Explain how gases are transported in the body

Once the oxygen diffuses across the alveoli, it enters the bloodstream and is transported to the tissues where it is unloaded, and carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and into the alveoli to be expelled from the body. Although gas exchange is a continuous process, the oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported by different mechanisms.

What You’ll Learn to Do

• Describe how oxygen is bound to hemoglobin and transported to body tissues
• Explain how carbon dioxide is transported from body tissues to the lungs

Learning Activities

The learning activities for this section include the following:

• Transport of Oxygen in the Blood
• Transport of Carbon Dioxide in the Blood
• Self Check: Transport of Gases in Human Bodily Fluids