Question

Shaun has pneumonia. Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the alveoli to accumulate pus and/or fluid. How does this effect the diffusion of oxygen into the blood?

The accumulation of pus and/or fluid will thicken the respiratory membrane does not affect diffusion nor oxygen uptake into the blood

The accumulation of pus and/or fluid will thicken the respiratory membrane and slow down the diffusion rate. This would increase the amount of oxygen taken up by the blood.

The accumulation of pus and/or fluid will thicken the respiratory membrane and slow down the diffusion rate. This would decrease the amount of oxygen taken up by the blood.

The accumulation of pus and/or fluid will damage the diffusion membrane, increasing diffusion and the amount of oxygen taken up by the blood.

Answer 1

c)The accumulation of pus and/or fluid will thicken the respiratory membrane and slow down the diffusion rate. This would decrease the amount of oxygen taken up by the blood..

• pneumonia affects one or both lungs.
• bacteria,viruses and even fungi can induce pneumonia.
• air sacs of the lungs called alveoli gets inflammed and gets fill with fluid or pus.
• it will be hard to breath as the oxygen taken up into the blood is decreased due to decreased diffusion rate.
• pneumonia, if left untreated can lead to serious health risks especially in people over 65 and children 5 or younger , they are considered as high risk groups.
• pneumonia affects lungs mainly but it may also affect other parts of the body and cause :

1. mental confusion
2. low-body temperature
3. chills
4. fatigue
5. coughing mucus
6. chest pain
7. difficulty breathing
8. organ failure
9. heart failure
10. nausea and vomiting
11. urinary tract infections
12. bluish skin colour
13. septic shock

• the pathogen enters the body through the airway.
• this causes immune reactions such as excess coughing.
• the sputum(cough) maybe yellow or brown mucus.
• this can lead to abscess if the fluid accumulates in one area.
• the abscess is generally treated with antibiotics if still it persists then it is surgically removed.
• when the diffusion rates go below a specific level then respiratory failure may occur.
• oxygen therapy or ventilators is used if the condition gets severe to support breathing.