Solutions
Oxygenation Right Ans - The body's ability to deliver oxygen to all cells via
the processes of ventilation, diffusion, and perfusion
Diffusion Right Ans - movement of oxygen across alveolar walls into
pulmonary capillaries
Ventilation Right Ans - movement of atmospheric air into the alveoli
Perfusion Right Ans - movement of oxygen to and into the cells
How does air come into the lungs? Right Ans - Create more negative
pressure in the pleural space (cavity) so it is less than atmospheric pressure.
Pleural space is ____ Right Ans - A potential space between chest wall and
lungs
Pulmonary interstitial space Right Ans - A potential space between
capillary membrane and alveolar membrane
If the potential space gets bigger, this means?? Right Ans - Something bad
(traumatic) has happened or something is not right
Pulmonary capillaries of alveolar capillary membranes Right Ans - Form a
network around each alveolus so dense that an almost continuous sheet of
blood covers the alveoli
Describe blood flow through pulmonary capillaries Right Ans - Interior
diameter of each capillary is just large enough to allow red blood cells to
squeeze by in single file so their cell membranes touch the capillary walls.
Thus, Co2 and O2 need not pass through plasma when diffusing in and out of
alveoli. Each RBC stays in the pulmonary - capillary bed about 1 second and
exchange gases with 2-3 alveoli during this time.
Surfactant Right Ans - Lowers the surface tension of alveolar walls,
increases lung compliance (elasticity), and eases the work of breathing. Must
, be replenished continuously. Normal ventilation stimulates its replacement.
Hypoventilation leads to alveolar collapse.
Premature babies usually do not have enough ___ Right Ans - surfactant
Alveoli and pulmonary capillary walls are how thick Right Ans - one cell
thick
Dead space unit Right Ans - Normal ventilation but no perfusion
(decreased perfusion). Can get air into your alveoli but there is a blocked
exchange of getting to cells. Ex: Emphysema, blood clot in pulmonary artery
like pulmonary emboli
Shunt unit Right Ans - Normal blood flow but something is blocking
ventilation into the lungs like fluid, tumor, infection
Silent unit Right Ans - Neither ventilation or perfusion, usually a
combination of a certain disorder
How many oxygen molecules can one blood cell carry? Right Ans - 1200 O2
molecules
Steps required to transfer O2 from environment to cells Right Ans - 1.
Ventilation of lungs brings oxygen to alveolar capillary membrane
2. Transport of oxygen from alveoli into plasma and RBC's onto hemoglobin
molecule (moves across alveolar wall in the pulmonary interstitial space)
3. Reversible chemical combination of O2 and CO2 with Hgb. O2 combine with
Hgb to other parts of the body
4. Circulation of blood from the pulmonary venous capillaries to systemic
capillaries
5. Diffusion of O2 from capillary blood into interstitial fluid
6. Diffusion into cells
7. Diffusion of O2 into mitochondria where (in combination with glucose) it
helps to synthesize ATP
What happens if oxygenation steps are interrupted? Right Ans - Tissue
becomes hypoxic
Hypoxemia Right Ans - decreased oxygenation or arterial blood