Chapter 1
The architecture of the airway
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Chapter 2
The magic of the alveoli
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Chapter 3
The mechanics of the breath
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Chapter 4
Adapting to the extremes
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Chapter 5
The history of discovering respiration
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YOUR GOAL
Master of How the lungs capture oxygen
Ch 2 · The magic of the alveoli
artiteacher The magic of the alveoli
Five hundred million spheres, / paper-thin frontiers, / breathing in deep!
Fun Fact
Alveoli count: A healthy adult has up to 500 million microscopic air sacs, providing a massive surface area for absorbing oxygen.
Glossary
alveolus (noun)
A tiny, thin-walled cavity in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the blood. A healthy pair of adult human lungs contains approximately 480 million of these microscopic air sacs.
A tiny, thin-walled cavity in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the blood. A healthy pair of adult human lungs contains approximately 480 million of these microscopic air sacs.
Quiz
What is the estimated total surface area of the alveoli in a pair of human lungs?
Quiz
When did scientists first discover the life-saving role of pulmonary surfactant?