The movement of air into and out of the lungs is called:
hypoxia
osmosis
filtration
pulmonary ventilation
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is pulmonary ventilation.
Pulmonary ventilation refers to the movement of air into and out of the lungs. It is a fundamental process that allows for gas exchange to occur, which is essential for maintaining the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This process is commonly known as breathing, and it involves two main phases: inhalation (or inspiration) and exhalation (or expiration).
During inhalation, the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles contract, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity. This reduction in pressure within the lungs allows air to flow in from the outside environment, where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream. Conversely, during exhalation, these muscles relax, and the volume of the thoracic cavity decreases, increasing the pressure in the lungs and forcing air, which now contains higher levels of carbon dioxide, out of the body.
The purpose of pulmonary ventilation is to ensure a continuous supply of oxygen to the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs), where it can diffuse into the bloodstream for transport to tissues. Similarly, carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be expelled when exhaled.
While hypoxia refers to a deficiency of oxygen in tissues, osmosis and filtration are different processes related to the movement of fluids and solutes. Osmosis is the movement of water across a membrane, while filtration is the movement of fluids through a membrane due to pressure differences, neither of which directly relate to the process of air movement in the lungs. Thus, pulmonary ventilation specifically describes the physical act of moving air in and out of the lungs, facilitating essential respiratory functions.