The Amount of Carbonic Acid is Lower in the Pulmonary

Question

The amount of carbonic acid is lower in the pulmonary vein than it is in the pulmonary artery.

Accepted Answer

This is true because when blood flows through the pulmonary capillaries, oxygen diffuses into the blood while carbon dioxide diffuses out. This exchange of gases reduces the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, which in turn reduces the amount of carbonic acid formed. Therefore, the concentration of carbonic acid is lower in the pulmonary vein (which carries oxygenated blood away from the lungs) than it is in the pulmonary artery (which carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs).