3/14 Gas exchange and gas transport Flashcards
What does emphysema affect?
Alveoli
What is Diffusion?
the process of randomly moving molecules making their way back and forth across the respiratory membrane
What determines the movement of gases?
Concentration- moving from high to low
Pressure is defined as….
the amount of force on the container
Total pressure at sea level is….
760 mmHg
What gas makes up most of the atmospheric pressure? Least?
Most=Nitrogen
Least=CO2
Partial pressure of a gas in fluid is determined by what two things?
concentration
solubility
What does it mean if a gas is more soluble than another?
This means that it is more attracted to water so it can diffuse more quickly (ex. CO2 is more soluble than O2)
If a patient has lots of mucous in their lungs what does this mean for diffusion?
diffusion will take longer
Diffusion is determined by what 6 things?
Pressure difference solubility of the gas in fluid cross-sectional area of the fluid distance the gas must diffuse molecular weight of the gas temperature of the fluid
Respiratory gases are very soluble in ____ so diffusion across the membranes occurs relatively easy.
Lipids
____ is the limiting factor when diffusing through tissues and therefore makes it tougher to diffuse.
Tissue water
What makes O2 concentrations different?
It is constantly being absorbed from alveoli
What makes CO2 concentrations different?
It is constantly diffusing from blood into alveoli
What makes H2O concentrations different?
The water is vaporized in respiratory tract
PH2O at body temp =47mmHG
Which gas makes up the balance to total 760 mmHg?
Nitrogen
O2 is at what partial pressure in the alveoli?
104 mmHg
About how much alveolar air is replaced by each breath?
1/7th
Alveolar oxygen concentration is controlled by what two things?
The rate of absorption by pulmonary capillaries (amount leaving)
The rate of oxygen entry into alveoli via ventilation (amount entering)
The partial pressure of O2 can never exceed 149 mmHg bc why?
the pressure of all of the others have to add up to 760 so it cant go any higher
Internal expiration occurs where?
In the tissues
External expiration occurs where?
In the alveoli
Diffusion of gases across the respiratory membrane occurs very quickly because of….
the large surface area of respiratory membrane with small amounts of blood
Also the small diameter of pulmonary capillaries
Diffusion of gases through respiratory membrane is affected by what 4 things?
Thickness of membrane
Surface area of respiratory membrane
Diffusion of gases through respiratory membrane is affected by what 4 things?
Thickness of membrane
Surface area of respiratory membrane
Diffusion coefficient
Pressure difference across the membrane
What is the respiratory membranes diffusion capacity?
The volume of a gas that will diffuse through the membrane each minute for a partial pressure difference of 1 mmHg