Textbook Question
What happens to the process of respiration when a person is sneezing or coughing?
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22. The Respiratory System
Respiration
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In the lungs, what structures together form the respiratory membrane (alveolar-capillary membrane) where gas exchange occurs?
A
Type II alveolar cells and their surfactant layer only
B
Alveolar epithelium (type I alveolar cells), the fused basement membranes, and the capillary endothelium
C
Bronchial epithelium, smooth muscle, and cartilage plates of the bronchi
D
Visceral pleura and parietal pleura with pleural fluid between them
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the primary site of gas exchange in the lungs, which is the respiratory membrane, also known as the alveolar-capillary membrane.
Understand that the respiratory membrane is composed of structures that allow efficient diffusion of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the pulmonary capillaries.
Recognize the three main components that form this membrane: the alveolar epithelium (specifically type I alveolar cells), the fused basement membranes of the alveolar and capillary walls, and the capillary endothelium.
Note that type II alveolar cells produce surfactant but are not part of the thin respiratory membrane itself; bronchial epithelium, smooth muscle, cartilage, and pleura are involved in other lung functions but not directly in gas exchange.
Conclude that the respiratory membrane's structure is optimized for minimal thickness to facilitate rapid gas diffusion, which is why it consists of the alveolar epithelium (type I cells), fused basement membranes, and capillary endothelium.
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