The process of gaseous exchange is deemed vital for a living human being. As the name suggests, a gaseous exchange occurs when there is a transfer of two different gases from one area to another. The best example that can be used to describe what a gaseous exchange is can be derived from our daily lives. In our bodies, there is a regular occurrence of gaseous exchange that has been termed vital for our survival.
As some of us might know, when we inhale air we are inhaling oxygen which is necessary for the survival of human beings. Our bodies on the other hand release carbon dioxide which is also deemed necessary for our survival.
The gaseous exchange that occurs in our bodies takes place in the respiratory system. To sum up the gaseous exchange, we can best state that the oxygen as well as the carbon dioxide is being moved between the lungs as well as the blood that is in our body.
This process of transfer of carbon dioxide and oxygen would not be possible without diffusion. Diffusion is simply the transfer of molecules from a region or area that has a higher amount of those molecules to an area or a region where those same molecules are found in a smaller quantity. Thus, the process of gaseous exchange occurs when there is a lower amount of oxygen in blood whereas there is a higher amount of oxygen molecules in the lungs. Hence, a transfer of gases occurs from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
A similar process is seen with carbon dioxide. The level of CO2 is far more in the blood than found in the alveoli and thus there occurs a transfer of gases, mainly from the region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. Once the excess CO2 is transferred to the alveoli, it is ready to be exhaled or released.
The air we breathe virtually has no carbon dioxide but because there are certain countries where there are high levels of CO2, health problems may arise since inhaling large amounts of carbon dioxide can prove to be disastrous for the lungs. In severe cases, deaths have also been reported because of the inhalation of large amounts of CO2. When there is absorption of CO2 in higher levels than necessary over a long period of time, there have been increases of lung disease as well as other respiratory problems.
Source:
http://www.teachpe.com/anatomy/gas_exchange.php
