True/False - Alveoli have a large surface area that maximizes gas exchange.*1 pointTrueFalse

Answer

True

Alveoli, which are tiny air sacs located in the lungs, have a large surface area specifically designed to maximize gas exchange between the air and the bloodstream. The human lungs contain approximately 300 million alveoli, which collectively provide an immense surface area of about 70 square meters—roughly equivalent to the size of a tennis court. This extensive surface area is crucial for effective diffusion of gases.

During gas exchange, oxygen from the inhaled air passes through the thin walls of the alveoli and enters the capillaries, while carbon dioxide in the blood is expelled into the alveoli to be exhaled. The large surface area decreases the distance oxygen and carbon dioxide must travel, thereby enhancing the efficiency of gas exchange. Additionally, the alveolar walls are extremely thin (about one cell thick), further facilitating this process. The structural adaptations of alveoli, including their large surface area, play a vital role in maintaining the body’s oxygen and carbon dioxide balance.