Gas exchange is a process done via the respiratory system to allow oxygen into the body and for carbon dioxide to leave the body through the blood cells. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs by oxygen entering via the nasal cavity, then through the trachea into the bronchus and then goes into the bronchiole which contain alveoli which is where it takes place, by diffusion (from a high concentrated area – alveoli – to a low concentrated area – capillaries) between the alveoli and the – many – capillaries surrounding it. This shows how the cardiovascular and respiratory system are inter-related because without the cardiovascular system, there would be no gas exchange occurring and without gas exchange we wouldn’t be able to breathe due to no oxygen getting into the blood and carbon dioxide wouldn’t be able to leave the body.
Oxygen is carried through the blood via capillaries and veins (cardiovascular system) and is entered into the body by breathing it in (respiratory system) it then travels down the lungs (as explained in the first paragraph) until it reaches the alveoli, its then diffused into the blood but due to oxygen not being able to dissolve easily, most of it is carried by the haemoglobin in red blood cells and then transported into the parts that need a supply of oxygen e.g. if aerobic respiration is being carried, the working muscles will need a good supply of oxygen to prevent fatigue and to allow them to carry on working for longer until a limiting factor. Without the cardiovascular system then the oxygen taken into the lungs via the respiratory system will have nowhere to be transported to which means the heart and other vital organs wouldn’t be getting their supply of oxygen, so it shows that both systems are linked together for either to actually work.
Carbon dioxide is carried through the body similarly as to how oxygen is carried, however when it’s transported from the tissues to