Follow a carbon dioxide molecule on its voyage through the circulatory and respi
ID: 208666 • Letter: F
Question
Follow a carbon dioxide molecule on its voyage through the circulatory and respiratory systems. Carbon dioxide is produced in the mitochondria of your cells. Follow a carbon dioxide molecule from the mitochondria of a renal cell to the Renal Vein to the external nares. List all the membranes, blood vessels, and organs the carbon dioxide molecule travels through to your external nares. Describe the membranes that carbon dioxide will pass through at the cellular level. Is this transport active or passive? Explain expiration when appropriate in the sequence of events.
Explanation / Answer
During the breakdown of glucose, carbon dioxide is produced inside mitochondria from where it must diffuse out into the cytoplasm and outside the cell subsequently. It will then via diffusion reach the capillaries where it will diffuse into the blood plasma and travel as dissolved carbon dioxide or bicarbonate ion via the renal vein to the inferior vena cava into the heart. It will enter heart via Right atria then to the right ventricle and then via pulmonary artery to the lungs. Because of the partial pressure of the gas will be high in the alveoli it will diffuse out and via trachea reach the oral cavity and breathed out however if we exhale out through external nares it will take that path