Chapter 23, Problem 1CP

What are the three basic steps involved in respiration?

Summary Introduction

To review:

The three basic steps involved in the process of respiration.

Introduction:

The respiratory system is a type of biological system, which consists of specific organs and structures responsible for the exchange of gas in the animals and plants. Humans inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.

Explanation of Solution

The process of providing the body with oxygen and removing carbon dioxide is known as respiration and it involves three basic steps, which are as follows:

Pulmonary ventilation: It is commonly known as breathing. It is the process of inhalation and exhalation of air moreover includes the exchange of the gases between the atmosphere and the alveoli of the lungs. Through inhalation, oxygen is allowed to enter the lungs and exhalation allows the carbon dioxide to exit the lungs.

External respiration: During external respiration, the gases of the air get exchanged between the blood present in the pulmonary capillaries and alveoli of the lungs. In external respiration, the capillary receives oxygen and loses carbon dioxide.

Internal respiration: It refers to the interchanging of gases that takes place between the tissues and systemic capillaries. In this, the blood loses oxygen and gains carbon dioxide.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that the respiration occurs in three steps namely, pulmonary ventilation, external, and internal respiration.