Gas Exchange and Delivery Lecture

Flashcards summarizing key vocabulary for understanding gas exchange and delivery in the respiratory system.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.

Partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂)

The pressure exerted by oxygen in a mixture of gases, significant in determining the amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in plasma or bound to hemoglobin.

Oxygen saturation

The percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen; important for assessing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG)

A metabolite in red blood cells that decreases hemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen, enhancing oxygen release in tissues.

Oxygen transport

The process by which oxygen is carried from the lungs to the body's tissues, primarily bound to hemoglobin.

Bicarbonate ion (HCO₃⁻)

A form of carbon dioxide transport in the blood, consisting of about 70% of CO₂ transported in this form.

Ventilation rate

The rate at which air is exchanged in the lungs, crucial for maintaining adequate oxygen levels and carbon dioxide elimination.

Chloride shift

The exchange of bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻) in red blood cells with chloride ions (Cl⁻) in plasma, important in maintaining electroneutrality.

Alveolar ventilation

The flow of fresh air into and out of the alveoli, essential for gas exchange during breathing.

Hydrostatic pressure

The pressure exerted by a fluid due to gravity; relevant in contexts like edema where fluid movement is affected.