What is the process of gas exchange in the lungs called?

The process of gas exchange in the lungs is referred to as alveolar ventilation, which involves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood in the pulmonary capillaries. This critical function occurs in the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs specialized for gas exchange. When air enters the lungs, oxygen diffuses across the alveolar membrane into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be expelled during exhalation.

While the other terms may relate to aspects of respiratory function, they do not accurately describe the specific process of gas exchange in the lungs. Bronchial diffusion is not a recognized term for gas exchange, and pulmonary respiration broadly encompasses both the mechanical aspects of breathing and the chemical exchange of gases, leading to some confusion. Tracheal flow refers to the movement of air through the trachea but does not pertain to the exchange of gases that takes place at the alveolar level. Thus, alveolar ventilation is the precise terminology used to describe this essential respiratory function.