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Capillary & Tissue Exchange
Watch blood move through a capillary bed while oxygen and nutrients leave the blood for tissue cells and carbon dioxide and waste products return to the bloodstream.
Red blood cell
Oxygen
Nutrient / glucose
Carbon dioxide
Waste product
Follow the same red blood cells all the way through the capillary bed: they enter bright red carrying oxygen, release oxygen to the tissue, darken as they become oxygen-poor, then pick up carbon dioxide and continue flowing out. Glucose and other wastes remain dissolved in the plasma.
Simplified teaching animation. Bright scarlet red blood cells represent oxygen-rich cells; darker red cells have released oxygen; deep burgundy cells with cyan dots are carrying carbon dioxide away. Glucose and other wastes remain dissolved in plasma. Paths and speeds are intentionally simplified for modeling.