Gas Exchange
Gas exchange is the process of maintaining the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the blood by delivering oxygen throughout all of the cells of the body, and removing carbon dioxide from the bloodstream through the respiratory system. Gas exchange, a process that utilizes the negative feedback mechanism, is involved in maintaining pH levels in all forms of life.
the breathing process
In humans, the process of gas exchange involves the three following processes: ventilation, the movement of air in and out of the lungs, diffusion, the movement of gases into the alveoli, and perfusion, the movement of blood though the pulmonary vessels.
When the diaphragm contracts and flattens down, the alveolar pressure is decreased, allowing the air to fill the lungs. There, oxygen is transferred from the alveoli, into the blood, and into the red blood cells which contain hemoglobin, a type of protein responsible for oxygen transportation. The pulmonary vein then brings oxygen-rich blood into the heart which is then pumped throughout the rest of the body's cells, allowing cellular respiration to take place and produce ATP, a form of energy the body uses.
The inferior and superior vena cavae bring de-oxygenated, carbon dioxide-rich blood into the heart where it will be pumped by the pulmonary artery into the lungs, where the carbon dioxide will be exhaled out of the lungs as the diaphgram relaxes and alveolar pressure is increased.
ph levels
The pH scale determines the acidicity of the solution. Normally, blood is slightly alkaline with a pH level of 7.4. Anything below 6.8 or above 7.8 causes the cells of the body to shut down, and will eventually lead to death.
Carbon dioxide levels are one determining factor in the acidity of your blood. As the concentration of carbon dioxide increases within the bloodstream, the blood pH level decreases, becoming more acidic. This occurrence can be caused a result of vigorous exercise. The respiratory system will then signal your body to inhale and exhale faster in order to rapidly replace the carbon dioxide with oxygen in order to return to stable pH levels. Constrastingly, if the concentration of carbon dioxide decreases within the bloodstream, the blood pH level increases, becoming less acidic.
