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Extracellular refers to the environment outside of a cell. It includes spaces such as the area between cells (intercellular space) and the blood plasma. Extracellular components play a significant role in cell signaling, nutrient exchange, and waste removal.
Exchange among subdivisions of the extracellular fluid (ECF) occurs primarily at the capillaries, where nutrients, gases, and waste products are exchanged between the blood and interstitial fluid. This exchange is facilitated by the thin walls of capillaries and the pressure differences between the blood and surrounding tissues.
Capillaries, as they are the smallest and most numerous blood vessels in the body. Their thin walls allow for the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues.
The four phases of gas exchange in humans are ventilation, pulmonary diffusion, transport of gases in the blood, and systemic diffusion. Ventilation involves the movement of air in and out of the lungs. Pulmonary diffusion is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood. Transport of gases involves the carriage of oxygen by hemoglobin and carbon dioxide by plasma. Systemic diffusion is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and body tissues.
Active transport utilizes energy, such as ATP, to move molecules against their concentration gradient across the cell membrane. Facilitated transport, on the other hand, moves molecules down their concentration gradient with the help of transport proteins but does not require energy input.