The Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems of Vertebrate Animals Work in Tandem

The respiratory and cardiovascular systems of vertebrate animals work in tandem to transport oxygen to metabolizing tissues and to eliminate carbon dioxide as a waste gas. Which of the following statements accurately describes how these systems interact for gas exchange?

A) The rate of oxygen transport by diffusion across the lungs must generally match the rate of transport by the circulatory system.
B) The rate of gas exchange by diffusion need not match rates of ventilation or circulatory transport.
C) Bulk flow of gases and solutes works well over long distances, whereas diffusion is effective only over very short distances.
D) Bulk flow of gases and solutes works well over short distances, whereas diffusion is effective over longer distances.