Physiology Unit 5: Gas Exchange and Transport

What is the comparison between atmospheric air and alveolar air?

Atmospheric air has low water vapor while alveolar air have high water vapor

Why does Alveolar air have less oxygen and more carbon dioxide?

Gas exchange is constantly occurring

What are the mechanisms that drive gas exchange?

Pressure gradients that move gases from high and low partial pressure

Why is sufficient ventilation and perfusion important?

both must be matched for efficient gas exchange and directs blood to well ventilated alveoli

How does the body adapts when they are insufficient?

Increased carbon dioxide and red blood cell production and decrease plasma volume

What is the process of external respiration ?

In the lungs, oxygen diffuses across the respiratory membrane from the alveolus to the capillary and carbon dioxide diffuses out of the capillary into the alveolus.

What is the process of internal respiration?

In tissues, oxygen diffuses out of the capillary and into cells, and carbon dioxide diffuses out of cells and into the capillary

What are the principles of oxygen transport?

Oxygen transport depends on partial pressure and hemoglobin

What is the structure of the hemoglobin?

two alpha subunits and two beta subunits that makes up 96% of red blood cells

What is the difference between the fetal and adult hemoglobin?

Fetal hemoglobin has a greater affinity of oxygen than adult hemoglobin because it allows the fetus to extract oxygen from maternal blood

What are the principles of carbon dioxide transport?

erythrocytes, after forming carbonic acid and in plasma

How does the law of mass drives carbon dioxide transport and exchange based on partial pressure gradients?

It drives carbon dioxide by shifting reactions based on local carbon dioxide leave (pressure gradients). High carbon dioxide in tissue shift to right (forward) and low carbon dioxide in lung shift to left (backward)

What is the relationship between the partial pressure, atmospheric pressure and oxygen exchange in the alveoli?

Atmospheric pressure determines partial pressure of oxygen. Oxygen stays the same but when partial pressure drops, it reduces the gas exchange efficiency