Ventilation maintains concentration gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide between air in alveoli and blood flowing in adjacent capillaries. Type I pneumocytes are extremely thin alveolar cells that carry out gas exchange, while Type II pneumocytes secrete surfactant to prevent alveoli from adhering and reduce surface tension. Air reaches the alveoli through the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, and muscle contractions inside the thorax cause pressure changes that force air in and out during ventilation.
Ventilation maintains concentration gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide between air in alveoli and blood flowing in adjacent capillaries. Type I pneumocytes are extremely thin alveolar cells that carry out gas exchange, while Type II pneumocytes secrete surfactant to prevent alveoli from adhering and reduce surface tension. Air reaches the alveoli through the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, and muscle contractions inside the thorax cause pressure changes that force air in and out during ventilation.
Ventilation maintains concentration gradients of oxygen and carbon dioxide between air in alveoli and blood flowing in adjacent capillaries. Type I pneumocytes are extremely thin alveolar cells that carry out gas exchange, while Type II pneumocytes secrete surfactant to prevent alveoli from adhering and reduce surface tension. Air reaches the alveoli through the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, and muscle contractions inside the thorax cause pressure changes that force air in and out during ventilation.