Peak Performance - Gas exchange - Partial pressures

6 important questions on Peak Performance - Gas exchange - Partial pressures

What is partial pressure of a gas?

Pressure is a result of the impact of a gas molecule on a surface. It is proportional to the concentration of the gas.
The partial pressure is the rate of diffusion of that gas as a consequence of its pressure.

What is Henry's law in relation to partial pressure?

Partial pressure = concentration/solubility coefficient
The greater the solubility of a gas, the lower its partial pressure.
(pCO2 < pO2 due to CO2 having a greater solubility).

What drives the diffusion of gases from the alveoli to the blood capillaries?

The partial pressure of the gas.
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What is the relevance of partial pressures in the gas phase and in the dissolved phase?

For O2:
pO2 > gas phase vs dissolved phase = diffusion from alveoli into blood capillaries.

For CO2:
pCO2 > dissolved phase vs gas phase = diffusion from blood capillaries into the alveoli.

What is the relevance of the vapour pressure of water?

Air that is breathed into the respiratory passageways is non-humidified. The partial pressure of water in the humidified air is 0mmHg.
The partial pressure of water on the surfaces of the respiratory passageways is 47mmHg. Therefore water diffuses into the air until equilibrium is reached i.e. the air is humidified.

Why does air need to be humidified before it enters the lungs?

Protect the cilia- cilia become damaged in extreme dryness.
Effective gas exchange needs a moist surface to ensure that the alveoli expand properly- moist surface is provided by the humidified air.
Humidified air ensures that the pressure in the lung is sufficient for inflation- dry air may mean that the lungs cannot inflate properly.

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