the blood and diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled. This exchange of gases between the blood and the alveoli is crucial for maintaining the proper balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.
The movement of carbon dioxide is facilitated by concentration gradients. In the body, carbon dioxide is carried in the blood primarily as bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻) and dissolved CO₂. The higher concentration of CO₂ in the blood compared to the alveoli creates a gradient that drives the movement of carbon dioxide into the alveoli during expiration. This dynamic process ensures that the body efficiently eliminates carbon dioxide, a byproduct of cellular respiration while taking in fresh oxygen for cellular functions. C. both of these