Physiology of Ventilation and Gas Exchange

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What determines which capillaries remain open and which close off in the lungs?

Blood pressure (correct)

Gravity

Oxygen saturation

Alveolar ventilation

What is the primary function of haemoglobin in the context of gas exchange?

To buffer excess hydrogen ions

To regulate alveolar ventilation

To transport oxygen in the blood (correct)

To facilitate the diffusion of gases across cell membranes

What is a consequence of a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion?

Increased gas exchange efficiency

Improved oxygen binding affinity of haemoglobin

Impaired gas exchange between the atmosphere and arterial blood (correct)

Enhanced carbon dioxide transport

Which of the following factors influences the oxygen binding affinity of haemoglobin?

Arterial blood pH Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of carbon dioxide transport in the blood?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of bicarbonate in the context of gas exchange?

To buffer excess hydrogen ions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor affecting gas exchange in healthy people?

Concentration gradient between alveoli and blood Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of a decrease in the amount of alveolar surface area available for gas exchange?

Impaired gas exchange Signup and view all the answers

Why is haemoglobin necessary for oxygen transport in the blood?

Because oxygen is not very soluble in plasma Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the reserve capacity of the body?

The ability to recruit additional capillary beds during exercise Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of oxygen in the blood that is dissolved in the plasma?

Less than 2% Signup and view all the answers

What is the response of the arterioles when ventilation of alveoli in one area of the lung is diminished?

Constriction Signup and view all the answers

How does an increase in the diffusion distance between the alveolar air space and the blood affect gas exchange?

Impairs gas exchange Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of significantly impaired diffusion of gases between the alveoli and blood or inadequate oxygen transport in the blood?

Hypoxia Signup and view all the answers

What is the relative solubility of carbon dioxide compared to oxygen?

Carbon dioxide is 20x more soluble than oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What do the sensors in the body monitor to avoid hypoxia and hypercapnia?

Arterial blood composition Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for lower-than-normal volumes of fresh air entering the alveoli?

Hypoventilation Signup and view all the answers

What is the time it takes for diffusion to reach equilibrium in the lungs?

Less than 1 sec Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of oxygen in our body is transported by haemoglobin?

More than 98% Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for haemoglobin bound to oxygen?

Oxyhaemoglobin Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of a decrease in cellular PO2 on haemoglobin?

Hb releases additional O2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the shift in the Hb saturation curve due to a change in pH?

Bohr effect Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the molecule that affects O2-Hb binding?

2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate Signup and view all the answers

If half the available binding sites on haemoglobin molecules are occupied by O2 molecules, what is the oxygen saturation of the blood?

50% Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of increased 2,3-BPG production on haemoglobin?

It lowers the binding affinity of Hb and shifts the HbO2 saturation curve to the right. Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about foetal haemoglobin compared to adult haemoglobin?

It has two gamma protein chains instead of beta chains. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of haemoglobin in buffering H+ ions?

It prevents large changes in the body’s pH by buffering H+ ions. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when blood PCO2 is elevated?

Haemoglobin cannot soak up all the H+ ions and excess H+ accumulate in the plasma. Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of excess H+ accumulation in the plasma?

Respiratory acidosis. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to carbon dioxide at the lungs?

It is removed from the blood. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which the body attempts to match air flow and blood flow in the lungs?

Regulating the diameters of the arterioles and bronchioles Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of significantly impaired diffusion of gases between the alveoli and blood or inadequate oxygen transport in the blood?

Hypoxia Signup and view all the answers

What determines the efficiency of alveolar gas exchange?

Many variables including the composition of the inspired air, low alveolar ventilation, and diffusion problems Signup and view all the answers

What is the response of the arterioles to a decrease in PO2 in one area of the lung?

Constriction Signup and view all the answers

What is the time it takes for diffusion to reach equilibrium in the lungs?

Less than 1 second Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the condition characterised by lower-than-normal volumes of fresh air entering the alveoli?

Hypoventilation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of having collapsible capillaries in the lungs?

Matching of ventilation and perfusion Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion at the local level?

Decreased carbon dioxide removal from the cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which gas solubility affects diffusion and gas exchange?

Increased partial pressure gradient of gases Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between foetal and adult haemoglobin in terms of oxygen transport?

Foetal haemoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What is the physiological significance of the oxygen saturation curve in terms of haemoglobin function?

It shows the effect of pH on haemoglobin binding affinity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of bicarbonate in the context of carbon dioxide transport in the blood?

Buffering of excess H+ ions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why oxygen requires oxygen-carrying molecules to transport it in the blood?

Oxygen has low solubility in the blood Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of an increase in the thickness of the alveolar-capillary exchange barrier on gas exchange?

Decrease in gas exchange Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of oxygen in the blood that is bound to haemoglobin?

More than 90% Signup and view all the answers

How does the solubility of carbon dioxide compare to oxygen?

Carbon dioxide is 20 times more soluble than oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What are the two components of oxygen transport in the blood?

Dissolved oxygen and oxygen bound to haemoglobin Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of an increase in the diffusion distance between the alveolar air space and the blood on oxygen transport?

