How are the alveoli adapted for gas exchange?

The alveoli are covered by a rich blood supply of capillaries- this provides a diffusion gradient for oxygen to move into the blood and carbon dioxide to move into the lungs.The alveoli are also highly folded, meaning there is a high surface area: volume ratio for gas exchange.Finally, the alveolar walls are only one cell thick, so the gases can diffuse easily across.

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