Question

If the total surface area of alveoli in both lungs is nearly about thetennis courttotal surface area of athen how is it contained in our small lungs?

Answer 1

• When we inhale, the membranes of alveoli inside the lungs get blown up like balloons so that the surface area increases. Increase in surface area enhances better gas exchange.
• Only in the alveoli does actual gas exchange takes place. There are some 300 million alveoli in two adult lungs. They have a large surface area in relation to volume. These provide a surface area of some 160 m² which is almost equal to the singles area of a tennis court.
• The alveoli are grouped together like a lot of interlinked caves, rather than existing as separate individual sacs.