5. Gas Exchange

Study Guide

What is the definition of the partial pressure of a gas?

How do you determine the partial pressure in mmHg in dry, inspired air, humidified tracheal air, alveolar air, expired air, mixed venous blood, systemic arterial blood

how does humidifying the inspired air change the gas composition and partial pressure

How does the diffusion rate of CO2 compare to that of O2

How does the solubility of CO2 compare to that of O2

what does Henry’s law describe?

What does Fick’s law describe?

If the thickness of the alveolar membrane is increased, how does that affect diffusion rate?

If the surface area of he alveolar membrane is increased, how does that affect the diffusion rate?

what portions of the diffusion equation are affected by a disease such as pulmonary edema? Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome? Asthma?

How fast does blood travel the length of pulmonary capillary along an alveolus?

How long does it take for O2 to equilibrate between the alveolus and the blood

What type of limitation is maximal exercise? Why are we able to study this using CO uptake

What type of limitation would allow for more O2 to be transferred to the blood if flow were increased?

Is O2 limited by diffusion or perfusion?