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Question

What is the difference between Internal respiration and external respiration and also state that where it occurs in our body

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Solution



External Respiration in Lungs

Gas exchange in the lungs is referred to as external respiration as one side of the respiratory membrane - that is, the alveolar air - is actually outside of the body. As blood flows through the pulmonary capillaries, oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveolar gas. Each gas diffuses down its own partial pressure gradient - that is, from a high to low partial pressure. The partial pressure of oxygen is 100 mmHg in alveolar air compared to only 40 mmHg in the blood entering the lungs. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide is 40 mmHg in the alveolar air and 45 mmHg in the blood entering the lungs. The partial pressure gradient of each gas equilibrates as blood flows through the pulmonary capillaries. Therefore, the partial pressure of oxygen is 100 mmHg and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide is 40 mmHg in the blood leaving the lungs. This oxygen-rich blood will then be delivered to the tissues, where oxygen is needed to make ATP as a source of energy.

Internal Respiration in Metabolizing Tissues

Gas exchange in the metabolizing tissues is referred to as internal respiration. Compared with external respiration, the gases now move in opposite directions. That is, oxygen diffuses out of the blood into the tissues, and carbon dioxide diffuses out of the tissues into the blood. Let's take a look at this, taking into account partial pressure gradients. Just like in the lungs, partial pressure gradients drive gas exchange in the tissues. The oxygen-rich blood in the capillaries has a PO2 of about 100 mmHg, compared with only 40 mmHg in the metabolizing cells. Oxygen diffuses into the cells and does so until equilibrium is achieved across the respiratory membrane. Therefore, the PO2 in the blood drops to 40 mmHg as the blood flows through the capillary.



External respiration occurs in the lungs where oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses into the alveolar air.Internal respiration occurs in the metabolizing tissues, where oxygen diffuses out of the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out of the cells.

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