5) For each of the three gases below (O 2 , CO 2 and H 2 O vapor), rank the area

Question

5) For each of the three gases below (O2, CO2 and H2O vapor), rank the areas in order of decreasing concentrations.    For example, if the concentration of O2 is highest in the alveoli, then that area receives a 1. Then next lowest area would receive a 2, etc. Treat each gas separately (4 pts)

O2:       _1__alveoli    

             ___tissue cells                 

___external atmosphere

CO2:     ___alveoli     

___tissue cells                 

___external atmosphere

H2O:     ___alveoli                  

___external atmosphere                                                                                                                                                                                           

6) With increasing altitude, the air becomes thinner, gas molecules are farther apart, so atmospheric pressure decreases. Atop a 10,000 mountain peak atmospheric pressure is 523 mm Hg. Oxygen still accounts for 21% of the total pressure. Calculate PO2 at this elevation. ________mm (2 pts)

   How does this compare to the PO2 at sea level? (1 pt)

What effect would this elevation have on the pressure gradient between alveolar air and alveolar blood – increase, decrease or no change? (1 pt)

What effect would this pressure gradient have on the ability of oxygen to move into blood – increase, decrease or no change? Explain your answer. (2 pts)

Explanation / Answer

5. O2 :

Alveoli: 1

Tissue cells: 2

External atmosphere: 3

Alveoli have highest oxygen concentration because they are completely filled with oxygen for air exchange, followed by tissue cells which have 21% oxygen and as the area is lesser, the concentration is greater than that of external atmosphere.

CO2:

Alveoli: 2

Tissue cells: 1

External atmosphere: 3

Carbon dioxide concentration is highest in tissue cells because CO2 is produced there, followed by alveoli where CO2 is exchanged for oxygen, which is followed by external atmosphere where CO2 concentration is very less.

H2O:

Alveoli : 2

External atmosphere: 1

External atmosphere has more than 70% water. Hence it has the highest concentration of water. Usually inside alveoli, there is no water, and if it is present in large amounts, it causes complications.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 5
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.