structure and function of the respiratory system 2

Question 1

what are all the blood gas barriers

Answer 1

• Layers
  ○ Surfactant (produced by type 2 pneumocytes)

    ○ Type 1 pneumocytes
  
    ○ Basal laminar of epithelial cells
  
        § Beneath the type 1 pneumocytes
        § Gives structural support to the epithelial cells
  
    ○ Connective tissue
  
    ○ Basal laminar of endothelial cells
  
    ○ Endothelial cells
  
    ○ Plasma

• RBC membrane

Question 2

define fick’s law

Answer 2

Rate of transfer of gas through a sheet of tissue is proportional to the tissue area and the difference in the partial pressure between the two sides, and is inversely proportional to the tissue thickness

Question 3

how is oxygen transported in blood

Answer 3

Oxygen carriage in blood

97% carried by haemoglobin in red blood cells

3% dissolved in plasma

Question 4

how is carbon dioxide transported in blood

Answer 4

1. 70% as bicarbonate ion
   
   • Important for acid base balance
2. 23% carried by haemoglobin

Co2 binds to amine radicals of haemoglobins to form carbaminohaemoglobin

3. 7% dissolved in plasma