Final answer:
The phrase that best describes PCO2 at the venous ends of the pulmonary capillaries is venous PCO2 is 40 mm Hg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase that best describes PCO2 at the venous ends of the pulmonary capillaries is venous PCO2 is 40 mm Hg.
According to the information provided, as blood leaves the lungs through the pulmonary veins, the venous PCO2 is 40 mm Hg. This indicates that there is a higher concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood at the venous ends of the pulmonary capillaries. This is due to the exchange of gases between the capillaries and the tissue cells.