What process is responsible for the exchange of gases in the body?

The correct option highlights diffusion as the primary process responsible for the exchange of gases in the body, particularly in the lungs and the tissues. Diffusion is a passive transport mechanism where molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

In the context of gas exchange, oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer takes place across the alveolar membranes in the lungs. Oxygen, which is at a higher concentration in the alveoli compared to the deoxygenated blood in the capillaries, diffuses into the blood. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, which has a higher concentration in the blood than in the alveoli, diffuses out of the blood to be exhaled. This process is crucial for maintaining proper levels of these gases in the bloodstream.

In contrast, osmosis refers specifically to the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane and does not pertain directly to gas exchange. Convection involves mass transport due to the bulk movement of fluids, which does not accurately describe the molecular-level transfer of gases. Filtration, often seen in kidney function or similar systems, involves the movement of substances through a filter or membrane but isn’t the primary mechanism for gas exchange in biological systems. Thus, diffusion is the correct representation of