RT Book, Section A1 Sisson, Thomas H. A1 Claar, Dru A1 Chesnutt, Mark S. A1 Prendergast, Thomas J. A2 Hammer, Gary D. A2 McPhee, Stephen J. SR Print(0) ID 1156657433 T1 Pulmonary Disease T2 Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine, 8e YR 2019 FD 2019 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781260026504 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1156657433 RD 2024/10/11 AB The principal physiologic role of the lungs is to make oxygen available to tissues for metabolism and to remove the main byproduct of that metabolism, carbon dioxide. The lungs perform this function by moving inspired air into close proximity to the pulmonary capillary bed to enable gas exchange by simple diffusion. This is accomplished at a minimal workload, is regulated efficiently over a wide range of metabolic demand, and takes place with close matching of ventilation to lung perfusion. The extensive surface area of the respiratory system must also be protected from a broad variety of infectious or noxious environmental insults.