What do yours lungs do?

1. Gas Exchange:

- The primary function of the lungs is to facilitate gas exchange, which is the process of taking in oxygen (O2) from the atmosphere and releasing carbon dioxide (CO2).

- Inside the lungs, tiny air sacs called alveoli are lined with capillaries (small blood vessels).

- Oxygen from inhaled air diffuses across the alveoli and into the capillaries, where it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells.

- At the same time, carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism, diffuses out of the capillaries into the alveoli to be exhaled.

2. Oxygen Transport:

- Oxygenated blood from the lungs is pumped by the heart through arteries to all tissues and organs in the body.

- Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen and delivers it to cells, releasing it into the tissues where it's needed for various metabolic processes.

3. Carbon Dioxide Removal:

- Carbon dioxide, a metabolic waste product, is transported back to the lungs via the bloodstream.

- In the lungs, CO2 diffuses from the capillaries into the alveoli and is expelled during exhalation.

4. Regulation of Blood pH:

- The lungs play a crucial role in maintaining proper pH levels in the bloodstream.

- When the blood becomes too acidic (lower pH), the lungs increase the rate and depth of breathing to remove more CO2, leading to an increase in blood pH.

- Conversely, if the blood becomes too alkaline (higher pH), the respiratory rate decreases, retaining more CO2 and lowering blood pH toward normal.

5. Production of Surfactant:

- Type II pneumocytes in the lungs produce surfactant, a lipoprotein complex responsible for reducing surface tension at the air-liquid interface in the alveoli.

- Surfactant prevents the alveoli from collapsing and facilitates the expansion and contraction of the lungs during breathing.

6. Immune Function:

- The lungs are involved in immune defense against inhaled pathogens and particles.

- The trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles are lined with mucus-producing cells and cilia (hair-like structures), which help trap inhaled foreign substances.

- Alveolar macrophages, a type of immune cell, reside in the alveoli and phagocytose (ingest) inhaled microorganisms, preventing infections.

7. Voice Production:

- The lungs provide the airflow necessary for speech and vocalization.

- When air from the lungs passes through the larynx (voice box), it causes the vocal cords to vibrate, producing sound.