How does gaseous exchange occur in relation to the body's cells?

Prepare for the ITEC Respiratory System Exam with quizzes and multiple choice questions. Each question is crafted with detailed hints and explanations. Excel in your exam!

The correct choice accurately represents the process of gaseous exchange at the cellular level. In the human body, gaseous exchange involves the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the body’s cells. This occurs primarily through diffusion, where gases move from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration.

Gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide dissolve in the interstitial fluid, which surrounds the cells. This fluid acts as a medium that facilitates the diffusion of these gases. Oxygen from the blood enters the interstitial fluid, where its concentration is lower, and then diffuses into the cells. Conversely, carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of cellular metabolism, diffuses out of the cells into the interstitial fluid and then into the blood, where it can be transported back to the lungs for exhalation.

This process highlights the importance of the interstitial fluid as a critical component that connects the blood and the cells, allowing for efficient gas exchange without the need for additional transformations or processes, such as those suggested in other options.

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