How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?
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Solution
Alveoli are pouch-like air sac that is made up of simple squamous epithelium. It has a thin cell wall to facilitate gaseous exchange. The presence of millions of alveoli in the lungs provides ample surface area to facilitate gaseous exchange between the air in alveoli and blood in surrounding capillaries. Oxygen diffuses across the alveolar and capillary wall into the bloodstream while carbon dioxide diffuses from blood across the mentioned walls into the alveoli.