Final answer:
Pulmonary gas exchange is the term used to describe the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and blood in the lungs, occurring primarily in the alveoli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and blood in the lungs is called pulmonary gas exchange. This vital respiratory process occurs in the alveoli—tiny, grape-like structures within the lungs. Pulmonary gas exchange is part of a larger physiological function known as respiration, which involves two main processes: ventilation or breathing and gas exchange. During inhalation, oxygen reaches the alveoli and diffuses into the blood due to a higher concentration in the alveoli. Correspondingly, carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood, where its concentration is higher, into the alveoli to be exhaled. This gas exchange process allows for oxygenation of the blood and the removal of carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism.
Moreover, respiration incorporates both the drawing of oxygen into the body through the respiratory tract and the transportation of that oxygen to body cells via the circulatory system. At the same time, carbon dioxide picks up from the cells and is expelled from the body. Thus, respiration is crucial in maintaining homeostasis, supplying cells with oxygen, and ensuring the proper pH level of the blood by carrying away carbon dioxide.