16 Questions
Which factor determines the amount of oxygen that enters the blood each minute?
Oxygen pressure gradient
What facilitates gas exchange in the alveoli?
Difficult gas crossing
What contributes to the ease of contact between blood and alveolar air?
Thin layer of blood in capillaries
Which factor affects the total functional surface area of the respiratory membrane?
None of the above
What determines the respiratory minute volume?
Alveolar ventilation
Which factor affects the ease of gas crossing in the alveoli?
Thick alveolar walls
What determines the amount of blood in the capillaries?
None of the above
What affects the distribution of blood in the capillaries?
Limited blood distribution
Which gases are involved in the exchange of gases in the lungs?
Oxygen and carbon dioxide
What is the role of the respiratory membranes in gas exchange?
To facilitate the exchange of gases
What is partial pressure in relation to gases?
The pressure exerted by a specific gas in a mixture
What drives ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange?
Differences in gas concentrations
How do gas molecules diffuse into a liquid?
From high to low pressure
What determines the direction of gas exchange in the lungs?
The concentration of gases
Why does oxygen enter the blood from alveolar air?
Because the PO2 of alveolar air is higher than the PO2 of incoming blood
Why does carbon dioxide exit from the blood?
Because the PCO2 of venous blood is lower than the PCO2 of alveolar air
Study Notes
Factors Affecting Oxygen Intake and Gas Exchange
- The amount of oxygen that enters the blood each minute is determined by the respiratory minute volume.
- Gas exchange in the alveoli is facilitated by the contact between blood and alveolar air.
Respiratory Membrane and Gas Exchange
- The ease of contact between blood and alveolar air is contributed to by the total functional surface area of the respiratory membrane.
- The respiratory membrane is responsible for facilitating gas exchange in the lungs.
Blood and Gas Exchange
- The amount of blood in the capillaries determines the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed.
- The distribution of blood in the capillaries affects the efficiency of gas exchange.
Gases Involved in Gas Exchange
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide are the primary gases involved in the exchange of gases in the lungs.
Partial Pressure and Gas Exchange
- Partial pressure refers to the pressure exerted by each gas in a mixture of gases.
- The difference in partial pressure between the alveoli and the blood drives the direction of gas exchange.
Ventilation and Pulmonary Gas Exchange
- The difference in partial pressure between the alveoli and the blood drives ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange.
Diffusion and Gas Exchange
- Gas molecules diffuse into a liquid according to their concentration gradient.
- The direction of gas exchange in the lungs is determined by the concentration gradient of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Gas Exchange in the Lungs
- Oxygen enters the blood from alveolar air because the partial pressure of oxygen is higher in the alveoli than in the blood.
- Carbon dioxide exits from the blood because the partial pressure of carbon dioxide is higher in the blood than in the alveoli.
Test your knowledge on gas exchange in the lungs and understand how oxygen and carbon dioxide move across the respiratory barrier.
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