Question

What is the mechanism of gas exchange between alveoli and pulmonary capillaries? Compare the gas pressures in the pulmonary capillaries to the gas pressures in the alveoli, in a normal person at rest.

(4pts) A young woman is snorkeling and (as an observant physiology student) you understand that she must increase her tidal volume and/or her breathing frequency to maintain her alveolar ventilation rate. Why?

(2pts) Briefly describe how the respiratory membrane works. What cell types and what forces allow the diffusion of gases across the respiratory membrane?

Answer 1

Ans) Exchange of gases take place in the lungs. In lungs there are millions of alveoli envelop by the capillaries. From the alveoli inhaled oxygen reaches blood in capillaries and vice-versa i.e. carbon dioxide is removed from the blood in capillaries which are present inside the wall of capillaries.

In alveoli the partial pressure of oxygen is lower than the oxygen in atmosphere. This difference is develop due to continuous use of oxygen through pulmonary capillaries and carbon dioxide is diffused out of capillaries in the alveoli.

The membrane which is responsible for separating air from blood within pulmonary capillaries. The respiratory membrane includes alveoli wall ‚ basement membrane and capillary wall.

Snorkel is a device which is used for breathing in water when mouth and nose submerge while snorkeling is the practice of swimming in water equipped with snorkel tube and diving mask.

The alveolar vantilation rate is important factor to determine the concentration of both oxygen and carbon dioxide in alalveoli.

Minute vantilation = Tidal Volume × Respiratory Rate.

The alveoli contain different types of cells namely:

Type 1: Penumocytes

Type 2: Penumocytes.

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