[03] Gas Exchange and Transport Flashcards
Where does gas exchange primarily occur in the respiratory system?
In the alveoli of the lungs
What are the two main gases involved in gas exchange?
- Oxygen (O2)
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Describe the process of oxygen transport in the respiratory system.
Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the pulmonary capillaries, binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, and is transported to the body’s tissues
Describe the process of carbon dioxide transport in the respiratory system.
Carbon dioxide diffuses from the body’s tissues into the capillaries, is transported to the lungs in the form of bicarbonate ions or bound to hemoglobin, and is expelled from the body during exhalation
What is the role of hemoglobin in gas transport?
Hemoglobin in red blood cells binds to oxygen and carbon dioxide, facilitating their transport in the blood
What is the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve?
It describes how oxygen binding to hemoglobin changes with the partial pressure of oxygen
What factors can shift the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve?
- Blood pH
- Carbon dioxide concentration
- Blood temperature
What is the Bohr effect?
It describes how an increase in carbon dioxide concentration or decrease in pH can reduce the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, promoting oxygen release in tissues
How does carbon dioxide travel in the blood?
- Bound to hemoglobin
- As bicarbonate ions
- Dissolved in plasma
What is the Haldane effect?
It describes how oxygen concentration affects the binding and release of carbon dioxide by hemoglobin
What happens during external respiration?
Oxygen diffuses from the lungs into the blood, and carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the lungs
What happens during internal respiration?
Oxygen diffuses from the blood into the tissues, and carbon dioxide diffuses from the tissues into the blood
What role do the partial pressures of gases play in gas exchange?
Gas exchange across membranes is driven by differences in partial pressures; gases move from areas of high partial pressure to areas of low partial pressure
What is respiratory rate?
The number of breaths taken per minute
How is the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide regulated in the body?
It’s regulated by factors like respiratory rate, hemoglobin levels, partial pressures of gases, and the pH of the blood
