Lecture 6- Alveolar And Systemic Gas Exchange

Question 1

Pulmonary ventilation

Answer 1

The volume of air that moves in/out of the lungs per minute

Question 2

How is the pulmonary ventilation calculated?

Answer 2

Volume of air in one breath x number of breaths per minute

Question 3

How is alveolar ventilation calculated?

Answer 3

(Tidal volume- dead space) x breaths per minute

Question 4

Dead space

Answer 4

Volume of gas contained in the conducting airways and alveoli that does not participate in gas exchange

Question 5

How does surfactant reduce surface tension?

Answer 5

Sits between water molecules, preventing H-bonds between water molecules

Question 6

What are the 3 main functions of surfactant?

Answer 6

1. Stabilising alveolar size
2. Increasing compliance
3. Keeping lungs dry

Question 7

Dalton’s law

Answer 7

The total pressure is equal to the sum of partial pressures

Question 8

Henry’s Law

Answer 8

The solubility of a gas in a liquid is dependent upon the partial pressure of the gas in the air and the solubility coefficient of the gas in the liquid