- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Zoology
- Chapter
- Breathing and Exchange of Gases
NEET · Zoology · Breathing and Exchange of Gases
In what direction is the gradient present for CO₂ in the body?
Options
- AFrom blood to alveoli
- BFrom alveoli to blood
- CFrom tissues to alveoli
- DFrom alveoli to tissues
Correct answer
A. From blood to alveoli
Step-by-step solution
gradient is present for CO₂ in the opposite direction, i.e., from tissues to blood and blood to alveoli. As the solubility of CO₂ is 20-25 times higher than that of O₂, the amount of CO₂ that can diffuse through the diffusion membrane per unit difference in partial pressure is much higher compared to that of O₂. The diffusion membrane is made up of three major layers namely, the thin squamous epithelium of alveoli, the endothelium of alveolar capillaries and the basement substance (composed of a thin basement membrane supporting the squamous epithelium and the basement membrane surrounding the single layer endothelial cells of capillaries) in between them. However, its total thickness is much less than a millimetre. Therefore, all the factors in our body are favourable for diffusion of O₂ from alveoli to tissues and that of CO₂ from tissues to alveoli.