Gas Exchange and Partial Pressures

These flashcards cover key vocabularies and definitions related to gas exchange, diffusion principles, and the physiological context of respiratory mechanics.

Efficiency of Gas Exchange

Largely influenced by substantial differences in gas concentrations between air and blood as well as air pressure changes.

Diffusion

The process through which gases are exchanged by moving from high concentration to low concentration across membranes.

Alveolar macrophage

A type of immune cell located in the alveoli responsible for clearing pathogens and debris.

Dalton's Law

States that in a mixture of gases, each gas exerts a pressure proportional to its concentration.

Partial Pressure

The pressure contributed by a single gas in a mixture, critical for understanding gas behavior in respiratory physiology.

Hypoxia

A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, often related to altitude and air pressure.

Surface Area and Gas Exchange

A larger surface area, such as that of alveoli, facilitates more efficient gas exchange.

Influences on Gas Diffusion

Factors such as distance, gas concentration, and presence of diseases like pneumonia that affect diffusion rates.