Posted by Frank Day (63.201.228.13) on January 18, 2004 at 19:52:53:
In Reply to: Oxygen is bound to hemoglobin in the lungs posted by Peter on January 18, 2004 at 17:00:47:
To clarify. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells. Oxygen diffuses across the lung surface into the capillaries part of the lung to effect this transfer. This only occurs in the alveoli part of the lung. RBC's have special shapes (sort of donut like) to maximixe suface area to enhance diffusion. there are also some special enzymes that make this go quickly and smoothly.