Trace the path of an oxygen molecule in its journey from the air to a muscle cell in your arm, naming all the structures involved along the way.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Inhale air containing oxygen into the nasal cavity where it is warmed, moistened, and filtered.
2. Oxygen then travels through the pharynx, larynx, and enters the trachea.
3. The trachea divides into two bronchi, each leading to a lung. Within the lungs, the bronchi branch into smaller bronchioles.
4. Bronchioles end in clusters of alveoli, which are tiny air sacs surrounded by capillaries. Oxygen diffuses across the thin walls of the alveoli into the capillaries.
5. Oxygen binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells within the capillaries and is transported through the bloodstream to the muscle cells in your arm, where it is released to be used in cellular respiration.

Key Concepts

Respiratory System

The respiratory system is responsible for the exchange of gases between the body and the environment. It includes structures such as the nose, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, where oxygen is inhaled and carbon dioxide is exhaled. The alveoli in the lungs are the primary sites for gas exchange, allowing oxygen to enter the bloodstream.

Circulatory System

The circulatory system transports oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to various tissues, including muscle cells. It consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood. After oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream from the alveoli, it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, which then travel through arteries to deliver oxygen to cells throughout the body.

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. In muscle cells, oxygen is utilized in the mitochondria to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell. This process is essential for muscle contraction and overall cellular function, highlighting the importance of oxygen delivery from the lungs to the cells.