Question

What tells Red Blood Cells they are low in O2 and need to go into pulmonary circulation? Or do they just do it on their own?

Answer 1

The stimulus for breathing is actually the increase concentration of carbon dioxide and not the lack of Oxygen.

Answer 2

so I think that when our cells have greater amount of CO2, then our lungs take in O2 from the atmosphere and into the blood...correct me if I'm wrong :)

Answer 3

No, I had my teacher explain it see like the blood cells go through cellular respiration when they pass through cappillaries in the Alveoli. They give the CO2 waste product and receive O2 they deliver oxygen to body cells so they do get low in oxygen

Answer 4

the RBC's that is.

Answer 5

yes, that is right. That is how the gaseous exchange occurs.But since you asked 'what tells the rbcs'...well, I think that would be the increase in CO2 concentration in the body.
Some people also die because of over breathing...if they are provided with a large concentration of 02 in their atmosphere.

Answer 6

Thank you very much! I kept thinking there was a particular organ or hormone that told the RBC's to go into a capillary though because I confused it with how the kidneys tell the bone marrow to make more cells. thanks so much for your time!!