Briefly describe the structure of the respiratory membrane. Then, describe how it works. What cell types and what forces allow the diffusion of gases across the respiratory membrane?

When we breath; there is air in and out though out from our lungs. How could it happen. Oxygen and carbon dioxide moves across the respiratory membrane. Normally the membrane separating air within the alveoli from the blood within pulmonary capillaries and consists of the alveolar wall, the capillary wall, and their basement membranes. Respiratory membrane is very thin, somehow its is approximate less than 0.5 mm. The respiratory membrane includes millions of alveoli with a surface area, the large respiratory surface area, combined with other factors, makes for efficient gas exchange to meet our metabolic needs. Respiratory membrane allows gases to be exchanged between the pulmonary capillaries, or blood vessels, and the respiratory units of the lungs, which consist of bronchioles, alveolar ducts, atria and alveoli.

Since respiratory membrane is very thin, it consists of only two cells, one is the alveolar epithelial cell and the other is pulmonary capillary cell. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs between the air and our blood. This refer to the movement of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of the blood. Oxygen and carbon dioxide move across respiratory surface, and that consists of an alveolar epithelial cell and a pulmonary capillary endothelial cell. This respiratory surface is also referred to as the respiratory membrane. The air is on one side of the membrane and blood is on the other side of the membrane.