Lecture 20: Gaseous Exchange

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Lecture 20 on gaseous exchange.

Respiration

The process by which organisms exchange gases with their environment.

Inspiration

The process of inhaling air into the lungs.

Expiration

The process of exhaling air from the lungs.

Medulla Oblongata

Part of the brain stem that regulates breathing.

Chemoreceptors

Sensors that detect changes in pH, pO2, and pCO2.

Boyle’s Law

At a constant temperature, the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume.

Intrapulmonary pressure

The pressure within the lungs during breathing.

Diaphragm

A muscle that contracts and relaxes to facilitate breathing.

Spirometry

A test that measures lung function by assessing airflow.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Pulmonary Capillaries

Small blood vessels that surround the alveoli.

Respiratory membrane

The barrier through which gases diffuse, located between alveoli and capillaries.

Partial pressure

The pressure exerted by a specific gas in a mixture of gases.

Dalton’s Law

The total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of its individual gases.

Gas exchange

The process of transferring oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and blood.

Henry’s Law

The concentration of a gas dissolved in a liquid is proportional to its partial pressure.

Functional residual capacity (FRC)

The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a normal expiration.

Total lung capacity (TLC)

The total volume of air in the lungs after a maximum inhalation.

Residual volume (RV)

The volume of air left in the lungs after a maximum exhalation.

Vital capacity (VC)

The maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation.