Lecture 24 - Respiratory Physiology #3 Flashcards
What is the PO2 and PCO2 in dry inspired air?
PO2 = 160 mmHg
PCO2 = 0 mmHg
What is the PO2 and PCO2 in humidified tracheal air?
PO2 = 150 mmHg
PCO2 = 0 mmHg
What is the PO2 and PCO2 in systemic arterial blood?
PaO2 = 100 mmHg
PaCO2 = 40 mmHg
What is the PO2 and PCO2 in mixed venous blood?
PvO2 = 40 mmHg
PvCO2 = 46 mmHg
Describe the relationship between alveoli and capillaries.
Very thin space between alveoli and capillaries.
In normal conditions, how long does it take for PO2 to reach 100% during exercise?
0.25 seconds
If the rate of oxygen diffusion is decreased, how does the body compensate?
Increase breathing rate
What occurs in pulmonary edema?
- Alveoli are filled with fluid.
- Gas exchange cannot occur since the fluid displaces the air.
What happens in interstitial fibrosis?
There is a thickening of the diffusion membrane due to alveolar inflammation and scar tissue formation on the alveolar walls.
What happens when the diffusion membrane is thickened (Fick’s law)?
Increasing membrane thickness decreases the ventilation across alveolus.
How soluble is oxygen?
Not very - only 0.003mL of oxygen dissolves in 100mL of plasma for every 1mmHg of partial pressure.
How much of the oxygen transported in blood is dissolved?
An insignificant fraction, <1%.
How much oxygen is transported by hemoglobin?
99%
What property of blood is useful for oximetry?
Blood is red when oxygenated and turns purple when deoxygenated.
When Hb combines with oxygen it turns…
Red
What is % saturation?
% of all the hemoglobin molecules that are bound to oxygen.
How many heme proteins are in hemoglobin?
4
What does oxygen bind to in the heme protein?
Iron
Oxygen combines with heme…
Loosely and reversibly
How many molecules of oxygen can bind to each hemoglobin?
4 oxygen molecules.
Hb has 4 heme proteins that each have one iron molecule that can bind oxygen.
How much Hb is in each red blood cell?
A lot
Describe the relationship between saturation and partial pressure.
Not linear - more of an S shape.
What are the physiological advantages of having an S shape relationship in the hemoglobin dissociation curve?
The flat portion of the curve is better for oxygen loading and the steep portion of the curve is better for unloading.
Which part of the oxygen dissociation curve is used in the lungs? Why is it useful there?
The flat portion. At higher levels of PO2, there is not a significant change in hemoglobin saturation. It stays near 100% between 60 and 100 mmHg. This allows for oxygen loading.
Which part of the oxygen dissociation curve is important for function at high altitudes?
The flat portion. Because there is no significant change in saturation, the body can still load Hb adequately in areas with lower PO2 in the atmosphere.