Respiratory system

The lung capacity of an adult is approximately 4 to 6 liters of air. Males tend to have larger lung capacity than females. We only breathe in about 0.5 liters with each breath.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin molecules that are responsible for picking up and carrying oxygen throughout the body.

The alveoli are surrounded by a network of blood vessels known as capillaries. The alveoli and capillaries are each only one cell thick, allowing for gas diffusion to occur.

A surfactant is produced within the alveoli to reduce the surface tension present. This keeps the alveoli from collapsing when exhaling.

To aid in gas diffusion within the alveoli, these air sacs are lined with a layer of water.

When you breathe, 70 percent of waste is eliminated in the form of waste gases like carbon dioxide.

If the lungs were unfolded and expanded out to their fullest size, they’d be roughly the size of a tennis court.

Lungs can float on water. They are the only body organs that can float, largely related to the air that is contained within alveoli.

The left lung tends to be smaller than the right lung in people to accommodate for the heart, which is located on the left side of the body.

The respiratory system is a vital organ system that allows for gas exchange. The lungs are the primary organ and contain numerous sacs known as alveoli, where gas exchange occurs. As the lungs expand, oxygen is brought into the lungs. Red blood cells pick up this oxygen via diffusion, while the waste gases such as carbon dioxide diffuse into the lungs to be expelled.