what is the function of the alveoli in the lungs????
http://www.curoservice.com/parents_visitors/lungs_circulation/structure_alveoli.asp
The alveoli are vital structures within our lungs that play a crucial role in the respiratory system. Their main function is to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and our bloodstream.
To understand how alveoli work, we need to know that the respiratory system is composed of airways and tiny air sacs called alveoli. When we inhale, air travels through the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles until it reaches the alveoli.
The alveoli are like tiny air-filled balloons that are surrounded by blood vessels called capillaries. These capillaries have a thin wall, allowing gases to diffuse across.
During inhalation, oxygen from the air is pulled into the alveoli and then diffuses through the thin walls of the alveoli into the bloodstream. At the same time, carbon dioxide, which is a waste product produced by our cells, diffuses from the bloodstream into the alveoli. This gas exchange occurs due to the difference in partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and the blood.
Once carbon dioxide is in the alveoli, it is expelled from our body when we exhale. Simultaneously, fresh oxygen is inhaled, and the cycle continues, ensuring a constant supply of oxygen to our blood and the removal of carbon dioxide.
To summarize, the function of the alveoli in the lungs is to provide a large surface area for efficient gas exchange, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to be eliminated from the body.