Question

oxygen gas (o₂) is carried to all of your organs and tissues through your bloodstream. activate your knowledge about diffusion and the permeability of cell membranes for specific molecules. what will most likely happen to the oxygen molecules in this diagram? oxygen molecules blood muscle cells oxygen will move from the blood into the muscle but it requires a protein channel to cross cell membranes. oxygen will move from the muscle into the blood by diffusing directly through cell membranes. you cannot determine the direction and mechanism of oxygen movement without more information. oxygen will move from the blood into the muscle by diffusing directly through cell membranes.

Explanation:

• Oxygen is a small, non - polar molecule. Cell membranes are composed of a phospholipid bilayer. Small non - polar molecules like oxygen can pass through the phospholipid bilayer directly by simple diffusion.
• Muscle cells use oxygen for cellular respiration. So, there is a concentration gradient where oxygen is more concentrated in the blood (as it is carried to the tissues) and less concentrated in the muscle cells (as they consume oxygen). According to the principle of diffusion (movement from high to low concentration), oxygen will move from the blood to the muscle cells.
• It does not require a protein channel because of its small non - polar nature which allows it to dissolve in the lipid (phospholipid) part of the membrane.

Answer:

Oxygen will move from the blood into the muscle by diffusing directly through cell membranes.