Oxygen transport is slower Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of increased 2,3-BPG production on the oxygen binding affinity of haemoglobin?

Decreases the binding affinity of Hb Signup and view all the answers

What is the unique characteristic of foetal haemoglobin compared to adult haemoglobin?

It has two gamma protein chains instead of the two beta chains Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of haemoglobin in maintaining the body's pH balance?

It buffers H+ ions Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when the body's PCO2 is elevated?

Haemoglobin cannot absorb all the H+ ions and excess H+ accumulate in the plasma Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of excess H+ accumulation in the plasma?

Respiratory acidosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of bicarbonate in the body?

The most important extracellular buffer Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate percentage of oxygen in our body that is transported by haemoglobin?

98% Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum number of oxygen molecules that one haemoglobin molecule can bind?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the blood when all binding sites on all haemoglobin molecules are occupied by oxygen molecules?

100% oxygenated Signup and view all the answers

Physiology of Ventilation and Gas Exchange

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Questions and Answers

What determines which capillaries remain open and which close off in the lungs?

What is the primary function of haemoglobin in the context of gas exchange?

What is a consequence of a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion?

Which of the following factors influences the oxygen binding affinity of haemoglobin?

What is the primary mechanism of carbon dioxide transport in the blood?

What is the role of bicarbonate in the context of gas exchange?

What is the primary factor affecting gas exchange in healthy people?

What is the effect of a decrease in the amount of alveolar surface area available for gas exchange?

Why is haemoglobin necessary for oxygen transport in the blood?

What is an example of the reserve capacity of the body?

What is the percentage of oxygen in the blood that is dissolved in the plasma?

What is the response of the arterioles when ventilation of alveoli in one area of the lung is diminished?

How does an increase in the diffusion distance between the alveolar air space and the blood affect gas exchange?

What is the result of significantly impaired diffusion of gases between the alveoli and blood or inadequate oxygen transport in the blood?

What is the relative solubility of carbon dioxide compared to oxygen?

What do the sensors in the body monitor to avoid hypoxia and hypercapnia?

What is the term for lower-than-normal volumes of fresh air entering the alveoli?

What is the time it takes for diffusion to reach equilibrium in the lungs?

What percentage of oxygen in our body is transported by haemoglobin?

What is the term for haemoglobin bound to oxygen?

What is the effect of a decrease in cellular PO2 on haemoglobin?

What is the term for the shift in the Hb saturation curve due to a change in pH?

What is the name of the molecule that affects O2-Hb binding?

If half the available binding sites on haemoglobin molecules are occupied by O2 molecules, what is the oxygen saturation of the blood?

What is the effect of increased 2,3-BPG production on haemoglobin?

What is unique about foetal haemoglobin compared to adult haemoglobin?

What is the role of haemoglobin in buffering H+ ions?

What occurs when blood PCO2 is elevated?

What is the consequence of excess H+ accumulation in the plasma?

What happens to carbon dioxide at the lungs?

What is the primary mechanism by which the body attempts to match air flow and blood flow in the lungs?

What is the result of significantly impaired diffusion of gases between the alveoli and blood or inadequate oxygen transport in the blood?

What determines the efficiency of alveolar gas exchange?

What is the response of the arterioles to a decrease in PO2 in one area of the lung?

What is the time it takes for diffusion to reach equilibrium in the lungs?

What is the term for the condition characterised by lower-than-normal volumes of fresh air entering the alveoli?

What is the primary benefit of having collapsible capillaries in the lungs?

Which of the following is a consequence of a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion at the local level?

What is the primary mechanism by which gas solubility affects diffusion and gas exchange?

What is the primary difference between foetal and adult haemoglobin in terms of oxygen transport?

What is the physiological significance of the oxygen saturation curve in terms of haemoglobin function?

What is the primary function of bicarbonate in the context of carbon dioxide transport in the blood?

What is the primary reason why oxygen requires oxygen-carrying molecules to transport it in the blood?

What is the effect of an increase in the thickness of the alveolar-capillary exchange barrier on gas exchange?

What is the percentage of oxygen in the blood that is bound to haemoglobin?

How does the solubility of carbon dioxide compare to oxygen?

What are the two components of oxygen transport in the blood?

What is the effect of an increase in the diffusion distance between the alveolar air space and the blood on oxygen transport?

What is the primary effect of increased 2,3-BPG production on the oxygen binding affinity of haemoglobin?

What is the unique characteristic of foetal haemoglobin compared to adult haemoglobin?

What is the role of haemoglobin in maintaining the body's pH balance?

What occurs when the body's PCO2 is elevated?

What is the consequence of excess H+ accumulation in the plasma?

What is the primary function of bicarbonate in the body?

What is the approximate percentage of oxygen in our body that is transported by haemoglobin?

What is the maximum number of oxygen molecules that one haemoglobin molecule can bind?

What is the term for the blood when all binding sites on all haemoglobin molecules are occupied by oxygen molecules?

What is the term for the shift in the haemoglobin saturation curve that results from a change in pH?

What is the effect of a decrease in cellular PO2 on haemoglobin?

What is the name of the molecule that affects O2-Hb binding?

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