Nokea
The nurse is providing care for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When describing the process of
respiration the nurse explains how oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the pulmonary capillaries and the
alveoli. The nurse is describing what process?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Diffusion. In respiration, oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries through the process of diffusion. Here's the rationale:
1. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
2. In the alveoli, oxygen moves from the air (higher concentration) into the blood (lower concentration) and carbon dioxide moves from the blood (higher concentration) into the air (lower concentration).
3. This exchange occurs passively, without the need for energy input, which is characteristic of diffusion.
Summary of other choices:
B: Osmosis involves the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane, not gas exchange.
C: Active transport requires energy input to move molecules against their concentration gradient, not seen in gas exchange.
D: Filtration involves the movement of molecules through a membrane under pressure, not the passive movement of gases in respiration.